Restore dead Prius

You need to replace the 12V battery , change oil and filter , perhaps also the spark plugs.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

welcome! it's hard to say until you put the functioning battery in and try to power it up. if anything else is wrong, you will get trouble codes.
if you're going to tackle a project car, you should probably get toyota tech stream software and service manual on line membership.

 

I bet it could use new trans fluid too.

 

Lansing Craigslist has much better deals available. imo

 

search the mini vci threads here for experienced info, i don't have one.

 

Unless you get the car for $500, it probably won't be worth it to fix. 298k is a dice roll gamble

 

Codes may not be in memory if it has had a dead 12v for a long time. Just saying...

 

I just picked up a prius recently that was diagnosed with a bad transmission. The triangle was illuminated, but I could not get any codes with my torque application. How do you pull these types of codes? Is there a way to get at them in the multi function display?

 

Search "Prius mini VCI techstream laptop".

 

I bought the car from a private party in PA. You can look up all the previous service history using toyota owner's site. All you need is a VIN. I was able to look up the car before I went to see it and uncovered that the first owner brought it in to the dealer running poorly and the tech's drained the transmission, saw there was metal in it, suggested a replacement unit, and the owner refused. Second owner bought the car not knowing the history (carfax didn't show it). After 40K more miles it quit. Owner had the code read by a mechanic and shared that info with me.

 

Already completed the swap. Was involved, but doable. Found good resources here on priuschat and an online workshop manual. Had all the info I needed. Used transaxles were inexpensive. I guess the trans failure rate isn't too high. Might be more common for those that don't change the fluid enough.

 

Thanks. I suggest when you determine you need one you call a bunch of local scrap yards. I think for a big job like this you should look for one without too many miles. No sense doing it twice. Good luck with your Prius.

 

Can I play the role of Captain Obvious?
But a Prius with nearly 300,000 miles being obtained with a dead HV Battery, without access to codes or even an engine start up, is a "All-In" project situation.

If you are looking at that situation and saying..."What do I need to do?, What Else do I need?"...

I'm trepidatious about the whole endevour.

I wouldn't approach this type of situation unless I assumed I might need anything and everything, and I WANTED a project that could end up being that level of scope.

With 300,000 miles this is restoration not rescue. And it could be a significant level of restoration.

Some people WANT a project, and it certainly can be a valid and worthwhile hobby and approach. Revelation might reveal not as much is needed as one might expect. BUT I don't think you approach this opportunity thinking it's just a matter of a few things being needed.

Step One. Get the vehicle started.