$1300 to replace fuel level sending unit??!!

I've belatedly come to the conclusion the 2007 Prius base with 65K miles was no bargain at all. First, the battery pack went out within weeks of my February 2018 purchase, and now the dash display unit and fuel level sending unit quit. Total bills for this $7000 bargain thus far are approximately $6200.

Lucky for me I had bought an extended warranty from my credit union, and the selling dealership actually coughed up the payment for the battery, so all repairs have been covered with the exception of the fuel level sending unit, for which I'm now on the hook for about $1300 if the dealer repairs it. This is ridiculous! As the Houston dealer describes it, the sending unit, primary fuel pump AND the fuel tank are one integral unit and the replacement of one means they all get replaced. Warranty covers the pump, but not the other parts. And IF they covered the sending unit, they wouldn't cover the fuel pump or tank. How's that for a gotcha? My local independent garage says the dealership is gouging me and told me they can do it for $700. I just need to have my daughter bring it back from Houston to San Antonio for two days.

I've submitted a request to the selling dealership, Cavender Toyota in San Antonio, to take back this POS as a lemon. Probably won't work, but I'm just thoroughly PO'd with this car. I will never, ever buy another Prius.

 

I actually met the PO, literally a widowed university research librarian who used it for commuting and traded it in for a new Prius!

 

The 12V battery and alternator are sound. Daughter reports display began showing erratic fuel consumption and fuel level readings about three weeks ago, ranging from displaying fuel economy ranging from 15 mpg to 100 mpg and fuel level ranging from full to empty, none of which were accurate as she determined when adding fuel to an "near-empty" tank. She took the car to Sterling-McCall Toyota in Houston and their diagnosis is attached. They state the display issue and fuel sender issue are coincidental, but I'm not so certain.

 

I consulted another Toyota dealership concerning the extended warranty company's refusal to cover the sending unit and the service manager said that's ridiculous, as the sending unit is actually a component of the fuel pump and its failure would lead inevitably to the failure of the main body. He told me the company is splitting hairs to deny coverage because the denial of this claim and a decision to drive the car and leave it unrepaired will simply result in the return of the car to the shop for the replacement of the main body. He also said it's highly improbable the sending unit is defective and the problem is likely with the instrument cluster only.

I found this:
Problem Description
The fuel gauge may read incorrectly. A service bulletin has been released by Toyota regarding this concern. The fuel filler pipe or the instrument cluster may need to be replaced to correct this concern.
Fuel Guage may not read correctly : Toyota Prius Electrical and Lights

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjWlfv1tZzeAhVKQ6wKHeQ1CAgQFjAAegQIChAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpriuschat.com%2Fattachments%2Ft-sb-0163-08-pdf.11293%2F&usg=AOvVaw3dwvunBBYBZPTjozMIBz7y

Erratic gas gage on 2007 toyota prius - Maintenance/Repairs - Car Talk Community

I'm beginning to think there is no problem at all with the fuel level sending unit and the dealer is using the shotgun approach to the issue, at great unnecessary expense to me.

 

Not aware. They're going to install the instrument cluster first and recalibrate the fuel gauge to see if the problem is solved. This is goofy from the start. How does one get an accurate fuel reading when the fuel tank is actually a bladder that expands and contracts, hence changing its volume?

 

Instrument cluster is covered. Not the sender, if it's also at fault. But the dealer will argue the point with the insurance folks if it comes to that.

 

An 07 with 65k miles and a new HV battery.. sounds like a keeper

. . . other than the fact that the new HV battery and peripherals, new water pump, new 12V battery, new instrument cluster and possibly new fuel pump are all after the original February 2018 $7000 purchase price plus the additional $1500 for an extended warranty. My daughter and my pocketbook would have been far better off with a good used Subaru Forester. I'm still waiting on a buyback response from the original selling dealer, Cavender Toyota, because at point I have no confidence in this car. These integrated systems are too complex to expect my daughter to deal with them.

 

Dealer has replaced the instrument cluster and calibrated the fuel gauge. Appears to be functioning normally with no replacement of any other components. Won't know for certain until the passage of a few days of driving.

 

How?

 

Wow! That's pretty comprehensive. Does it apply to the 2007 model year?