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Dashboard Cluster Recall - Restored Mileage

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Flying Toad, May 16, 2015.

  1. Flying Toad

    Flying Toad Junior Member

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    Just got a used 2010 Prius with 72,000 miles for $10,400, dealer said that they bought it at an auction without knowing how many miles were on it because the dash cluster had gone bad and was blank, and that they had their Prius mechanic replace it and the mileage restored from the computer. I spoke to him on the phone and he explained that there was a bad batch of these clusters on 2010-2011 Prii, any red flags here guys?

    Already bought the car because it was a good deal and it seems to drive great, mechanic said no other problems. Carfax has missing maintenance though, I am looking forward to learning how to do a lot of it on here myself and updating that. Is that something that you guys do? Or should I bother? I plan on having this one last a long time.
     
    #1 Flying Toad, May 16, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats and welcome!(y)

    i don't recall a bad batch of 2010-11's. there were bad ones earlier on, and an extended warranty on them.
     
    #2 bisco, May 16, 2015
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This sounds like a car without the original mileage, installed new cluster with 72000 non actual miles. There is no other computer in the car that would store the odometer info.....just the odometer.

    It's just a coincidence that the odometer reads what people would consider normal driving for a 5 year old car, going 15000 miles a year.......I think not. Auction cars that have failures......are usually much higher in mileage.
     
    #3 JC91006, May 16, 2015
    Last edited: May 16, 2015
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Toyota do their own maintenance history. You can access it online. Register your car first using the VIN.
     
    #4 David Beale, May 16, 2015
  5. Flying Toad

    Flying Toad Junior Member

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    Thanks guys, I registered with Toyota here is what they have:

    - - - - -

    09/29/2014 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 0
    Repair Order Number: 0388222

    ELECTRICAL REPAIR, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLOORMAT INSPECTION, WASH, PRIUS UPDATE, PRIUS UPDATE
    01/03/2013 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 50,405
    Repair Order Number: 0331626

    $24.95 INTERNET LOF, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLOORMAT INSPECTION, SPECIAL WASH
    05/15/2012 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 39,994
    Repair Order Number: 0311041

    $9.95 INTERNET LOF, DECLINED BAL/ROTATE, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLOORMAT INSPECTION, BODY/TRIM REPAIR
    01/26/2012 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 35,325
    Repair Order Number: 0301672

    FLOORMAT INSPECTION, ROTATE & BALANCE TIR, WORLD CLASS INSPECT
    11/21/2011 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 30,304
    Repair Order Number: 0296055

    INSPECTIONS, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLOORMAT INSPECTION, $24.95 INTERNET LOF
    08/18/2011 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 25,192
    Repair Order Number: 0287734

    FLOORMAT INSPECTION, 2 YEARS MAINTENANCE, BODY/TRIM REPAIR, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, WASH
    04/22/2011 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 19,838
    Repair Order Number: 0277271

    2 YEARS MAINTENANCE, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLLORMAT INSPECTION
    02/03/2011 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 15,564
    Repair Order Number: 0270317

    2 YEARS MAINTENANCE, WORLD CLASS INSPECT, FLLORMAT INSPECTION, WASH, BODY/TRIM REPAIR
    11/01/2010 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 9,911
    Repair Order Number: 0262313

    FLLORMAT INSPECTION, 2 YEARS MAINTENANCE, WORLD CLASS INSPECT
    08/18/2010 Dealer DARCARS TOYOTA OF FREDERICK 5,237
    Repair Order Number: 0256064

    2 YEARS MAINTENANCE, INSPECTIONS

    - - - - - - - -

    As you can see, the final reading back in September 2014 was for "zero" miles, and the final real reading was for 50,405 in January 2013.

    And looks like about 15,000 miles a year more or less for the years that are documented I think.

    It seems like the owner was taking it in to Toyota for the first few years paying top dollar at first, then they must have switched mechanics, maybe to save money or something, then when all hell broke loose with the cluster they brought it right back to Toyota. The mechanic that the used car dealer referred me to (who supposedly fixed the cluster after they bought it at auction) said that when the previous owner was told by Toyota that the new cluster was no longer under warranty and would cost a couple thousand dollars to get and install, they basically just threw their hands up and sold it ASAP. Or rather maybe they just traded it in, either way it does seem plausible right?

    The mechanic said that he had to find a used cluster on Ebay, and then have an authorized company based in North Carolina do the odometer mileage transfer to it.

    I just really hope that the miles are in fact accurate. How else could I go about checking this? I feel like I should have Toyota look at it obviously. Would they be able to know if the miles are accurate?

    So is the odometer not part of the cluster? Is the original odometer still in the car, or replaced as part of the cluster? The miles are not stored in the car's computer at all?

    I'm worried here. I'm taking it to a friend who is a mechanic ASAP, I'll post back as to what he has to say.
     
    #5 Flying Toad, May 17, 2015
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    We had a very usable stove (aka "range") have its electronic display go bad. Replacement part installed would have set us back close to $500, so we ended up getting a whole new stove. The newer models seem to increasingly cut corners, in various ways. This scenario is getting increasingly common, kinda sad.

    Interesting, the service history you posted. The language they use is so stilted and cryptic: I think service writers are creating a new language, lol.

    In one of the two books that come with the car, there's a page near the front, to be filled in by the dealership in event of odometer reset. Of course these books go astray half the time.

    With all the "advances" in automotive technology, it's now common place to lose the odometer reading. There's something inherently wrong with this. I can see the same thing happening with the "fobs", soon enough. Pretty soon it could be: lose/damage the fob, well: that car's a brick, lol.

    I'm betting you'll be ok. See what that mechanic says. If the car is dealership serviced it likely never had transaxle fluid changed. I'd do that ASAP; use the spec'd Toyota fluid. have a close look at brakes too, especially rears.

    There's been a couple of recalls: one for something in brake master cylinder, and the other a software update, to better protect some vulnerable inverter components.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, May 17, 2015
    Last edited: May 17, 2015
  7. Flying Toad

    Flying Toad Junior Member

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    It's definitely its own language!

    Yeah good call on the trans axel fluid I will definitely get that done ASAP.

    It really is crazy that a simple electrical failure on a digital display could cause so many problems.
     
    #7 Flying Toad, May 17, 2015
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems like the right mileage to me. i think you're good, and would not lose any sleep over it. a mech who gets parts on ebay? my kind of guy.(y)
     
    #8 bisco, May 17, 2015
  9. Flying Toad

    Flying Toad Junior Member

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    Ok, I'll try. Yeah he seems nice and very knowledgable, time will tell though. Grain of salt..
     
    #9 Flying Toad, May 17, 2015
  10. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Nothing to worry about, since all of the inspections were "World Class" ;)
     
    #10 RRxing, May 17, 2015
  11. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    There were some defective clusters in the 2010s. If I remember, there was a fungus or mold growing behind the plastic of the MFD, mostly in hot humid climates. You could do a search here for mold or fungus in speedometer.
     
    #11 phoenixgreg, May 17, 2015
  12. Flying Toad

    Flying Toad Junior Member

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    They should make those moisture proof, makes no sense. I see a bunch of threads on that, people got sick from it and everything.
     
    #12 Flying Toad, May 17, 2015
  13. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    first, it's not really a fungus, second, no one gets sick, at least not physically.
     
    #13 Former Member 68813, May 18, 2015
  14. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    no, they simply don't use a spell check function.
     
    #14 Former Member 68813, May 18, 2015
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