What to look out for when buying a higher mileage used prius?

The Aux battery is the 12V. If there is a problem with the blower motor, chances are the HV battery is running hotter than it should be running.

 

My question is, why in the h$#l would the customer decline those repairs? Tell me if this makes sense "lets decline a relatively low repair cost and take a chance on overheating the HV battery???

 

I think they already planned on selling/auctioning the car off

 

1. The Prius 12V battery is AGM (absorbed glass mat), not the traditional flooded lead acid battery.
2. I do not believe that the failure mode of the combination meter is known, and I suggest that you do not assume this would be easy to repair without actually replacing the unit.
3. The inverter coolant pump was the subject of a recall. Supposedly the replacement pump is better than the original but IMO that is questionable.

 

Yes.

I recommend exercising caution about buying any car with a salvage title because you generally will have no idea how well or how poorly the accident damage was repaired and the extent to which shortcuts were taken during the repair process. For example, if airbags were deployed, either replacing them with used parts (which is contrary to manufacturer repair policy) or not replacing them at all, instead using a resistor to make the SRS electronic control unit think a functional airbag is there.

Further, the resale value of a salvaged vehicle is very questionable, so if you buy one, plan to keep it for a long time and be ready to deal with whatever problems it has, rather than think you can easily sell the car as a means of getting rid of the problems.

If you are determined to buy a salvage vehicle, I strongly suggest you have it inspected by a mechanic who is trained in Toyota hybrids, to give you an independent assessment of the vehicle's condition and the quality of the accident repairs. Good luck.

 

Salvage cars are hard to sell. You should consider that fact. Not everyone will buy a car sold with a salvage title. That fact will come into play when it comes time for you to sell this car. If you buy it with the intention of driving it into the ground, then a salvage title really won't matter much to you.

The car might be fine, or it might be a turd. A good body shop can do wonders with a wrecked car. But just because it looks pretty doesn't mean the car was repaired properly and in good working order.

Warranty on a salvage car? I doubt it, but I could be wrong. It would not be the first time I have been wrong.

 

There really isn't much savings on that car either. I would stick with a clear title vehicle. There has to be a lot out there in SoCal huh?

 

I would suggest Mini VCI. Watch out for a trojan on the software, though.
Amazon.com: mini vci

You need a Windows XP or Windows 7, 32 bit OS running on the laptop.

Again, I suggest using 5W-30 viscosity engine oil unless the engine is worn to the extent that a higher viscosity grade is required.

ATF WS will typically cost ~$9 per US quart at Toyota dealership parts counters.

 

I would suggest look inside the throttle body under the air filter. Make sure there is no engine oil accumulation inside the throttle body. Use a flashlight to inspect beyond the throttle plate. Make sure there is no bright light reflection from oil accumulation at the bottom of the throttle body. If there is oil, it may be an indication of internal oil leak, which is quite common in 2nd gen. Prius.

 

It is relatively normal to find liquid hydrocarbon deposits on the bottom of the intake manifold, visible through the throttle body. It is a combination of engine oil coming from the PCV hoses as well as unburnt gasoline coming back up from the intake valves as the Atkinson cycle allows some portion of the compression cycle to happen while the intake valves remain open.

So, don't worry about that.

 

Regarding the trojan, I was referring to the Mini VCI software.

The best way to field-test an inverter is to install it in a Prius and see if it works.