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Will My 2013 Prius Make it to 200,000 miles Without Major Repairs?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by HGS, Sep 1, 2015.

  1. HGS

    HGS Member

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    I know some high annual mile drivers are getting 300,000 to 400,000 miles with no major issues if they drive 60, 80, to a 100,000/year. I'm wondering if I can make 200,000 miles, driving 20,000/year with a 35 mile one way commute to work four days a week.

    I have a 2013 Prius with 46,000 miles. If I make it to 200,000 miles it will be 10 years old.

    I expect to maybe replace the inverter/engine water pump, struts, wheel bearings, and the like. What I'm wondering is, are most traction batteries lasting 200,000 miles. I know some are failing around 150,000 miles, but that doesn't mean most are failing.

    I'm changing my transaxle fluid soon, and plan on an oil analysis.

    Not worried at all. If it breaks I'll fix it.

    What are your thoughts?

    Cheers!
     
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  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I'd skip the oil analysis, it's not likely there will be anything wrong with the engine.....and if there were, it won't be a warranty issue and you can't do anything about it.

    I think 200k is easy for a Prius
     
  3. HGS

    HGS Member

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    I was going to do the oil analysis on the transaxle fluid. I've read about several members tracking the transaxle wear. Just curious about it..
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You can track it out of curiosity, but it won't do you any good. But if you have $20 to burn, why not
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you make it? yes. will you make it? i hope so!
     
  6. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    Well the 2001 is 3/4 of the way to 200,000 miles. (I also have a 2010 that is 1/3 the way there.) I would not plan on an inverter or water pump change but the spark plugs might be worth changing at 100k if you want to avoid a lot of check engine lights. The transaxle change is a must do. I've done it twice on the 2001. The first change showed a lot of particulate in the pan while the second change showed far less. Also be ready to replace the 12V battery at some point. The Prius gets really squirrelly as the 12V battery reaches the end of life. Specifically, it sometimes does not start up at all followed by starting up perfectly until it misbehaves again.
     
  7. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Thanks for your input. Like I mentioned in the original post, I'm not concerned at all, just curious. I've always worked on my own cars and trucks. I'll do the recommended maintenance on schedule. I'll change the transaxle fluid very soon, even though Toyota doesn't recommend it.

    If anything does fail prematurely, I'll fix it or pay someone if it's a big complicated job. I've rebuilt engines and transmissions in my younger days, but I'm a little old to want to do the heavy stuff anymore.

    My reason for the post was to learn how many people are getting 200,000 miles on their traction batteries. I know some are failing at around 150,000 miles, but I'm courious how many. Is it 10%, 40%, etc? What are my odds of the TB going 200K, living in Florida, driving 20K a year?

    Whatever the answer, I'm totally OK with it. I got a very good deal on my used Prius, and if it drops dead at 150,000 miles, the gas savings will still make it worth while.

    Cheers!
     
  8. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Much depends on what you define as a "major repair."

    In my experience, after 100K, on most vehicles, most everything short of the engine losing compression and the transmission failing tends to happen.

    Simple wear and tear. Now, a lot of the Prius has integrated components (no starter motor or alternator as a separate component). I suppose the A/C could fail, but normally it just needs service and monitoring for any possible leaks. Coolant system/radiator can fail from dried hoses or damage to the radiator. Brakes and drivetrain issues can manifest from wear and tear, but how much any of these are to repair if they happen normally don't mandate replacing the vehicle.

    If you religiously do the fluid changes with quality replacement chems and don't abuse it, odds are you can go well past 200K with no super expensive issues.

    Where the traction battery is concerned, I'd not sweat over it. I was concerned about that pre-purchase, and while they are pricey, non-Toyota-made replacements are available and at a lower price. If it was a $6,000 part that never came down in price, I'd have walked on buying the Prius absent a lifetime battery pack warranty. For $6,000, I could put that towards a new car.
     
  9. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Qdllc,

    Nice response. Thanks.
     
  10. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

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    I always thought the type of miles you put on your car is more important than the actual miles. If it's highway miles at 50-60MPH, your Prius might exceed all expectations. It's that city driving, start and stop, that can take it's toll. And maybe freeway driving at 75MPH might cause some issues. The Prius might be different, but I doubt it.

    Mike
     
  11. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Highway miles are much easier on the battery; many less cycles per mile. OTOH, time is a factor for battery life too.
     
