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My 2014 v is dead! Help!

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cmargo10, Feb 2, 2021.

  1. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Think of a car's ecu as if it was a PC. The PC can't record the keystrokes if it it is powered off suddenly by pulling the plug or while it is locked up with a glitch. However when it is powered up or restarted it can do all the normal tasks it was programmed for including picking up an error. You have something very similar going on. Its a difficult problem which can be caused by a thousand things. You need Toyota's expert tech or an independent diagnostician.

    No it does not sound like one specific part because it could be a rodent, broken wire, overheating transistor, a thousand things.
     
    #21 rjparker, Feb 25, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2021
  2. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    Well does it sound like a failure of the hybrid inverter assembly? In order for them to replace that they need to retrieve certain codes, which they cant.

    SM-A716U ?
     
  3. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    Thanks rj for hanging in here w me. Appreciate it!

    SM-A716U ?
     
  4. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    No, they don't "need" to do any such thing.
    This just means that they are too ignorant to know any other way to test things.
    It seems that there really are NO good mechanics or technicians in the auto industry any more.
     
  5. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    @rjparker would techstream possibly be able to grab freeze data if hooked up when the car flakes out like @cmargo10 describes above.
     
  6. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    So technician replicates car stall several times while driving and was recording it somehow and still couldn't record any codes. I'm at a loss. I'mlooking at leasing a car. It looks like this is a total loss.i can't sell, or give it away as it is officially a death trap

    SM-A716U ?
     
  7. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    The dealer offered me $7500 for my car against a lease

    SM-A716U ?
     
  8. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    That's a sad story, and not that unusual, unfortunately!

    There may be other options besides the dealer, at least in some parts of the US, that are exclusively Hybrid. Some even used to be exclusively Prius. Sometimes hybrid specialist can find strange issues from a wealth of experience most dealers don't have, due to the range of vehicles the dealers are responsible for the maintaining.
     
  9. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    So the dealership salesman offered me $7500 plus wipe out anything i owe to service dept. Toward a lease. I test drove the 2021 Rav 4 hybrid le and hated it (for several reasons). The lease, for 3 years and 15k miles per year, would cost $14,172.00 over course of 3 year lease, which i would consider if i LoVed the car, but i dont.
    I texted Jeff today to see if he would give me the $7500 if i bought a car elsewhere, (i am awesome at buying used cars btw) and Jeff said no, it's only to move something of his lot.
    They dont have much that interests me but they have a 2017 prius v 3 for $19300. 59k miles, certified car that has been serviced at this dealership.
    I txted jeff and he said we could do that deal. What do u all think?
    Carvana was going to buy my car for $12,300 but that is w out mechanical problems. Carmax was going to give $9300 not knowing it has problems. Vroom offered me $7200 with me saying it starts and runs but engine light is on. I still feel like that is not being completely honest on my part to Vroom. Car brain offered me a range of $2200-4500 with engine light.

    SM-A716U ?
     
  10. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I really don't think you'll get a better deal than what this dealer is offering you.

    It's a drag that you're losing so much value there, but I don't see a cheaper way out.
     
    cmargo10 likes this.
  11. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    Ok, so they dont have many affordable cars there. There is 2017 prius v 3 59k for $19k. A 2018 hyundai santa fe se with only 10k miles for $16k...that car is very basic. They have a few hybrid camrys le 20-30k miles w for $20-21k. A few used corrolas, all le. The used Rav 4's are not much cheaper thsn new. Help me decide please!!

    SM-A716U ?
     
  12. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    If I had just had my butt kicked by a complex car, I'd be all about a simple one next. Santa Fe or Corolla all the way. Way less stuff to break, way less chance you'd wind up repeating this experience.

    If you're driving more than 2000 miles a month then a hybrid really can save you something. Less than that and it's just a shell game, everything you save at the pump goes (and more) goes into the car payment.
     
  13. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    That makes sense coalrider. So im leaning toward the Basic 2018 Santa Fe w 10k miles for $16k or they also have a 2020 Rogue sl awd pretty loaded w 15k miles for $24k.
    So they are both good size suv with low miles one is stripped down (say hello, Garmin gps from best buy) the other has pretty much everything but it is a weird color.
    I also had planned to drive my prius for 3 more years, then give it to my 13 yr old granddaughter, who would be 16 then. No way can i pay off the rogue in time to do that, but maybe the Santa fe. This really sucks. I cant believe service dept cant figure this out. Im so sad

    SM-A716U ?
     
