repair bill > car value; offered $1200 for car; fair price?

Okay, here's my quote from Tampa Hybrids.

general tune-up/maintenance
$100 replace spark plugs
$60 throttle body
$400 replace leaking engine water pump
$20 cabin filter (not needed, I change my own)
$20 air filter (not needed, I change my own)

$250 new Toyota 12V battery, 84 mo. warranty

code shown for hydraulic malfunction rt. wheel sensor - it isn't leaking right now - brake pressure may be reduced somewhat on one wheel
Edited to add: This is ABS. Don't need to replace right away but $1950 when I do.

code for hybrid battery low voltage - two blocks are reporting negative voltage
don't have to replace right now but if I replace the '08 battery with a new one, that is $2400

new computer needed $200

cosmetic issues, don't need to be done immediately
front driver window film is starting to peel
rubber moldings at windows are getting old, one is falling apart - says I can just pull that out but if I replace all four, it is $25 labor + $75 per window, totaling $400
paint

$400 multi-function display is getting hard to read, doesn't need to be done immediately

tires have good tread, the rear tires have some uneven wear ('cupped') which will cause a little road noise

$400 combination meter (dash display)

In short, $1410 recommended to repair.
+ $2400 for a totally new hybrid battery - now or could put it off until later but wouldn't have to pay labor on removing the computer twice if replacing now
+ $800 additional recommended for a new multi-function display + four window moldings but neither are urgent.
+ $1950 ABS - when, I am not sure but he said don't have to do this now



His lowest priced car was $5500 and had something like 227,000 miles where mine has almost 122,000 miles.

 

Whoops. He clarified. I do NOT have two 'bad blocks/cells', it's just that a rusted wire to the computer is causing that error code. However, he says because it is a 2008 original hybrid battery and sat for one year, he thinks it will last at most another two years but could also go bad soon.

 

Thanks for your thoughts and questions, jerrymildred and rjparker.

The original diagnosis was not at a dealer, no. It was at a nearby independent shop that specializes in hybrids, recommended to me by another independent shop I have used in the past. They (my original independent shop NOT specializing in Toyotas or hybrids) had recommended the hybrid shop because we knew at least one battery was bad, they knew it had sat a year, and they do not replace hybrid batteries. So they said they could absolutely replace the 12V but if that wasn't the problem, I would need a second tow. They had mentioned the hybrid shop to me in the past if I ever had a 'hybrid problem' but I'd never gone there before now. I checked online reviews of the recommended shop and people (online) seem pretty happy with them in general, so that's where I towed it initially.

I did form the impression that Tampa Hybrids might know a bit more about a Gen 2 Prius than that garage. But I don't know.

I once took my Prius to the nearest Toyota dealer up here in Tampa Bay. I was unimpressed with the way they handled that visit and feel disinclined to go back there for any work.

Oh, good question about the ABS. I will ask.

 

I texted him asking about the ABS and he sent me two photos of his diagnostic screens. Here's what is in the pictures:

P0AFA Current Hybrid battery system voltage low
P0AFA History Hybrid battery system voltage low
P0AFA Pending Hybrid battery system voltage low

C0215 Current Left* rear speed censor circuit (*he'd said right but later in our first conversation he said it might be left, I jotted down rt.)
C1241 Current Low battery positive voltage or abnormally high battery positive voltage
C1259 Current HV system regenerative fault
C1310 Current HV system fault
C1344 Current Left rear hydraulic system

I guess this is his answer about the ABS. (Not really sure what I'm reading)
The first shop's Engine Diagnostic said 'ABS LIGHTS ARE ON DUE TO LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR INOP AND ABS ACTUATOR BRAKE BOOSTER FAULT'

 

By 'they', bisco, you mean the codes he just shared with me?

 

Got it.

Well, don't know how I missed THAT! I wrote down what he said about there was a 'hydraulic malfunction, rt. wheel sensor, isn't leaking right now, brake pressure is reduced on one wheel, don't need to replace now' but I did not hear (or ask for) the dollar amount on when I eventually do need to replace. (I should have.) Had no idea this was the ABS we were talking about. I had repeated everything he said to me and the amounts back to him, too, to verify after he told me the list over the phone (since I don't have a written estimate in front of me; he had just had me call him and listen). Wouldn't have happened if I were looking over a written estimate.



Anyway, now I have the full accurate information. I have inquired as to when he thinks it might need replacement. Not sure if he'll be able to predict that, kind of just asking him for a guess. $4610 + $1950 = $6520 (including brand new hybrid battery). That makes a big difference in weighing my various options.

 

Okay, we can close out this thread now. Everything is taken care of and I no longer need any questions answered regarding repairs on my old Prius.

Now driving a new(er, 2007 [Oct 2017 hybrid battery, May 2021 ABS pump/actuator/pump assembly]) Prius with under 91,000 miles. Can't say much about it yet other than it got me home safely with the AC on and all seems fine to me. Extremely relieved.

He will sell me a second SmartKey, programmed, for $180 if I want. (Only received one.)
He will sell me grey leather seats if they're in stock when I'm looking for them, $500 installed.

Thanks very much again to all who helped. PriusChat has always helped me with info. relevant to whatever questions I have on my car.

Enjoy your Prius!