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Another Potential Problem

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by The Critic, Dec 4, 2011.

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  1. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    From the blog that my independent hybrid shop posts..


    http://lusciousgarage.com/blog/

    Combo meter issues. Apparently it is becoming more common as these cars age.

    Unfortunately it appears that as time goes on, the Gen2 Prius is proving to have a number of mildly expensive issues. Add this combo meter issue to the transmission failures in the 150k range (since most have not had fluid changes), water pumps, and eventual battery issues, and this car is no longer appearing to be an economical used car choice.


    MB860 ?
     
    #1 The Critic, Dec 4, 2011
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wonder how the percentages compare to other cars? there are plenty with no problem whatsoever.
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 4, 2011
  3. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Heh... judging by some of the OP's posts, his handle is appropriate. ;)

    Thanks for the heads up though. I should monitor their blog more often. I should've said hi to Carolyn yesterday. She was at the SF BayLeaf meeting where the Leaf's Chief Vehicle Engineer + a whole bunch of Nissan folks including some pretty senior people were present. pEEf spoke and helped organize the meeting and content.

    A few pics at http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=155575#p155575, some more in the thread, some earlier.
     
    #3 cwerdna, Dec 4, 2011
  4. GuamKelly

    GuamKelly Member

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    An owner who has never changed the fluid in 150,000 miles is richly deserving of a transmission failure, IMHO. Hardly an indication of an expensive and inevitable cost of long term ownership.
     
    #4 GuamKelly, Dec 4, 2011
  5. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Unfortunately most dealers in the US are afraid to change the fluid and try their hardest to convince people not to do it.
     
    #5 The Critic, Dec 4, 2011
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'll just remove it myself and have it repaired if it ever goes bad. :)

    Still, $300-$400 is not bad on a 150,000+ mile car. Especially if no other parts fail. Mine has had no real repairs performed in the 151,000 miles I've driven. My seat belt is giving me issues though. :/
     
    #6 F8L, Dec 4, 2011
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  7. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    No ICE water pump, MFD or axle seal? really?
     
    #7 The Critic, Dec 4, 2011
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    My pump was replaced as part of their TSB but it never failed. MFD and everything else was either part of a TSB or just never had an issue. I think the only other TSB besides the water pump was something to do with the steering shaft but that was like 3 months after I bought it. I never had a problem but they fixed it as part of the TSB. So in a nutshell, I have never had anything fail even under warranty. Just the two TSBs which I don't consider a repair since nothing ever failed. :)
     
    #8 F8L, Dec 4, 2011
  9. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    Curious. Why would a Toyota dealer be afraid to do this?
     
    #9 Silver bullit, Dec 4, 2011
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    I'm not sure they're "afraid" but many do seem to discourage it and make claims that it's "lifetime" fluid. :rolleyes: I remember hearing such claims myself when I asked to have it changed.
     
    #10 cwerdna, Dec 4, 2011
  11. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    There's no free lunch.

    I think that blog post is more to let customers know that they can farm out a repair of the meter (to pEEF), rather than paying full rate for a replacement.

    There are a few Prius-specific problems that will effect a small fraction of cars, like this, the axle seal, and the MFD. The OEM 12V is the most problematic component, in stark contrast to most cars. I would not characterize the transmission as being any worse than a typical car. ICE water pump has been a chronic Toyota problem across all models. But other components tend to last much longer than average, like brakes and the motor.
     
    #11 seilerts, Dec 4, 2011
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  12. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    +1, though one of my dealers did not even want to agree to do it, nor give me a price for it.
     
    #12 The Critic, Dec 4, 2011
  13. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Yep, there's even been a few users here that have reported the dealer refusing to even sell them the ATF to do it for them-self. Seriously! :confused:
     
    #13 uart, Dec 5, 2011
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    You can have Magnusson's in Auburn do it for you. Cost is about $90. Have it done next time you're up here. :)
     
    #14 F8L, Dec 5, 2011
  15. GuamKelly

    GuamKelly Member

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    It is indeed a lifetime fluid. When it fails, the life of your transmission is effectively over.
     
    #15 GuamKelly, Dec 5, 2011
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  16. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    As it leaves the factory, this is a sealed unit, no dirt can get into it.
    Once they open it up to change the fluid, you have to keep changing the fluid routinely as it is no longer sealed. For better or worse, dealers suspect owners of too short an attentions span to remember to have it done again and again at 60,000 intervals.

    The trade off is clean old fluid vs new fluid in a no longer sealed transaxle.
     
    #16 JimboPalmer, Dec 5, 2011
  17. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    I do think it is possible to get excessive moisture inside the case if left open too long. I'm glad I don't have to worry about that here. However, "clean old" is not an accurate description of used fluid out of a Prius trans.
     
    #17 seilerts, Dec 5, 2011
  18. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    Ours has the same policy. I've asked several times about changing the transaxle fluid and have been told that the recommendation from Toyota is not to do it.

    However now that many Gen 2s are reaching 200K and more both TM and the dealers may have much more data available to them than when these were brand new and relatively unknown in '04, '05 and '06.

    That being said I'm going to break 200,000 miles next week on a trip to FLA. Nothing has ever gone wrong with mine that I ( or another mammal ) didn't cause.

    Summary here...http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/57091-200-000-mile-club-28.html#post1428250
     
    #18 DeadPhish, Dec 5, 2011
  19. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    I have had none of these issues, in fact I have not had any repair issues. I am trying to sell the car now to prepare for my new PlugInPrius. Miles: 102,000
     
    #19 andyprius, Dec 5, 2011
  20. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    I changed mine at 60,000 miles, no problem at all and no expense! :cheer2::cheer2:
     
    #20 andyprius, Dec 5, 2011
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