I'm new here and don't know if this is the appropriate place to post, but here goes: I have a 2001 Prius with 178,000 miles on it. It seems to be doing OK and I'm pondering whether I want to trade it in or keep it and see how many more miles I can get out of it. I've been good about oil changes and regular maintenance and am currently getting 41.5 mpg. I'm not a mechanic and have found myself considering a cross-country drive, then deciding maybe I should fly because I don't know if my car can be trusted to drive that far. Which makes me wonder if it's time to trade it in on a new car, just for the sake of reliability and warranties. I haven't had any trouble with the batteries -- but I don't know if there are warning signs I should be looking for. The ONLY problem with it is that it seems to "hesitate" a little when I first start it in the morning. By the time I"ve driven it a mile or two, it seems to purr along. What's the history of these high-mile Priuses and what's your best guess about how many miles I can expect? I had a little Datsun back in the 1970s that I got 250,000 miles out of, so I have a history of keeping cars running. Thanks, KC in KC
I have an 04.. but from what i've seen... they're kinda indestructible. I wouldn't worry about the battery cutting out on you. at worse it's simply what you described.. a lack in acceleration. i believe there are a few older models out there with higher mileage than you. go across the country. be sure to post photos.
I do not think that your car would have very much resale value at this point given the high mileage. Hence it makes sense to continue driving it until you have a major failure that is too expensive to repair (i.e., transaxle or traction battery). A traction battery failure will make itself known with warning lights appearing (master warning light <red triangle>, maybe the check engine light, and either the hybrid vehicle or the traction battery icon in the MFD). The battery SOC gauge will move up & down very quickly. I found that the engine would run whenever the accelerator pedal was depressed. The morning hesitation might be due to a dirty throttle body interior and throttle plate (easy to clean), bad spark plugs (if they have more than 60K miles on them) or a marginal fuel pump (which requires replacing the fuel tank.) Did you have the engine ECU replaced so that the firmware is at the current revision level? If not, that also might be a source of the problem. If your tires are good and your car runs well otherwise, it seems reasonable to take a road trip with it. Perhaps you should have it inspected by a competent dealer mechanic to give you more assurance along those lines. Good luck.
Thanks, V8CobraKid -- if I decide to hit the road, I'll snap a few road photos along the way. It sort of makes me proud that I have what is now becoming an old beater Prius. That's a badge of distinction. Patrick -- I don't know what the engine ECU is, nor what firmware is, but I have a good mechanic whom I trust and I'll ask him the questions you asked me. It does have new tires. At least that's a question I can answer. Thanks for the feedback! --kc
Oh, Patrick -- I wondered if other than the warning lights that happen when things have really gone south, if there are any hints that the battery is about to go. But from reading some of the other threads, I think maybe the traction batteries don't fail as often as the rumors had it when the Prius first came out. Is there someplace to find out who has Priuses that are in the same high miles ballpark as I am? Another thread on this site maybe? --kc
Hi KC, The current revision of the engine ECU (that contains the most recent firmware) has the part number 89661-47054. Prior versions of this ECU have the part number 89661-47030 or -47031, -47050, or -47051. This ECU is located behind the glove box to the right of the blower assembly (where the cabin air filter is located). If you drop the glove box down you may be able to find the part number label of the ECU.
Hi KC, The traction battery on my 2001 failed at ~60K miles. There was really no advance warning. One morning the warning lights came on, I noticed driveability issues with the ICE running whenever I depressed the accelerator, and I could see the SOC gauge moving up & down very quickly. At your odometer reading your battery is really at or near end-of-life (as by industry standards an automobile EOL is usually deemed to be 150K miles). Any additional life that you get out of that battery is a bonus.
KC, you could ask a Toyota shop to assess the condition of the HV battery. The good ones know how to. They will charge you some money for it. For the road trip, check fluid levels and a 5 tire pressures. Then, just go.
I just wanted to chime in with that I agree that the hesitation is most likely the throttle body / and throttle plate having buildup. Especially with high mileage. I haven't ever taken it off with a Prius but they are usually fairly easy to take out spray out and put them back on with most other cars. If you are uncomfortable with doing it a good shop shouldn't charge all that much to do it. Probably only take them about 30 - 45 minutes.
Hi Shubin, I no longer own my 2001, so it is not possible to provide a photo. After the engine ECU was replaced on my car, I looked and was able to see the part number label. However an older ECU may have the label applied upon a different location and you may have to physically remove the ECU in order to inspect it.
Well, I have 190,000 and just had my Prius die. Dealer is claiming it's the battery with P3009 code. But I was getting a strange whirrr from the regenerative breaking the weekend before the failure. And that seems to point more to the inverter/transmission, which apparently can give the same P3009 code. I believe my vehicle's death was contributed in part by an over-filling of oil on the part of the dealership.
Well, over-filling oil can make it hard for an engine to function right? Well, the regenerative breaking turns the drive system right? Well, wouldn't that potentially make it harder for the regerative breaking to turn the drive system. Problem happened immediately after the over-filled oil change. And the last time they over-filled, it caused ALL the warning lights to come on similarly and made it drive more sluggishly. So I suspect that it was in fact a contributing factor. Though it seems the overall opinion is that it was just coincidence. It's just that the last time they over-filled it, it ran hard and all the lights went off.
No, overfilling the oil would have no effect on regen braking. During regen, the engine is not turned. Overfilling would not cause "ALL" the warning lights to come on either. I have never seen "ALL" the warning lights come on except when I start the car. Your problem may well have occurred after an oil change but that doesn't mean the oil change is to blame.
Thanks usnavystgc, I wasn't sure how it was connected. And if it was being turned in any way during regeneration. Guess I'll give the dealer a break on that then. It's just I have so much trouble trusting our dealership and their diagnosis.
