Prius Mechanical Problems

11096 Views 10 Replies 0 Participants Last post by Guest, Apr 17, 2002

Discussion Starter · Apr 15, 2002

I've had my Prius two weeks now, and last week my check engine light came on. When I took my Prius into the dealer, I asked if he had seen many problems with the Prius. He stated that he had to change two battery packs (customer charge if not covered under warranty $11,000) and one Power Module (?) which would have had a charge of $17,000! My question is, other than tire and the small 12 volt battery problems, what mechanical problems has anyone had with their Prius? The answers to this post may help in the possible purchase of an extended warranty. BTW, the dealer said I had an emissions problem and that I should bring it in at my convenience to get checked.
Thanks in advance for your comments,
Tom Thomson
Milwaukee, Wi.

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 15, 2002

Are you sure they diagnosed it correctly? No one else in the United States has ever reported a problem with their motor or battery-pack.

> the dealer said I had an emissions problem and that I should bring
> it in at my convenience to get checked

Did you use Gas with an Octane higher than 87 or drive into a high altitude area? That would trigger a problem warning that's actually trivial to fix.

Also, did you make sure the gas cap was on snuggly? That also trigger a problem warning.

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 15, 2002

I found that when I turn the key to start my Prius, that turns all of those lights on for a second, that if I don't just make it a quick turn of the key that the Check Engine light stays on. So if you simply tried to start it light a normal car(waiting for an engine to start) that may be why the Check Engine light is on. Try just a real quick turn of the key.

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 16, 2002

$11,000 for a new battery pack? $17,000 for a new power module? By the time these components wear out, the vehicle's value will be well below $11,000. I guess I will probably invest in another "Green Car" when my hybrid battery goes. I don't see the logic in paying $11,000 for a new hybrid battery for a car that will probably have a value of about $3K.

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 16, 2002

Hi, Tom,
We got our Prius 4 days ago and have had no problems with it so far. However, our dealer offered to us the Toyota Platinum extended warranty, Toyota's most inclusive, which extends the bumper to bumper warranty from 3 years/36K miles to 6 years/75K miles. He said Toyota rates the Prius to be a level 4 car in terms of its complexity. Only the Land Cruiser is more complex at level 5. Because of this complexity and the abundance of new technology, we opted to get the extended warranty. He charged us what he said was dealers' cost -- $630 -- rather than the full amount Toyota authorizes, which is $1200. You may want to consider this warranty. Our dealer said about 86% of their Prius costomers buy the extended warranty.
Good luck with your car.

Regards,
Jim Henry

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 16, 2002

> battery pack... charge if not covered under warranty $11,000
> Power Module which would have had a charge of $17,000

Toyota is now making a very small profit on Prius sales. Because of that, neither of those numbers sound realistic.

The pack is suppose to cost between $3000 and $4000. Labor can't possibly make it that much more. I had the engine replaced in my Taurus; parts & labor (which is much more complex) only came to $4000. And a module at $17000 is absurd. I think they quoted numbers from the original 1997 book, not the one for 2002.

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 16, 2002

I also bought the extended warranty, as I felt this was a really good buy.... Especially for a car which has only been in the U.S. for a year. I got the 7 yr/75k platinum warranty from my dealer for $695. Now that you said you got the 6 yr/75k warranty at dealer cost for $630, I think I got a good deal too!

- Ryan

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 16, 2002

The battery pack cost is supposed to be @ 4000-5000$ (for replacing all 36 cells). Each cell is replaceable and the techs know how to test them. The 11,000$ numbers given are absurd. If a dealer actually said that - I would go somewhere else. They are lying.

The only way the pack could go bad in its entirety is to be hit by a SUV....

try again.

steve d.

'02 super white - 12000 miles - not any problems at all.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 17, 2002

I wanted to get the extended warranty but was quoted the $1200 price. Believe it was 6/60 or 7/75. I couldnt afford anymore on the cost of the car. The finance guy said that I had until the end of my original 3/36k to buy it.

