1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Much Money, Time to Decide

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Alan Sailer, Feb 24, 2023.

  1. Alan Sailer

    Alan Sailer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2021
    37
    15
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    One
    My 2007 Prius has just decided to have it's major problems. The brake accumulator needs replacement as well as the Front Catalytic Converter. I've done a little searching and the parts alone run about 3K$ and the shop wants a total of 5.5K$ to put it all in.

    So two questions. First is the repair cost reasonable? I've had no major problems with the car so I have lost track of what garages charge.

    Second, should I do this? The car has been great so far but this could be the opening salvo in a losing war.
    the car uses about a quart of oil in 300miles (which may be why the front cat is dead...). It';s still getting almost 50mpg..

    Cheers.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    how many miles on her? my initial thoughts are to move on.

    i'd say $4,500. is average
     
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No mileage listed but at that high rate of oil consumption the motor is whooped. You probably ran it low on oil a few times and there you go.

    Dumping it is a no brainer your looking at a new motor and the brake actuator replaced $$$ and the very expensive Cali Carb Capable Cat. Last i heard was the OEM cat was back ordered and very very expensive. Plus $$$ whatever else they break doing all the work your car needs. And there going to break stuff as the car is now 16 years old. Probably has the original brake pads and rotors.

    And we haven't even mentioned the hybrid battery. If its the original please check out the hundreds and hundreds of posts about replacing that.

    The only way this car can be truly economical across its life is to get out of it before it becomes a money pit. And your is a rock quarry.
     
  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,262
    691
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Yep, replacing the CAT without addressing the underlying oil burn issue will only get you two years of relief. It'll likely fail it's next smog inspection - CAT will be oil fouled "cooked" again. The new CAT warranty is void, due to your oil burn issue.
    So at a minimum, you'll need replacement CAT, Brake accumulator, and rebuilt engine - assuming nothing else breaks to get your reliable Prius "ship-shape" again. Do you have the money and the love to get this done - because the numbers (gas saving) will never balance out at this late stage of the car's life. You may want to put if up for sale as a fixer, since prices are high right now.

    Good luck..
     
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    6,688
    6,375
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I think you said it better than I would have.

    Time to move on.
     
  6. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    2,254
    2,233
    2
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Really depends on you. Where do you want to invest your money?
     
  7. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Biomed why are you worried so much about the cat its just a symptom of a blown motor which labor wise and hassle wise is many times more than the cat. Takes 40 mins to install a cat unlike pulling and re-installing a G2 motor. Even at this indie garage I have been going to for a while there at $120 an hour now. Dealer is $250 last I looked.

    And there's no such thing as a rebuilt G2 motor. Cheaper and easier to just buy a used motor.

    And then after the car has sat a week with your engine rebuild and your done with all the mechanical you try to start the car and find out the hybrid battery has died because that's what a 16 years old battery does.

    Hilarity ensues.
     
    Montgomery likes this.
  8. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,262
    691
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    @edthefox5 please read OP post then my post - op wasn't aware he needed a new /rebuilt motor. I was pointing out that he would flush $5.5K for only two additional years of service and then not pass Ca smog again. Ca smog is every two years. Your last paragraph proves my point.
    So your saying that a G2 motor can't be rebuilt??? What if the used motor is just as bad or worst than his current motor. More wasted $$
    Taking things out of context also works at comedy clubs.......

    Please don't take offense; I'm simply answering your questions directly.
     
  9. Alan Sailer

    Alan Sailer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2021
    37
    15
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Thanks for the reply's.

    The car has 220K on it. I hadn't thought about the motor. It's had the low level burning for probably 10 years. Never got worse, never got better. And the idea of killing a new cat with oil is a pretty gruesome thought.

    I wasn't aware sitting could do in a hybrid battery. I'm guessing it's NiMH which do go flat over time.

    My instinct has been saying move on and it is very good to get that re-enforced.

    By the way I wish I could thank all of the good people who have given me advice. The car has been very good to me and I avoided some
    pretty decent garage bills by doing stuff by myself with help from people on this forum. Itemized,

    1) dash lights going out in winter. Pulled apart dash replaced the one capacitor.
    2) Smog check incident. Replaced fuel injectors for a fix.
    3) Inverter pump died. All I knew was that all the warning lights went on and the car died.
    4) 12 volt battery issues.

    So thank you all very much. I'll plan to look for a used third or fourth car.

    Cheers.
     
    edthefox5 and Montgomery like this.