replace sensor only in 2001 pedal?

denver 2001 · Aug 16, 2008

I have a 2001 base prius with about 50,000 miles. It is just out of all warranties due to age. The car suddenly began losing power intermittenly. With code P1437 dealer is recommending replacement of the pedal sensor for almost $700. (PArt price $465)I verified that this is for the sensor only, not the whole assembly. This seems high, especially compared to the price of replacing the whole assembly.

I am not finding recent posts here on the topic, perhaps due to the model's age. If I hope to keep the car another 5-10 years, should I replace the whole assembly? Has anyone used a non-dealer for repairs in Denver?

Thanks

bwilson4web · Aug 16, 2008

I picked up Doug's old business of pedal refurbishment. If you want to do it yourself, the process is fairly simple:

1) Take the accelerator out of car
2) Dremel remove the lip around the cover of the dual pots
3) Use a swab and contact cleaner on the pot surfaces until clean
4) Using a small 'flat', raise the pickup arms to re-tension them and the contact probes
5) Use JB Weld to reseal the pot cover and a clamp to hold
6) Reinstall accelerator

Many of the details are here:
Swapping Accelerator Assembly

This is my test setup:

The other alternative is to send an e-mail to:

[email protected]

I charge $150 for a refurbished accelerator with a $50, refundable core charge. I also check for bent accelerator arms:

Let me know what you want to do.

Bob Wilson