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Taking a 3000 mile trip=2008 Prius with 98k miles, should I worry =Post Tips & Suggestions .

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ski.dive, Jul 9, 2018.

  1. ski.dive

    ski.dive Active Member

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    Taking a 3000 mile trip
    2008 Prius with 98k miles,
    Should I worry about the trip?
    =Post Tips & Suggestions
     
  2. DMC-5180

    DMC-5180 Active Member

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    I took a 4000 mi trip in my 05 twice once at 150k and again at 185k. No worries. There was a third trip planned at 215k but I had an unexplained anomaly with the HV pack at the time the trip was going to take place, so I opted not to risk it and ended up renting a Chrysler 200 from Enterprise rentals. $330 for 10 days unlimited mileage. Very nice ride and quite interior. That trip averaged 36.1 over 3800 mi. Door to door. My earlier prius trips were about 43.0 average.


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  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    There's another post I started about seeing a high rate inverter pump failures and hv battery failures. If your inverter pump has more than 80,000 miles on it, you should change it before your trip.

    Also if the battery is original, you might want to recondition that battery before heading out for such a long trip.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    don't worry, nothing will likely happen. but make sure your cell phone is charged.
     
  5. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    We took ours on a 5800 mile coast to coast trip last summer and a 3000 mile trip to Colorado the year before. Next month we're doing the Colorado trip again.

    I use the Prolong system to condition the battery in December and June. That way I know the HV battery is in good shape. Make sure your 12v battery isn't older than 5 years. That one can wreak havoc if it goes out on the trip. Check the tires and all the fluids and we're good to go. I also carry a couple of those cheap flannel sleeping bags in the lower rear compartment. Instead of regular ice I freeze a gallon bottle of drinking water and a couple of other, smaller bottles of water for the ice chest. That way as it melts the water will be available for drinking or the radiator if needed.

    With the exception of making sure the HV battery is in good shape it's basically the same as any other car you would take on such a trip.
     
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  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I highly recommend you change your inverter pump before going I any long trips
     
  7. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Mine was replaced back at 90k miles by Toyota of Orange before I bought the car. This pump only has 50k miles on it.
     
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Most of these pumps are failing now and it's not certain if it's a miles or time factor. The recall was issued around late 2010, so 7 or 8 years ago. Most are failing around the 100k miles mark
     
  9. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    You told the OP to replace his if it had more than 80k without any reference to the fact that his may be the original 10 year old pump. Now you're telling me mine should be replaced at 4 1/2 years old and 50k. Why do you consider the original pump more durable and dependable than the replacement?
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Thinking back, this should be a mileage replacement part. Using my 05 as example, the original pump failed in 2016 at 107k miles. Replaced for free under recall at that time. So I think I think it's safe to do at 80k - 100k miles.
     
  11. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Ok. Now I get it. Thanks for clearing that up.

    Actually, it's one of the things I have on my list to do preemptively at 60k intervals because we're doing these long trips through 105*+ heat every year. Luscious has a blog post about seeing failures in some of the replacements but nothing less than 55k. At my current rate of driving that pump replacement will happen around the beginning of next summer before our next coast to coast trip.
     
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  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Let's see more data as time goes by, I think 60k may be a bit early. But even if you do it at 60k, I don't think you'll do it again after that. You probably wouldn't keep that car that many more years
     
  13. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    You're probably right. We plan to move in a few more years now that we're both retired. Once our youngest gets off to college we won't stay here and we won't need two cars any more. There's a fair chance we'll wind up in the desert southwest so whatever we get won't be a hybrid. We don't mind small cars with decent gas mileage but we'll be looking for something a little larger and more comfortable considering the health problems my wife already has. I think I see a regular Camry, Avalon or Rav4 in our future.
     
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  14. DMC-5180

    DMC-5180 Active Member

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    My coolant control valve went at 175k.
    I have no idea if the inverter pump has ever been touched. I have no records of the original owners service history. I bought the car from the second owners widow. He only had the car about 1 year before his passing. I bought it with 123k and he bought it with 108k from the original owner. I’ve put 160k on myself.

    Direct part failures have been minimal.

    123k- new 12V yellow top optima at time of purchase ( preemptive measure only due to age of OE batt)
    128k - both front hubs
    165k - rear shock/struts
    175k - coolant control valve
    210k - front pads and rotors.
    226k - water pump (engine driven)
    260k - both front hubs (again)
    262k - driver door position limiter and stop failed. ( it’s the little bar that sticks out of the door between the hinges)
    I’ll hit 284k next week. With fingers crossed, I hope to make the 299,999 club on the Original pack. I am planning to retire the HV pack shortly after I make that personal goal. (assuming I make it) it will likely get a 2ktoaster cylindrical kit.

    All work was done by me, which has save a few thousand dollars in labor costs at todays rates.


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  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You should change the inverter pump when you have free time. It's an easy DIY.

    It would've been replaced once under recall before you purchased it
     
  16. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    I talked to Jimmy at Jue Motors the other day when I had him do the 140k service. He's seen them go out at 60k; the one on his own Gen II lasted 140 before it failed. Of course he loves the money that comes his way from it but he also likes that I do some things ahead of schedule as preemptive insurance against getting stranded in the middle of nowhere in another state.

    He echoed what you suggested that replacing the pump at this point is most likely a one-time-only thing for us. The question then became "Do we do it before our trip to Denver in a couple of weeks or wait until the cross country trip next year?" Since it's extremely likely it's a one time thing he suggested just going ahead and doing it before we head out across the Mojave in the 110*+ heat next month. More peace of mind that way.

    Even doing things like this, this car is still costing me substantially less per mile than the average ICE engine car in the U.S. 48 cents a mile including purchase, insurance, repairs, fuel, etc. Higher than the hybrid average but still within the budget.
     
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Wait until you return from your trip in two weeks and then do it. I don't think it's that urgent in your situation.

    I'm curious what he quoted you for this service?
     
    #17 JC91006, Jul 23, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2018
  18. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    He said around $350. Given your experience, is that something you would consider a fair price for a mechanic to do it? Would you or someone else who has replaced it before be willing to do it for a lower price? I have no problem coming your direction.
     
  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    $350 is a fair price for a mechanic to do this. The part will run about $80 online, retail will be higher. This normally can be done in about an hour (if one were to take their time).

    The dealer price is 500+ to do this (without changing your coolant). For this price, the book time on this repair must be over 3 hours.
     
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  20. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

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    Thank you. I'm still a little up in the air as to the timing but I'll have Jimmy do it when I'm ready for it.