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Inherited Low Mileage 2007 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ULHiker, Mar 30, 2021.

  1. ULHiker

    ULHiker New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2021
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    Location:
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    My mother's driving days are over and I have her 2007 Prius with 38K mileage. The car sat in her garage for at least 6 months and would not start. I had it towed to the dealer where she had it serviced. The dealer cleared all error codes by replacing the 12V battery. The dealer advised I do a 10K service, replace all tires and replace front struts (leaking at level 1). The traction battery "tested good". I approved all the recommendations except the struts to get the car road worthy. The dealer wanted $1150 for struts/alignment which seemed super high.

    I've driven the car for about 2 weeks and everything seems fine--averaging about 42mpg per trip computer. I had my local muffler shop install a cat protector and I'm leaning towards keeping the car as a commuter. What issued do I face given the low miles? The last several years my mother used the car as a grocery getter (1 mile round trip).
     
  2. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    No issues... You really lucked out with such a nice Prius... Just enjoy and don't worry about alignment unless you see uneven tire wear. Also don't let anyone try to scam you into thinking you need to replace brake pads and rotors because Prius mostly uses electricity generation as braking so it's normal for rotors to look rusty and unused. If you want to clean them, just put the car in neutral when you're getting off the freeway and you'll use 100% mechanical break and they'll be shiny again.
     
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    The traction battery is affected by age whether it is used or not, and they test good until the day they test bad.

    Honestly this would be one to keep and drive, since it's been in the family. You can account for its history better than most used cars.

    I do recommend that you start a battery replacement fund. If you pay Toyota to put in a genuine part it'll run you around $3k, and that's the right way to do it.

    I say just drive it. Enjoy it. And when the traction battery dies, don't hesitate- put a real Toyota pack in there and keep going. Just be ready for that to happen suddenly one day.
     
    edthefox5 and PriusCamper like this.
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I agree Lead.

    UL thanks for posting the mileage don't see that much on here. Long sad storys with no mileage so we never know how old and beat up the car is.

    I have owned my g2 for 14 years I can tell you at 42 mpg's the hybrid battery is getting a little tired its just the age. But that battery is ripe for an easy reconditioning.

    Many of us have bought and used a hybrid battery charger/discharger called Prolong made by hybridautomotive.com.

    It will really wake that expensive battery up and restore its mileage and power. I was able to keep mine when it started to fail for another 3 years. It really woke it up. You may get better results. The best thing it does is kick that battery replacement down the road a little and as time goes by the dealer battery's are getting cheaper and cheaper.

    So hang out here a little there's alot of Prolong guys on here and in your area maybe you can pay a guy to install the $100 battery interface cable then borrow or rent the charger/discharger unit. It is well worth the time and $.

    The Prius is all hybrid battery.

    Go up top and use the search forums link:

    Search PROLONG then search HYBRIDAUTOMOVE so you can get a feel for the charging/discharging process.

    At 38,000 miles it well worth keeping just have to get the mileage where it belongs by waking that battery up.

    Good luck.
     
  5. ULHiker

    ULHiker New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Benicia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Thanks everybody for your input. My wife is on board so I'm keeping it. The car really wouldn't work for her as she goes for sporty cars (drives a turbo charged civic). My daily driver is a Pilot which no longer serves a useful purpose as our kids are in college. It feels wrong to me to drive a large vehicle solo so this car came along at the right time.

    Lots to think about it with the aged hybrid battery. Messing with the battery is outside of my comfort level so I'd hire someone for the harness install if I go the reconditioning route. For now I'll see if I can improve the mpg by adjusting my driving technique.
     
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    Two
    OK good luck sounds like a keeper.
     
  7. w2co

    w2co Member

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    Location:
    Longmont, CO.
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    BTW no reconditioning needed for that yet, just drive it and enjoy the high mpg, go up some hills then go down them as well, if you brake it charges back even quicker. Get used to the system, it will condition the battery to the way you drive. The system itself is the best "conditioner". Later on when it does come up with a hv batt problem is when to consider a conditioner. Or you can do like I did and drive it until it dies then get a new battery. There are quite a few options here. I went with a newpriusbatteries pack 2 years ago and it is still like when it was new, even gained a few mpg! And the cylindrical cells stay much cooler than the stock modules. Something to consider but not now in your case, you just need to drive it.
     
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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  9. dbstoo

    dbstoo Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    It's a good car, the price is right, and you will enjoy it. :)

    I put 175,000 miles on my 2002 gen1 and the battery was still functioning when two of the battery cell cases broke and leaked. The battery replacement (OEM replaced by Toyota) ran 1300 for the battery and 700 for the installation. It would have been much less if I got it replaced by the Prius shop in San Francisco.

    Since you are in Benicia, there is likely to be less chance of a stolen cat converter. One of the crooks working your area hit a tree last month while being chased by a cop and is now out of commission. :)
     
  10. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You can get the struts for $118.26 free shipping here (not always in stock). And most mechanics would charge 2 hours of labor (probably 3 even though only takes 1 hour lol).