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Got a new 2012 Four!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by brzy25, Aug 17, 2021.

  1. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Picked up a 2012 with only 75k miles and a full 5k oil change interval service history. It was either this one or an ATP Five with 120k miles. Really wanted the radar cruise but went with the lower miles and solar sunroof. Loving it so far. Price wasn't great but it halved my monthly gas cost and the tech and interior upgrades are nice compared to my old Corolla. Swapped over my CarPlay radio from my old car so I have my precious Waze. Plan to keep this thing for as long as I can.
     

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    ASRDogman, Tideland Prius and bisco like this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    gorgeous!
    congrats and welcome!

    jump on the egr cleaning and oil catch can asap, before she blows the head gasket. you got her at the perfect mileage!

    all the best!(y)
     
  3. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    Congrats!

    Magnificent looking car!

    Welcome to PC
    Scroll around the forum and read up on the Gen 3
    Many hear can answer you questions and help out with anything.

    Take care of her, and she will put out the mpg!
     
  4. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Catch can install on YouTube looks easy enough, ordered the hoses, Ruien catch can, and a new pcv valve while I'm in there.
     
    bisco likes this.
  5. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Just to update, got the dreaded "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" alert driving home from work the other day along with the P0A94 error code. At 93k miles. Dropped it off at Toyota after confirming it wasn't a water pump code, got quoted later that day $3700 to fix it. Informed them of the ZE3 warranty enhancement program, and looks like Toyota is covering it. There's apparently a ton of parts on order including some brake part. Will update on what happens.

    My HUD projector also apparently died back in December, but since it doesn't affect anything else I'm too cheap and lazy too rip the dash apart to replace it.
     

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    #5 brzy25, Apr 29, 2022
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2022
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  6. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Car is still in the shop, Toyota is covering it. Unfortunately I'm still waiting on some kind of gasket and they don't have an ETA for it. Getting kind of annoyed I need that car.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ask for free loaner?
     
  8. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    They said no. Apparently the part I was waiting on was a $90 tube of gasket maker, Packing seal 0882600100. I called the other Toyota dealer and they had it. Called the closer one with my car back and they said they'd call them and see if they could start the work Monday. Little annoyed they've been sitting on my car for 2 weeks waiting for a $90 tube of goop the other dealer had.
     
  9. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Got my car back, seems to be running good. Toyota covered everything. Happy to have it back!
     
  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    What exactly did they replace? Inverter? Brake Booster? Both?
     
  11. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    Inverter transistor pack and coolant? Don't know, that's the receipt. Apparently didn't need the other brake stuff. No codes so probably fine?
     

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    #11 brzy25, May 18, 2022
    Last edited: May 18, 2022
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Dealership dropped the ball there.
     
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Dealers make much less when Toyota pays the bill. Think about it. Most people would not know about the customer support programs. It is not a lack of knowledge at the dealer service department.
     
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Paging Nader’s Raiders.
     
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  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Texas is still the wild west when it comes to skirting consumer fraud laws. There are reduced consumer protections largely due to "tort reform". This is not Canada.
     
    #15 rjparker, May 18, 2022
    Last edited: May 18, 2022
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  16. bigrin

    bigrin Junior Member

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    RJ Parker, glad to see you still on PChat. Wrote you a few years back and you helped me immensely. My 14' V still running strong. Coming up on 100K miles now. Any advice from the most knowledgeable person on Pchat!?
     
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Change your oil every 5k miles. Check out the Car Care Nut video on egrs.





    “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

    ― Confucious
     
  18. brzy25

    brzy25 Junior Member

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    I tried the 10k oil change interval this time, going 85k to 95k. A little paranoid about it, but my daily roundtrip commute is 100 miles highway so I figure the oil is getting hot enough to burn off any condensation contaminates. Oil looks ok on the dipstick, but may switch back to 5k after this though. Glad to be seeing 50mpg on my commute again, driving a big SUV to work with these gas prices has sucked.
     
  19. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    You are making a huge mistake going 10k miles on an oil change in this car. The engine replacement won't be covered. Toyota did fix the flawed ring design for a lucky few in the first 60k miles but they had to be burning a quart every 1,200 miles to qualify. Because of the flawed rings in your engine, it is essential to keep the carbon buildup down so the rings don't stick. Once they clog its downhill from there. Then you might have to follow this simple procedure in your off time. It starts with Remove the Engine followed by Disassemble the Engine.
     

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    #19 rjparker, May 19, 2022
    Last edited: May 19, 2022
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  20. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Agree Rjparker! A few extra dollars now will save a boat load of money in the long run.