I heard his engine was replaced at + - 350K. But still it is a fascinating story. You can get a used engine with 60K for $650, plus $600 for installation by your own mechanics. I am considering to replace my oil burning engine on the 2004 with 226K miles now. $1300 out of pocket for that newer engine is really cheap!
Replaced engine with a used one at 400k. cost around $500 and installed in my driveway. Best car ive ever owned.
The "installed in my driveway" part is what amazes me! Did you by any chance take pics of that process? Post for those of us,who may get to,that same situation someday? (If I can avoid getting hit by people texting for the next 300k ! ) Come to think of it, if you and 2fas4u have managed to avoid getting hit in 600k of Prius driving, maybe I should take lessons from you guys!
I got hit at about 50k by a bear....Passenger side was completely replaced, the last 260k has been less eventful!
Just dayum! Would love to hear the details of that story...sounds like something out of Field & Stream - "A Bear Tried To Eat My Prius...But I Survived!"
It was at night. The road was elevated between two corn fields. The bear was running from one to the other. I did not see him as my lights did not go below road level. It was a sudden WHAM then bump and rumble all down the passenger side. The next morning I discovered a perfect nose impringt in the front quarter panel. The bear was not there...He walked away....
06 now has 398k miles. Still at 50mpg average (city/2 lane/freeway 33% each). Mobil 1 oil changed every 5k for first 100k, then 10k up to 300k, now at 15k intervals (since it burns 1 qt/1k miles I add a few new quarts/mo). Trans fluid changed about every 70k. 3rd windshield. Water pump replaced proactively under recall. K&N air filter since day 1. Original everything (except MFD, replaced under warranty), catalytic convert and tires. Yes, original hybrid battery, 12V, brakes, shocks(rides like a vet), water pump belt (spare is kept in vehicle). Commuter car, so inside looks almost new. 1 door dent on each side, plus 1 hood dent. 3M clear bra on most of front - still clear. I should have done the entire front, as without the 3M bra it is really pitted. Started burning oil about 300k, catalytic converter plugged up at 350k, replaced with used unit for $600, then plugged up again at 396k. BTW - this is my second Prius. My 04 had 90k miles on it, so I'm almost at 500k driver miles in Gen 2 cars. And I have Prius V I'll be picking up next week, to replace my 06 (on sales now for $3,750 obo on Craigslist with photos 2006 Prius, Pkg #6, commuter car, non-smoking, good condition ).
Longbow, Search for salvage yards. Use Craigslist (Prius parting), or the internet (Toyota salvage). Then search for Prius exhaust, if you have the middle pipe number that helps sometimes (on my '06 it's p/n 17410 , and sometimes ends in 21500). Should be about 50% of the dealer price (so about $500-600). Anyone can install it in 30 minutes with a rack, so about $75 in labor. Should last about 40k miles, then it will plug up again. You can inspect yours visually, if you remove it (the blacker it is, the more it's plugged).
I thought it was illegal to sell used Catalytic converter ? I ask around before when my Honda Accord 2001 had a bad Catalytic converter. Not sure regarding savage yard.
Yes, in CA it is illegal to sell cats. That's why you search, and buy an exhaust pipe (that just happens to have 2 cats in the middle). And if you give a salvage yard your core replacement, I think of it more like a trade, rather than a sale. The check engine light means your miles are numbered. It is not a linear process, and when it gets bad, over just a few weeks it drops your mileage like a rock, limit your speed, limit your load carrying, etc.. The end is near (for your cat)!
648,xxx. car will be 10 years old in april. Check engine light comes on once a fortnight, Replace hybrid battery.
WOW, that a lot of mileage. First time replacing the battery? How is the transmission? Did you replace that?