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Got sold a lemon

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Gino Veltri, May 3, 2023.

  1. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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    So i saw a 2nd gen prius at the dealership for a great price 2K, high milage (281xxx) but in my experience this car doesnt care about miles. I bought it "as is". And as soon as i drive it off the lot (seriously within 1 min), the thing lights up like a christmas tree. Now im only so stupid, i expected to have to do a little work, replace the hybrid battery, and change some fluids, etc. But this thing is highly unsafe to drive. There's a terrible wheel bearing noise when on the highway, when you push the gas the traction control light blinks, it starting doing this pulsing thing on the highway check engine came on so not able to smog it. Im hearing mixed results on is it legal for a dealership to sell a car that wont pass emissions? This is Exactly what i was worried about as i already have enough cars that cant pass emissions just racking up tickets.

    Do i have any recourse here? sale was 8 hours ago. in Colorado. Dept of Transport? Public Utilities Commission?
     
  2. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    You didn't take it for a drive before you paid?
     
  3. highmilesgarage

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    if sold in dealership at that price that should have an "AS IS" label/sticker on the window to protect the seller. It's very rare to see a decent dealership sell this kind of car to the public since it will tarnish their reputation. If you bought it from a small used car lot (buy here pay here) then things could go shady and you could argue with the people their the whole day or weeks or month without any recourse.. lessons learned.. I think you just have a bad wheel bearing and fixing it might solve the traction control issue until another one comes up.
     
  4. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Unfortunately, Colorado’s lemon law only applies to new vehicles. You can file complaints and write reviews and of course ask the dealership for a refund. Talk to the owner, not the jackass who sold you the car.
     
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Usually "as-is" means the buyer is waiving any state & local legal protections and is allowing the seller to optionally define a warranty. Might be different in Colorado.

    I agree with highmilesgarage that it's a bit weird for a dealer to sell this car to the public rather than send it to an auction, but what's done is done.

    And I second the suggestion to fix the wheel bearing. Bad data from one wheel speed sensor can make these cars act very poorly on the road.
     
  6. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    It was.

    Caveat emptor.
     
  7. rogerthat

    rogerthat Active Member

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    Don't fix the wheel bearing. Take it back to the dealer. Dealer's reputation is not worth $2k, he might be willing to compromise. Be nice and see what happens. It doesn't sound like this car is a good fit for you anyway.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might not need as much work as you think
     
  9. prius16

    prius16 Active Member

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    Steve Lehto Vault - YouTube
     
  10. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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    I did test drive the shit out of it, but no lights came on and I recognized it likely had a bad wheel bearing. I just didn’t realize how bad the bearing was. Like now I don’t even think I can make it back to the dealership without causing more damage…can a bad wheel bearing damage the transmission? Especially if it’s already doing that pulsing limp kinda thing?
     
  11. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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    Holy Jesus… the scan shows 31 dtc. Can this possibly be right? 0D0BE588-BD28-4199-84A9-72F26AF10EB7.png 00E1026B-F560-4FF3-B061-E881FE1F5722.png 2A8D2936-E42C-4448-BE21-1E31DA8D0ECD.png E580BF3D-FAA2-4E22-85B9-C7F80BA14DC5.png
     
  12. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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  13. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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    I cleared it, we will see if it returns. Post above was right, car might not need as much work as originally thought. But which wheel bearing is bad I f the noise goes away when I turn left?
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just a guess, but a left turn puts more pressure on the right wheel?
     
  15. highmilesgarage

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    it will be the right side (opposite)

    some of those codes will show up with several ignition cycles, they'll not show up immediately after clearing. You have to drive it a lot for the sensors and computers to spit out a code if they are really bad. Nice that no HV battery related codes show up.. possibly a new heater/coolant control valve (just did mine recently...leaking), oxygen sensor, plugs and oil change is all it needs.
     
  16. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Unfortunately just put a set of wheel bearings in it and be done with it. That's the way to do that You know it doesn't have to be done again Don't you have another one of these cars sitting somewhere I usually try and have a set of hubs out of the car so I have two Gen 2 hubs and two gen three hubs not in the car sitting in my garage and I usually have new bearings in them and they're ready to go with a new lower ball joint on the bottom ready to connect to the lower control arm and ready to bolt the strut two bolts in at the top of the hub so if I do anything when I put this on the car I might be putting a new strut on and an end link but the hub the aluminum part with the bearing is sitting in my shop ready to go since I have so many of these cars it's quicker to just have a set out built ready to go on whatever car I want to put it on rather than to have to take the car apart fix the one on the car put it all back together etc this way here you're knocking out 11 bolts something like that per side putting in the new piece putting the bolts back in doing the other side dropping the car down and heading for an alignment
     
  17. ColoradoCrow

    ColoradoCrow Active Member

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    [​IMG] upload_2023-5-4_12-49-52.png
    Wheel Bearing and Hub (Left, Right, Front)

    Part Number: 43510-47012
    Options: Left Front, Right Front
    Other Names: Front Hub, Hub Bearing Assembly
    Replaces: 43510-47010, 43510-47011
    Description: Fits PriusWheel Hub And Bearing Assembly - Repair or ReplaceA wheel Hub may need to be replaced if the wheel bearing in your Toyota... More Info
    MSRP $262.42
    $184.58 At Olathe Toyota. I would Also buy 2 and do both at once for piece of mind. But if price is an issue. One at a time.

    I would call Pederson Toyota and talk to the head of the parts Department and see if they will price match Olathe. Then you can get it faster and get to work...depends on how much time you have.
     
  18. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    That P1121 will return- it's 99% likely that it needs a 3-way coolant control valve.

    Flip a coin. Heads it's the right wheel bearing, tails is left. That's how accurate guessing from the driver's seat is.

    Raise and support the front of the car. Rotate a front wheel. If the bearing is really bad, you'll feel - hear it just spinning it by hand.

    What app are you using? That first scan was complete garbage. Which makes me question if anything else it says is good. Or if it can check any other system on your Gen2.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  19. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

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    Money Pit PRIUS:(=That is why that Dealer was Happy to sell it to you for only $2k
     
  20. Gino Veltri

    Gino Veltri Member

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    Yeah, thats what ive got planned for the weekend. I got this set off amazon but some other posts have got me scared shitless of this job. Is it really that monumentous (is that even a word?) of a task? I like learning new things but what i dont like is causing VSC ! and ABS lights to come on that persistB forever. Seems to be a lot of caution around the speed sensor issue as well (I dont recall even seeing such a sensor in this area). Sounds like a jiob that'll take a day or three for me. Yes, i do have other pri...in fact one too many now.