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New Prius owner, but with issues :(

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Bananaman, Feb 11, 2013.

  1. Bananaman

    Bananaman Junior Member

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    Hi all. I've lurked on this site for years learning about the Prius and wanting one for a long time.
    Well, last week I found a one owner 2008 with 147,000 miles on it. It's really clean and the maintenance looks like it was keep up with.
    I took a trip this weekend and the car made a beep and the cruise control shut off. The car still drove ok, but had the red triangle, (!), and VSC light up on the dash. I stopped for lunch, took off and the cruise worked again, but shut off after about 5 minutes.
    On the way home that day I was going up a hill (without cruise) and the car suddenly lost power and I had to pull over. It would only drive about 35 mph (I think it was in electric power only). I stopped and re-started the car and everything was fine and it got me home.
    I did the 12v battery check I read about here and it looks good. Also, all the code lights and triangle are off now.
    Before I bought this car I pulled the CarFax and it showed that the water pump had been recently replaced, but after I had it in my possession and joined the Toyota owners group and pulled the service records I saw that the car had been brought in for this same problem and the recommendation was a new trans axle for $5400!
    I'm really hoping that was wrong and someone out there has another solution for me.
    Thanks.
     
  2. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    This sounds as though there is air trapped in the inverter coolant system. Can you see coolant flow through the top up point on the reservoir with the car made ready. If not this is your problem. The reservoir is the one near the center of the engine bay on the side of the silver inverter box.

    John (Britprius)
     
  3. Bananaman

    Bananaman Junior Member

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    Not yet, John. I was going to check that after work today. Thanks!
     
  4. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I do not think you have a major problem. If you could pick up some Toyota SLLC (Toyota supper long life coolant, 1ltr should be enough) on your way home this will make life easy. If you do not need it it will keep for topping up.

    John (Britprius)
     
  5. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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  6. Rich12

    Rich12 Member

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    Sorry to say it sounds like you bought a wonderful piece of Toyota Japanese engineering. It's like waking up in a motel room with the words "Welcome to the world of feline AIDS" scrawled on the mirror in lipstick.

    Commonly known as Prius ownership. Expect a ton of other things to go wrong in the near future.

    I bought mine at 96k with a bad HV battery pack. Drove it for two months and got the triangle of death, brake and check engine light. They replaced it under warranty...thank FSM I was under 100K!

    Check my posts; just about everything (including tin-can doors) is still making me kick myself for buying this wonderful piece of Japanese engineering.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ouch, you bought a car with 96,000 miles and have had a few issues? ridiculous!:rolleyes:
     
    cwerdna, 2k1Toaster, dorunron and 2 others like this.
  8. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Anyone who buys a used car should know there are risks involved. If Rich12 is having such bad luck, I am trying to figure out why Rich12 is still driving the car and has not traded it in. Kicking themselves must be mighty painful. :rolleyes:
     
  9. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Not just a car with 96K miles, but one with a known issue to begin with (HV pack bad). Seems like foreshadowing to me.
     
  10. Rich12

    Rich12 Member

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    NOT a known issue. All lights were good when purchased. Try again, troll. 0/10 is for you.
     
  11. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    To the OP take it to the dealer and spend $125 and have them look at the Hybrid pack with there Techstream Software and also pull all the CEL/DTC codes that are now logged in your car. Record and report ALL the codes back here. You are paying the $125 to get the codes. Without those codes its all speculation.

    Do this asap. Limit driving. Driving a Prius thats in CEL mode without knowing why can really hurt the car.
    Seen that many many times here.
     
  12. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Your here to make friends. Welcome.
     
  13. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I class a car with 100,000 miles as end of life. You purchase at that mileage you takes your chances. If you're not sure what you're doing, get an expert to inspect the vehicle. Toyotas are meant to have great reliability but that doesn't mean 100% reliability at all ages and mileages.

    I like my Prius but it has not been reliable.
     
  14. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Not to be harsh but did you expect a Blue Sky when you purchase a car with 147,000 miles on it? Hopefully it is nothing major. Did you pull the codes?
     
  15. Bananaman

    Bananaman Junior Member

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    Absolutly not, I understand the chances one takes when they buy a used car. I own Toyota's and know how reliable they are, I'm just trying to be an informed customer when I take the car in. I also like to do my own work and don't trust too many dealers.
     
  16. boppo

    boppo Active Member

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    I guess I am not the only one that doesn't trust stealers.
     
  17. Bananaman

    Bananaman Junior Member

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    Update: I did a 12v battery check again after letting the car sit overnight and it shows 12.1 when a load is placed on it. All the codes have gone away and the inverter pump seems to be working fine; coolant is moving and pump makes a whirring sound. I drove the car about 40 minutes and all seems fine.
    So, on a Prius does no codes mean all's good?

    I'm also wondering if the problem doesn't have something to do with the dealer replacing the water pump. According to the service records the cruise and dash light problems happened after the pump was replaced. Maybe the system wasn't bled good enough?
     
  18. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Until the next time the warning lights come on. :rolleyes:
     
  19. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    12.1 will not make any lights come on. I drove my car for 1 year at 12.1 with no issue.
    Don't go on a long trip.
     
  20. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If the inverter starts to overheat the Prius systems try to protect it and reduce it's load by shutting down the AC and the cruise control and the DC to DC converter. So air trapped in the system can and does cause this. The pump will still run though not as quietly as normal, this is why I ask you to check for fluid movement.

    John (Britprius)