Did the dealership tamper with my new Prius?

i think you can check the numbers on the battery?

 

sorry no, i think i've read that the cells are all numbered, but not positive. i will say this, your mpg's reflect excellent battery condition, if not new.

 

Not sure if you can add soundproofing for the engine compartment. Anybody here know?

So, same as mine.

Dealer prep? Needed to put on their license plate frame and bumper decal?

Sounds unlikely, even for a dealer. The labor involved would be considerable. If you want to check, find out what the labor would be for an engine swap, and the labor for a battery swap. So far as the engine goes, I would expect lots of unexplainable scratches on all the fasteners that hold the engine and its cowling bits in place. A factory new engine is pristine. I don't recall if the engine has an ID number on it. If it does you could check. I know when I put car parts in and out, the fasteners get tool marks, and I'm not even using power tools. Is it all scratched to heck? Besides, if you came back with a warranty claim, guess who would eat the repair job?

 

well the answer here would be TOYOTA not the dealer !!!!

otherwise I agree no way they do that besides they have to remove the OTHER engine as well from something and put it back and still no legit paperwork .... and the risk is high if they do these on a regular bases...

although the 2 days seems quite suspicous ... I bought 3 toyotas new from dealer I ALWAYS drive away with a car the same car I inspected BEFORE sigining on the sales receopt/purchase order ... regardless of financing (2 times toyota financed 1x my credit union pre-authorization plus a fax ... guess that might be an issue if you do this during weekend)

 

low risk.

 

Really ??? how can you show ??? by law, if they do a warranty repair they have to give you the parts.... OK that is kind of tricky for an engine or a battery but YOU are entitled to ask !!1

But really curious why do you think that and what would be any proof on your side of it

I am not an export but EVERY major part have a serial number a lot smaller pieces than the engine or traction battery...

 

I also seriously, seriously doubt an engine swap, it would be loads easier for the dealer to rig paperwork and get a new engine from Toyota. Back in the old days, some SS396 Chevelle, Mustangs, etc. were faster than others. And Gen 3 batteries would also still be under factory warranty it would seem.

 

I think you are!

 

The only solution I can think of is to swap the plates with your cousin's car and take it home.

 

FWIW I drove a 2014 loaner w/ 12,000 miles when I had mine (2015) in for a tire pressure sensor replacement (only 500 mi. on my odo at the time) and that loaner car felt like a total piece of junk. I guess people beat on it. The steering vibrated (not sure how wheel weights couldve fallen off after 12,000 miles), had a slightly louder/buzzier engine and got 42 mpg average (mine is at 50.1), steering felt heavier for some reason (not in a good way) and the interior looked absolutely BEAT.

I think it's just all in your head though. no way a dealer is going through all the trouble to swap the components especially as you have to be specially certified to work on the prius. nobodys risking losing their cert over that.

 

Out of curiosity what did you do to the dealer to piss them off so bad that they might want to get revenge by swapping out an engine and battery? Lol.