???'s On Recalls/tsb's....

LMAO

if DH wasn't so busy now with school (we're approaching the midterm crush), he'd even create his own username to participate in that.

 

Good thing other techs are finally coming here. I have not been around much these last few years ( sorry, ) but like to help when I can also. This site has grown so much since I joined and I see it growing more. Good thing that there are helpful owners like Evan, jayman and others ( sorry can't remember you all ) that keep the place in order. And lets not forget galaxee and her hubby for helping. Even if I am not here much, I do check my email at least once a week and my PM is set to let me know if any have come in. Does Kyle still check in?

 

I would also like to thank the techs, Toyota reps (anonymous and otherwise!), and tech-savvy 'civilians' who add so much to PriusChat.

As far as open questions that the techs might speak to:

1) Is there really anything to NHW20 'uncontrolled acceleration' besides hit the wrong pedal or rug-in-a-bunch?

2) HV battery rebuilding by Toyota was reported last September

Toyota: Reconditioning Can Extend Hybrid Battery Life

But I have not seen anything official about it since. Comments?

 

Um, hasn't the Prius been around since 1997/98? I distinctly saw something about the 10 year anniversary of the Prius...

Now, perhaps you mean Gen II, but, wasn't that 2004?

 

C'mon Rae, tech wants to be *helpful*. I give the benefit of the doubt that (s)he knows the JDM NHW10 in Japan Dec. 1997, Export NHW11 in US in Oct. 2000, and NHW20 Oct. 2003.

Don't be scaring away helpful newcomers, or I'll throw a hex on your HVB service plug

 

Hmmm? I guess I missed a few years since I had training in '00 and it came out in '03, . I should have forgotten all I learned by the time it came out. Sometimes the years just run into each other and we forget all about time. I can't believe the Prius has been out here so long in the states. Seems like it was not that long ago in '00 when my service mange came up to me and said " Your going to school on the new Prius hybrid ". I didn't know what to say,but glad I jumped in at the beginning. Been a great time and looking for many more, .

1) Is there really anything to NHW20 'uncontrolled acceleration' besides hit the wrong pedal or rug-in-a-bunch?

2) HV battery rebuilding by Toyota was reported last September


Those are the only 2 things I can think of for the unwanted accelerate. Never seen one accelerate by itself.

I also never heard of a rebuilt HV battery. But I sometimes don't keep up on the online news much.

 

PM you my vin #? maybe its just me but that doesnt sound like a good idea.

How do we know this guy is really a toyota tech?

 

The 10 year anniversary celebrates the 1997 launch of the Prius in Japan market only, and I think it was introduced to US market a couple of years later, perhaps 2000. The whole history is in the book "The Prius that Changed the World" which I believe is linked as a PDF somewhere around this place.

I am very happy to know we have Toyota Reps and Techs that are interrested in what we have to say as an eclectic group of Prius enthusiasts. Some of us want to know many details about how are cars work, and some of us are more keenly aware of the outside interface to all the technical wizardry.

Also for the record, all modifications to my own vehicle which I have eluded to in various posts are hypothetical "what if' scenarios.

 

Thanks very much for your offer of assistance! I have two questions:

1. Do you know of any Prius-specific TSBs or SSCs published since May 2007; if so could you please upload the .pdf files in your reply.

2. I have heard that 2008 Prius is now being shipped with 5W-20 synthetic oil; is this true? If true, will Toyota issue a revision to TSB EG050-04 to allow use of this thinner weight oil by older Prius?

Patrick Wong

 

Hey Patrick, I will take a stab at this;

Why wonder about any TSB's or SSCs on the Prius? If your Prius has an SSC, you should get a letter from Toyota stating so and to see your dealer. If you haven't gotten a letter and are curious about any open SSC's on your car, they can run your VIN and tell you if there are any. As for TSB's they are to help the techs diagnose concerns. For example, if there is a TSB for an ECU reflash for a certain condition, should everybody run out and get it done? No. If your car is operating normally and not in the VIN range or exhibiting the condition the TSB is noted for, you should not get it done. Trying to correct a condition that you don't have could give you some other condition that you never had. And after reflashing, you can't go back to your original calibration. Information,such as TSB's are good, but there are times when to much info can be as bad as to little. Just be concerned with any problems you have right now. Any questions, just post them here and someone may have the answer or direct you to it. Specific questions are easier then general ones.

As for synthetic oil, the Prius still uses multi grade 5W-30 or 10W-30 oil. I have not heard or read yet anything other than that.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your reply. I've maintained a list of Prius-related TSBs and SSCs, up to early 2007 when my subscription access expired. I use that library as well as the Toyota technical training docs and repair manual info when responding to other posters' queries so that my responses are fact-based to the fullest extent possible.