  14. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    You mean you'd have to start with this, right out of the gate.

    In 3ish years that Rogue is going to need (something) attached with a suction cup because the built in system can't do it and can't be updated.

    Not because it's a Rogue or anything; just because that's how cars are now. Is that 3 year window really worth all the extra payments? I got off that treadmill a while ago. I seek out simpler cars and selectively add "Best Buy" type stuff back in, because I can usually replace that stuff with the modern version later. Way cheaper than replacing the car.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    I bought the hyundai Tucson. 2018 with only 10k miles and a clean carfax. Time to move on! I hope this car serves me better than my poor beloved Prius. R.I.P. 20210301_175748.jpg

    SM-A716U ?
     
  16. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Very possible. But I won't even know that if it happens with any of my vehicles......because I don't use but maybe 20% of the electronic "features" in the first place.
    And it should not be true of the NAV system.
    Both of mine can load updated maps.
     
  18. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I didn't want to bash another dealership, before I knew more about it. It sounded like a typical dealer tactic to me initially, which I tried to give a strong hint above, I'll will say that it is sad that this kind of thing happens so often, all one has to do is read the posts on the internet to see how many have experienced the same types of issues.
    My thought is not that the dealer couldn't find out what was wrong with it, but ---- , because their business is cars and that's just how business is done with cars.

    I hope you enjoy your Tucson and it provides you with the a safe and trouble free life - and it has OEM remote start so you don't have to go to best buy and have them install one.

    ps: glad you didn't have to pay (any cash) for the service call that couldn't find any issues with your V. How nice of them.
     
    #38 vvillovv, Mar 2, 2021
    Last edited: Mar 2, 2021
  19. cmargo10

    cmargo10 Junior Member

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    I know they tried hard to find problem and i think it really was an awkward situation for them. I dont think for a second they knew what was wrong but pretended they didnt in order to screw me. Had they found the problem i know the manager would have given me a big discount off what was so far over 11 hours off diagnostics, and they would have repaired the car using normal prices. Could I be wrong and naive? Yes. But I never got that vibe.
    The mechanic who was working on it was shaking after several times of it stalling while driving. The car is in the lot and interior is torn apart from them looking for issue.
    The front of the house, sales, was not slimy at all. He offered me $7500 and clear back of the house bill. I could only use that money on something on thier lot. They are a single dealership. ( some dealerships out here have multiple locations and auto makers)
    I have a super power of finding very low mileage 1 or 2 year old cars at great prices. I'm great at it. I lost my ability to scout an awesome deal by being limited to thier smallish lot. That was probably the hardest thing for me to deal w, after losing my truly beloved car.
    This is really a cautionary tale for everyone to buy the automakers extended warranty when you buy a new car, our a used car that is still within the bumper to bumper. Don't make the mistake i made! Don't buy the after market warranty no matter how they push it.
    If I would have waited and pushed more, would corporate Toyota done anything for me? It's hard to guess and my guess was no, the car was 5 1/2 years old, so not alot of room for goodwill there. If I waited and pushed Toyota corporate would the dealer have taken away thier offer to me? Maybe. I dont know. I talked about it here and with trusted family and friends and everyone urged me to take the $7500 deal and cut my losses and try and get in a car.
    I had really wanted to drive my Prius another 3 years and give it to my grandaughter who would be 16 then. I can pay off this Tuscon in 3 years and still have that option, which takes the sting out. But i wanted so much to give her the prius i had driven her and here friends around in so much. It literally makes me cry when i think off that because i am a sentimental person.
    Anyway i guess now i dont belong on prius chat anymore. I wasnt very active, just mostly a lurker because my car was always relatively fine. Thanks everyone. Good luck

    SM-A716U ?
     
    vvillovv likes this.
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    A lot of dealerships make their real profits in the service bays. This one wanted to, and couldn't.

    I'm not saying the dealer didn't gain any advantage here, just that they probably would have preferred to fix the Prius, bill cmargo and/or The Holy Toyota Warranty Account for lots of money and then sell the Hyundai to another party altogether.
     
    cmargo10 likes this.