Newbie needs help with Project Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by VintageDave393, Feb 8, 2026 at 1:41 PM.

  1. VintageDave393

    VintageDave393 New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2025
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    Location:
    Ozark, AL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    First post here so be gentle...

    Right after Christmas I bought a non-running 2008 Prius from a seller nearby. Seller said it had a cooling issue, had gotten a mobile mechanic to look at it, and then the mobile mechanic ghosted him. Totally believable story in this area. I'm a competent mechanic so the price was low enough that I took on the project. Car had been sitting for 6 weeks so both the 12 volt and hybrid battery were low and car wouldn't start. Loaded it on a trailer and brought it home.

    Seller included a brand new 12 volt battery with the sale that hadn't been installed. Installed it and still couldn't get the car to start. Wouldn't go to ready and hybrid pack was unbalanced and only showing 194 volts so I spent the next couple of weeks reconditioning cells and rebuilding the battery pack. Got that done last week.

    Installed the HV battery and car still wouldn't go to ready. Started tracing fuses and pulling codes with an Autel AP200. Found that the IG fuse under the dash was in the wrong slot so put it in the correct hole. Car now goes to ready. ICE still wouldn't turn over. Had a P0118 code (high temp) and the cooling fans were running at high. Figured it was a bad engine coolant temp sensor so I replaced it yesterday. Problem solved.

    Got a coolant pressure tester hooked up and couldn't get any pressure to build. Added water...and started getting a persistent oil leak from above the oil pan. Not good. Jacked the car up and there is a new "inspection hole" in the block right above the oil pan.:(. Some "cooling problem". Also should mention that the mileage displayed is 138,000...but today I logged into the Toyota site and see the 47 maintenance records, that's good, but the last mileage noted was 277,000. Not a happy camper.:mad: Obviously not a honest seller. It's on me for trusting the guy and not doing more due dilligence.

    So, I'm all about suggestions for the best place to find a good, relatively cheap, used engine. I'm in south Alabama near the Florida Panhandle so closer is better.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    13,202
    2,386
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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Man I'm from T-Town you shouldn't have any problem finding an engine in vestavia hills b ham or T town . I've got three in my yard in North Carolina but that's kind of pointless with whats down theyre.
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    13,202
    2,386
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Wen you do get engine . You have very lil room to crane out engine . Take crank pulley off . That'll get you just enough clearance pull engine to left and up . You will be scraping frame rail with timing cover. You won't break it it's razor close