Advice for newbie on high mileage Prius 2006

I have 92,000 on a 2009, so I do not regard 70,000 as high mileage.

There are two batteries, the 12 volt is under $200 and is nearing it's end of life, if original.
Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 +

The big HV battery may well be 1/3 of the way though its life as well. Rebuilt batteries are about $2000, so if you set a side a penny a mile, you should be ready.
Remanufactured Hybrid Vehicle Battery Packs

Not all batteries are warrantied for 100,000 miles or 8 years, there are CARB states that get a 150,000/10 year warranty. You do not have a CARB state Prius. You cannot make a legal claim for a product that is not defective.

 

Yes there are two batteries on this Prius, a small 12volt battery in the rear compartment which starts the computers which start the car and the traction battery which is the big expensive one. The Traction battery has a 8 year or 100k warranty, so no worries there. The small battery
(12volt) usually has about a 4 to 5 year life span, so if it hasn't been replaced, it's probably about due. There is a way to check the health of the small battery, look it up in the owners manual.
Sounds to me like you are good to go, enjoy the car!

 

NO Toyota will not give you a new battery just because you want a new one.

 

Huh? Fly down on Friday night after work, visit with your father (parents?) on Saturday, and drive home on Sunday.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by, as you have likely several years and 100,000 miles of trouble-free use to look forward to.

 

If the car will have problems, you are doing a great favor to your father by taking care of it for him. So what's the worry?

 

That sounds like an excellent deal. Very easy driving on a Prius down here no hills.
And your no where's near worrying about the hybrid battery.
Forget about that.

Change the trans fluid asap though as your way overdue for that.
Go to the dealer and have them change that before your trip home.
Its about $150 and money well spent.

The little 12 volt I would replace though as soon as possible as its
due to be replaced also. Thats about $200 at the dealer.

 

Buying your father's Prius is going to be about the best known service history of any used car you could possibly imagine right. And 70k miles is not really a lot for a well maintained Prius, particularly one from the flatlands (the HV battery gets much more wear and tear in mountainous terrain).

I'd get it and do a couple of very simple maintenance items that the normal dealer service schedule doesn't include (clean battery cooling fan and change transaxle fluid) then sit back and enjoy one of the most reliable low maintenance cars you've ever owned.

 

I agree w/ uart. I am so used to doing maintenance on my previous cars I feel like somethings not right. I catch myself thinking "shouldn't I be doing some work on the car?" But then I remind myself that there's nothing to do. Even when I go to do something that's "required", like changing spark plugs at 105K, it seems to be in better shape than I expect. I change the tranny fluid @ 100k and it still looks new. Oil at 5k is still light brown. What a crazy car (in a good way)

You would do yourself a favor if you take this car. You will do someone else a favor if you don't.

 

Fact: A year ago I saw a 05 with 75K on the odometer at a stealer. They were asking 14.9K for it

70K on the odometer is nothing for a Prius. I bet your dad took great care of it. I would not hesitate one bit to buy it, even if I did not know the seller.

Change the tranny fluid and get a new 12 volt battery, then enjoy the MPG and the ride.

Don't overfill the gas tank (top off). Your Prius has a bladder in the gas tank. Lots of info here on PriusChat about it. You can damage the evap system if you top off and it cost's a lot of money to fix it. Just fill it slowly (read the manual) and when the pump kicks off you are done.

Ron (dorunron)