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Newbie with a few Q's...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Cadenza, Sep 12, 2014.

  1. Cadenza

    Cadenza Member

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    Needed a more fuel efficient daily beater so I went a got one of them Prii.... 2005 (Pkg 6), 128k new with the requisite door dings and scratches!!!

    The Good: after 4 tanks, the average MPG is 50 (calculated at the pump). The traction battery stays mostly at 5-6 bars. All recall items are up-to-date and most of the maintenance work were done at the stealerships...

    - ATF changed 2x (last at 99k)
    - Inverter coolant flushed with new electric coolant pump (70k)
    - ICE radiator coolant flushed 2x (last with new coolant pump, 107k)
    - New belt at 80k
    - Brake fluid flushed 1x (80k)
    - Headlight control sensor replaced 1x
    - Alignment done 2x (last 100k)
    - 12v battery replaced 1x (48k), currently reads 12.4v via MFD
    - Fuel injection service & throttle body cleaning done 2x (last 107k)

    The Bad: intermittent passenger-side HID headlight, driver door check no workie, and 3 dead LEDs in the brake lights, only 2 strips of the rear window defroster work... might have been damaged by the tint work.

    The Ugly: the trademark, dull, Toyota-esque handling and steering feel and no lumbar support!!!

    I would appreciate any tips on fixing "The Bad". Looks like I should toss the spark plugs and PCV valve. What other stuff should I inspect? Who's a good retailer for OEM maintenance parts? And what service manual do you recommend?

    Thanks...
     
    #1 Cadenza, Sep 12, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe look at your brakes, some go earlier than others. congrats, all the best!(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Sep 12, 2014
  3. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    You should be able to order a new taillight. I would check with Steve at autobeyours.com or Ebay. Rear defroster might be a lost cause (unfortunately).

    There are several threads on PC about fixing the HID's. Most of the time it is the ballast.

    What is a driver door check?
     
    #3 usnavystgc, Sep 12, 2014
  4. Cadenza

    Cadenza Member

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    Tail light - the individual LEDs cannot be replaced?

    Door check - I call it the door 'detente' to hold the door open. When broken, the door swings back.

    Rear brake drum - what size is that bolt to nudge the drum off the hub?
     
    #4 Cadenza, Sep 12, 2014
  5. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    I'm told the tail light is nearly impossible to disassemble without ruining it.
     
    #5 usnavystgc, Sep 12, 2014
  6. Cadenza

    Cadenza Member

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    Argh... brilliant.
     
    #6 Cadenza, Sep 12, 2014
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, one of toyota's more amazing decisions. i think they are around 85 bucks.
     
    #7 bisco, Sep 12, 2014
  8. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    M8 x 1.25 x 30 (you can get a longer bolt if you want, but no shorter than 30mm).

    I like the Bentley book; good for most maintenance items and explains the workings of the Prius.

    If your serious about maintenance and want to DIY:
    Buy the short term subscription to Toyota Techincal Information System, and download the complete repair manual. LINK
    Get a mini VCI cable off Amazon/eBay, if you have a spare Win XP or 7 (32Bit) laptop. A Mac laptop supposedly can run Win XP 32bit? I don't have a Mac, but I remember someone says this is possible w/ a Mac.
     
    #8 exstudent, Sep 13, 2014
  9. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

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    #9 valde3, Sep 13, 2014
  10. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If the rear screen heater is damaged by small scratches through the heating strips, they can be repaired by conductive paint. Available from Amazon, and Ebay.
    Increasing the tyre pressures, and going up to the next size of tyre helps the dead, and wondering steering.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #10 Britprius, Sep 13, 2014
    usnavystgc likes this.
  11. Cadenza

    Cadenza Member

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    I see so many VCI cables with Techstream on Ebay/Amazon. Which to get? I prefer Amazon due to their return policy. And though I have an Win XP 32 bit laptop, can I run the software on Win 7?

    I'd like to learn more about the traction battery.

    Thanks!
     
    #11 Cadenza, Oct 7, 2014
  12. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    You can load the VCI drivers in Windows 7 but it is not strait forwards. Vista or Win XP 32 bit is easy. Some anti virus programs report a virus, but I believe it is part of the update package that causes this.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #12 Britprius, Oct 7, 2014
  13. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    ANY 32bit operating system of XP, 7, and even 8 (if you can find it).

    All those mini VCI cables are knock offs, and probably come from the same one or two manufactures in China. Doesn't matter who you buy it from, as they all come from the same source.
     
    #13 exstudent, Oct 7, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2014
  14. Cadenza

    Cadenza Member

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    Thanks!!!
     
    #14 Cadenza, Oct 8, 2014
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