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Dealership pulled up a stored C1202 code during a pre purchase inspection

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by mattbatson, May 16, 2019.

  1. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    So I'm purchasing this 2011 prius with 147k miles...or I was...after a hopefully smooth inspection from the local Toyota dealer.

    So they take us back into the bay with the car up on the lift and show us a section of rocker plastic panel under the car, about 8 inches in length that is missing. Quoted me like 500 dollars to replace it...which I know is a joke.

    But then they said they found a stored code in the ABS system of C1202 which is brake reservoir fluid level sensor...or some such.

    Said for 144 bucks they would investigate. Said probably something needs to be fixed but don't know what or how much.

    Should I be worried and bail on purchasing the car?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    was the reservoir full?
     
  3. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    yes.
    seller has experience with cars/mechanics and said the level has always been full...never had to add any brake fluid in the year that he has owned it.

    the Toyota mechanic indicated that there may be a problem with the level sensor...but did not indicated any leaks or other issues with the brakes
     
  4. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    If they can give you at least 30 days of warranty, that should be enough for an existing brake problem to show up. For most of the past 100 years drivers didn't have brake fluid sensors, and they just looked at the reservoir to see if the level was OK.
     
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  5. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    This is pretty much what I also thought, but was a little unsure. I'm not sure if the private owner will give a 30 day warranty on the brake reservoir but I'll ask

    thanks!
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm not sure how the code is set without a dash light. maybe clear it and see if it comes back
     
  7. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Run!!! Too much miles for a pre 2012, money pit later.
     
  8. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    hey Grit...
    could you elaborate?
    what sort of issues can I expect with over 147k miles on a 2011 prius?
    are they more reliable after 2012?
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    oy, i figured you already knew :oops:
     
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  10. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    So the owner said he had checked for engine codes with his scangauge and saw none...I think from what I'm understanding is that this code was maybe something, somewhere, that a regular code scanner would not see?
     
  11. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    yeah google the part number:

    51410-12105

    (Assuming it's the main engine underpanel)

    The part is around $200 on Amazon.

    Some more info in the attached:
     

    Attached Files:

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  13. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    Thanks!
    but it isn't the main engine undertray...it is literally a 8inch by 3 inch plastic piece under the rocker arm...passenger side...about where the front and rear doors meet. Probably have to either order from Toyota or find one in a junkyard. But honestly it didn't look like a big deal to me. They were saying water would get up in there. But I put my hand up there and is just the underside of the body. Not thinking water up in there would matter.

    So are 2011's inherently unreliable compared to 2012's

    I have a couple of friends with higher mileage 2010's...one has 223K miles on it...and they have done nothing but oil and air filter changes and maybe spark plugs and such...?
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    many prius codes only show up with special scanners
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i was going to let grit tell you. the best thing to do is search egr circuit, oil burning and head gasket.

    there are a lot of problems around 100k, but we don't know what percent of ben 3's or why
     
  16. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    ah yes,
    I was familiar with that. For some reason I thought it was not that common...but had planned on doing the egr cooler clean at some point on the car. It seemed like a safe choice so long as the egr was cleaned every 100k miles.

    thanks
     
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  17. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    See post #15 and remember it well.
     
  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Majority of those who purchase the car with low miles or new, take great care of their car, drive conservatively and follow maintenance schedule religiously will have a reliable car in the long run.

    But this one your buying with higher mileage are showing red flags, they could have driven it recklessly.
     
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Hang around here long enough, you'll see people post things sellers claimed to do such "The seller said he changed the spark plugs recently." When the engine knocks and they look at the plugs, they go "The plugs needed replacement, it wasn't even replaced at all like the seller said."

    You can pull the 12v bat and all codes will be gone, of course no codes when scanned. What you need to do is scan to see if all monitors are online first, then if there are no CELs after that then your clear.
     
  20. mattbatson

    mattbatson Member

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    Did your head gasket blow?