My question is can someones dealership sell me that extended warranty without me having to argue with my local dealer in order to get the $600 or $700 price?

My car has the works in it. Sure hate to have anything go wrong with it after the 36k or 3 years. I plan on keeping this jewel for a long time to come. "GOD I LOVE PRIUS"..

Thanks for any help and suggestions.

TC

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 17, 2002

I am the originator of the first post. To make the post brief, I skipped some info. When my check engine light came on, I was heading home from work and immediately took it to the dealer. My car was hooked up to the engine analyzer, which said it was an emissions problem. The mechanic retightened my gas cap, and told me if the light came on again, I should make an appointment to bring it in. (It was around 4:30 PM on a Friday night and everyone wanted to head home). The next morning the light came on, so I made an appointment to have the car checked out next Friday. Since it was an emissions problem, the mechanic said It would cause no harm to drive it with the light on if it happened to come on again. While I was waiting for the car, I was talking to a very friendly (service writer?) who was feeding me the info on the excessive cost of replacing parts on the car. If he is there next Friday, I intend to pin him down on some of the conversation, especially the cost of the replacement battery. I'm now totally convinced that either he was feeding me misinformation, or trying to scare me into thinking more about an extended warranty. I realize that the Prius is new technology so an extended warranty might make sense, but this is also a Toyota, so I am expecting Toyota quality. Whether or not I was being fed misinformation, it did get me thinking more about an extended warranty, which led me to this post.
Thanks for the feedback!
Tom

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 17, 2002

I've had my Prius two weeks now, and last week my check engine light
came on. When I took my Prius into the dealer, I asked if he had seen many problems with the Prius. He stated that he had to change two battery packs (customer charge if not covered under warranty $11,000) and one Power Module (?) which would have had a charge of $17,000! My question is, other

where is your service guy coming from? the only battery pack I recall being replaced in the US was from someone who had some over-charging problems (not sure if from an accident or an incorrect Coastal cruise install). The parts price quoted for some people in NY (needed for a state tax credit) is ~$4000 for the whole battery pack, and around there for the inverter. With an 8 year/100,000mile warranty on the electric motors/battery pack/other hybrid related components, I'm not worried. (see link below for hybrid-related warranty coverage.)

than tire and the small 12 volt battery problems, what mechanical problems has anyone had with their Prius? The answers to this post may help in the

some of them are listed at:
http://halfgas.home.att.net/issues.htm

I've had my combination meter replaced (under warranty). The digital odometer wouldn't display (but the Trip A and B, which uses the same display area, worked fine...). I've also had the rubber roof moulding replaced, as they were coming unglued, also under warranty.

possible purchase of an extended warranty. BTW, the dealer said I had an emissions problem and that I should bring it in at my convenience to get checked.

emissions are covered under warranty. http://www.toyota.com/html/shop/vehicle ... ranty.html
"Federal Emission Coverage: Components under the federal emission defect warranty are covered for 2 years/24,000 miles, or 3 years/ 36,000 miles under Toyota's Basic Warranty. Specified major emission components are covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. Specified major emission control components under emission performance warranty are also covered for 8 years/80,000 miles. In addition, emission performance warranty is applicable for 2 years/24,000 miles in states and local jurisdictions that require a periodic EPA-approved inspection and maintenance program.

California Emission Control Coverage: In California and any other state that adopts California emission warranty provisions, components under defect warranty are covered for 3 years/50,000 miles and specified control devices are covered for 7 years/70,000 miles. In addition, specified major emission control components under emission performance warranty are also covered for 3 years/50,000 miles."

did you fill up your car recently? if the gas cap isn't on tight enough, that'll cause a check engine light (vapors are escaping out of the cap). sometimes a high octane fuel (higher than "regular" 87) will give an engine misfire code, leaving you with a check engine light. overfilling the tank (up into the filler tube) could allow gas to sit on/near a sensor, giving false readings or disturbing it.

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