$4,000 vent fan replacement!

It is hard to believe. Have you tried another dealer?

The actual hardware retails for $145 ($110 online price). Labor can't cost $3,800!

 

Please try another dealer and let us know what they say.
I can't believe it should cost $1000, never mind $4000.

 

Should i tell u how to replace ur motor and fan so that u can do such

 

Time to find and try a good quality non dealership shop, especially as your out of warranty. The repair technology is out at some shops now. Best of Luck

 

If I were you, I'd sell the car now before things get super crazy. I hear that it costs
$1,200 to replace the turn signal bulbs. Quit while you're ahead sir.

 

Agreed with finding a reasonable repair shop for items like replacing a blower motor. I haven't read of one being replaced, the cabin air filter surely helps their lifespan. Since I can see it every time I clean my cabin filter, it shouldn't be to hard to change out, my search of the web only found this repair description- on fixya.com
Replacing a Ac Heater Blower Motor in a 2005 - FixYa
if anyone has actually done it, is it really as easy as the link describes?

Edit , found a replacement blower motor on the net for $45.95
http://www.go-part.com/0109-toyota-prius-blower-motor-p-30398.html
quote from this site (which I have not actually used before, any comments about this site?)
» Consists of new motor and wheel, with OE-compatible connector
» Hassle-free installation

you're welcome.

 

Please tell me, I would like to know.

 

I am impressed you got Toyota involved at all, this is usually handled by the car dealer. If you have been given a $4000 quote by a dealer, I would go to a some other dealer. I would never go back to the first dealer. You carefully avoid telling us where you are, so I can not give any better hint than 'some other dealer'

Dealer Locator | Toyota Owners Online

 

I wonder if he means the condenser, which is part of the AC system. It is, in essence, a small radiator. Because it's something that typically requires that the dash be taken out, I can understand how the labor is substantial. However, I still think the dealer is trying to rip you off (big surprise ).

 

That does not include the blinker fluid.

 

Besides the "$4K fan", either the poster or the dealer is fishy. The MFD is not $5K! IIRC, refurbs were ~$500.

 

The most any AC repair should cost is around $2000, and thats for a big job, if your repair was AC, then they are gouging you at $4000. It sounds like Toyota of the Desert is the standard Toyota place, take the customer for all they are worth.

 

Sometime diagnosing the problem is obvious, sometimes it's not, and I'm not familiar with this system, so I won't attempt to give many pointers here, others might .
But if I open the compartment, and then listen or feel for vibrations when I turn on the fan, I should be able to tell for myself if it is working, yes?
The fan is very noisy with all the air moving at high speeds, no way you miss it running.
beyond that.....
Checking for voltage to the fan (with it not running when it should ) is to me an obvious check, but I have not taken one out, and no one yet has posted they have done so. Again I don't expect that to be a difficult job, especially for someone who does their own mechanical repairs. (This is my hint, probably not a first job for a novice to tackle , also the price mentioned earlier for turn signals, just joshing you I'm sure , there has been a lot of Toyota bashing lately and your heading did seem inflammatory , nothing personal intended I'm sure).

I think you should go back to the dealership and ask for a written estimate, that should cover this problem better and tell us what all is to be replaced. You could ask the service adviser while you're there, is my problem (stated lack of air) bigger that just replacing the cabin fan?, and how they know all these expensive parts have to be replaced.

Now that the initial shock is over, and with more information about this problem in advance, you will have a better, more productive conversation with the adviser at the dealership.

/// /// ///

Thank goodness, the AC still works. We just don't get any breeze through the center vents.
I just read this, where do you get air flow? Do you hear the fan at all, or is there air flow just at highway speeds, from outside air flow.

 

If the condenser was toast, I imagine cool air would not come out of anywhere. Starting from the simple things -- was the fuse checked ?

If a fan has died, I can imagine dash disassembly being expensive -- even though many people on this board take apart their car dashes without much fuss. Personally, if I knew the problem was behind the dash and did not want to learn to take it apart myself or pay someone to do it, I'd use the working fans on the sides and not give it a second thought.

OP: the blinker change cost was a joke. Second, your dealer is full of shit regarding the repaired MFD cost, and likely this too. Flush them.