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Can't be !! Coolant valve already

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by alanwagen, Apr 10, 2011.

  1. alanwagen

    alanwagen Member

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    I am totally POed about my wifes 09 with 40k already needing a coolant valve at the tune of $332.61 Where the heck is Toyota's legendary reliability? We had two Buicks before that did need any service. Her check engine light came on, so we took it in and was told about a "COOLANT FLOW CONTROL VALVE" being stuck. Of course not under any warranty such as powertrain or emissions. I wonder if this is common and if there is a secret warranty? Should I contact the manufacturer? Please advise.:suspicious:
     
    #1 alanwagen, Apr 10, 2011
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Ask the dealer which DTCs were reported. Did anyone ever add the wrong coolant? If not, it's worth a call to Toyota to see whether they will chip in.

    Otherwise, yeah, stuff does happen.
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Apr 10, 2011
  3. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Please list all services performed on your car other than oil+filter changes and tire rotations -- i.e. there should not have been anything else done other than those on a car this young. Is there any reason to think that someone serviced the cooling system and did not bleed/refill it properly? Or for some reason they disconnected the hoses and reconnected them wrong?

    EDIT: warranty only covers the valve to 3/36. But failure on an '09 is unusual, due to the introduction of a redesigned component.
     
    #3 seilerts, Apr 10, 2011
  4. alanwagen

    alanwagen Member

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    All we had done was oil changes and air filters. Nothing else. Maybe it is a anomaly but I did notice other posts concerning the Coolant valve. It is almost embarrassing that this happened to such a newish car. It just reinforces the naysayers against the Prius.
     
    #4 alanwagen, Apr 10, 2011
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no warranty?
     
    #5 bisco, Apr 10, 2011
  6. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Why doesn't the powertrain warranty cover this? The coolant is a necessary part of the engine. I'd really make a stink about it with Toyota's regional rep. Plus the car is only 4k mi. over the basic warranty.
     
    #6 paprius4030, Apr 10, 2011
  7. alanwagen

    alanwagen Member

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    I sent an e-mail to Toyota customer service, I will update with the results.
     
    #7 alanwagen, Apr 10, 2011
  8. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Also get it diagnosed a a different dealer. They do make mistakes.
     
    #8 richard schumacher, Apr 11, 2011
  9. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    The TSB that applies to 04-07 quotes 3 years/36,000 miles as the warranty coverage. It's really odd that they can get away with basic warranty coverage since it is an emissions component! Failure this early in an 09 is unusual though.

    By the way, $333 is a reasonable price for this repair.
     
    #9 seilerts, Apr 11, 2011
  10. alanwagen

    alanwagen Member

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    I have to take it back. The coolant is low, broken upper push clip, missing lower panel clip and missing screw on lower panel near front bumper.
    Some snotty nose kid must of done this. What should I ask for my trouble?
    Now I am justified to be POed.
     
    #10 alanwagen, Apr 11, 2011
  11. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Low ICE coolant can cause the valve to stick as the coolant acts as a lubricant. It is easy to have low coolant after a coolant refresh as one has to take care to remove any air in the system. The same happened to me and I had the dealer pop for a flatbed tow back to correct the problem. They are now unlikely to make the same mistake again.

    JeffD
     
    #11 jdenenberg, Apr 12, 2011
  12. alanwagen

    alanwagen Member

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    Good news, after I contacted Toyota Customer Service via the net, they waived the charges and will refund our money. I had to fax the work orders and they granted a one time good will gesture. This goes to show that it never hurts to ask.

    best regards, :)
     
    #12 alanwagen, Apr 17, 2011
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