  12. HGS

    HGS Member

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    DumbMike and fotomoto,

    All very good points that I agree with. I'll probably hit 200,000 miles at the 10 year point. If my TB doesn't make it, I'm sure I'll replace it with good used one or new if the car otherwise is in good shape. My 35 mile commute is mostly 45 mph with stop lights. Only the last 10 miles is expressway. It takes about 50 minutes with light traffic. There's one section that is a slow crawl at certain times of the day. I make the commute at all hours. I could leave for work at 3:30 AM, or be driving home at 3:30 AM. Mostly its leave for work at 7:30 AM and return at 4:00 PM and hit heavy traffic the last half. It just depends on my schedule that day.

    No worries here, I'm lovin the great gas mileage. Much better than my 14 mpg truck. Fuel savings are paying for the Prius.

    Cheers
     
  13. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    It definitely is a lot less than 10%. If it were that high it would be one of the biggest topics on Priuschat. The bigger problem is so very few people fully utilize a car to 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. Once the warranty period expires is when many get a new vehicle. On the three Prii I have bought (2001, 2007, 2010), only the 2001 has shown any big issues (one battery replacement under warranty due to an initial production defect of inadequate terminal sealing). In the hands of a reasonable driver and reasonable maintainer, the odds of a battery failure have to be extremely low. I expect the thermal cycling of the battery would be a big factor and Florida rarely freezes a battery and the high temperatures are not the crazy high number of the Southwest in the summer. I would point out that previous Toyota's I have owned (mostly Camrys) did not last long past 120,000 miles (~13 years) due to small but troubling internal engine oil leaks, so the 2001 Prius is far better than those conventional cars.
     
  14. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Thanks for your input. I bought front and rear window shades and side window deflectors, to help keep the interior cool. I've been watching the temperatures after leaving the car parked in the sun all day at work. It hasn't been too bad. I've seen the traction battery up to 47 C one time.

    Here is a picture of my EngineLink HD IPad app: as you can see here, the outside temp is 96 F, TB 2 106 F (41 C), inverter 140 F, TB fan at 64%. Air Conditioning at a comfortable 78 F room temp (I like my cool air). The air is full cold (note the AC pwr 2.21 HP). That's the highest AC pump output I've seen.

    image.jpg
     
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  15. qdllc

    qdllc Senior Member

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    Also, keep an eye on your "trade" or "sale" value of your vehicle. I have some vehicles I know I'd get more from an insurance loss than I could hope to get in a sale. At that point, if I keep it, I don't put any money into it other than keeping it running. Once a repair pops up that matches or exceeds the value of the vehicle, I question if it's just time to dump it.

    The Prius is no exception. Once you reach that point, it's really the only metric you have to go by. Hence the "drive it until the wheels fall off" strategy on older vehicles.
     
  16. FL_Prius_Driver

    FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member

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    I use the same approach for known expensive repairs. The more nagging issue is seeing small issues on a older vehicle. For example, is the check engine light coming on repeatedly a sign of a big failure coming or the result of doing nothing waiting for the wheels to fall off? In my case, replacing old gas caps and replacing spark plugs completely solved those issues. So the recommendation to the OP was to continue to take some reasonable preventative measures like he had already planned with transaxle fluid. My two bits was to include spark plug replacements and 12V battery replacements.
     
  17. HGS

    HGS Member

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    I'm using that approach with my 1999 Ford Ranger 4x4. I bought it new 17 years ago. I only drive it about 8,000 miles/year. At times I'll just do what's required to keep it running, then I get new interest in fixing it up. Last year I totally replaced the air conditioning. Two years prior I did a total brake system replacement. This year I bought 4 new off road tires from Amazon and mounted them myself ($640). Ceramic beads for tire balance. Will be installing ceramic beads in Prius soon.

    Unless the engine or transmission fails on it, I will probably just keep fixing it. I do my own maintenance, that's the only way it makes it worth while.

    I hope my Prius lasts a very long time. I'll fix it as long as it's financially sound to do so, and I feel it's reliable enough.



     
    #17 HGS, Sep 3, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2015
  18. HGS

    HGS Member

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    I'm watching the 12 volt battery. When it's time to replace it. I'm planning on a Bosch battery from Amazon.


     
  19. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    Just dumped one like you describe. Had 434K on odometer. Nothing really wrong, just needed new tires, alignment and timing belt.
     
  20. HGS

    HGS Member

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    I think oil analysis on the transaxle and engine is a good technique to see when a failure may be on the horizon in a few thousand miles. It could change a person's plans. Perhaps not go on that long cross-country vacation, or perhaps sell it, trade it in, or fix it before it fails.

    That's why turbine aircraft engines don't fail during flight that often.
     
    #20 HGS, Sep 3, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2015