ABS ECU Malfunction-Dealer wants 3300.00 to replace??

Hi everyone. I bought my friend's mother's Prius, pristine condition only 53K miles. Always dealership maintained. After just having it 6 mos I decided to get the windows tinted and have my Escort SmartRadar installed. Found (what I thought) was a reputable shop. They called and said I had the wrong escort wire to call them and find out about getting the longer wire. I called Escort they said it was the correct wire that it is short because it is installed in the rear view mirror. I called the shop and told them that escort had technicians that can easily walk them through it. Long story short, I pick it up at the end of the day they said they couldn't install the radar that they still needed the right part and to get back with them. I barely made it home and dash/red triangle AND EVERY LIGHT lit up like a xmas tree! Shop was closed, next morning took it immediately to a dealership who did the scan and said it was a C1300 ABS ECU MALFUNCTION (Prius's computer) and it had to be replaced! $2000 for the part and another grand to install it. I had to leave it as I was pretty much choiceless. I decided to post it on this forum as I have everyone telling me that it speaks VOLUMES that the shop couldn't install it and could have poked around in there and fried the ECU and letting me drive off the lot before seeing the deadly light display so I couldn't hold them responsible.

Has anyone seen something out of the blue like this happen, and can it be possible to prove (with old parts) that the shop fried my car? Also if I am stuck with the bill and they won't own up to it (unless I take them to small claims court, and that isn't a promise either) is there a way to find out if that 2000 ECU part could be found cheaper, and negotiate with the dealer for a better price?

Thanks to everyone, this is a very sad Prius experience for me as I have been told they are fabulous cars and I have a sinking suspicion the stupid installer did this to my car!

 

Thank you so very much Patrick. I have just been at my wits end, this is valuable information and I will do this. Do you think since the dealer has it they will do this if I ask them? Also thank you for letting me know ebay has them, do you think the dealer will replace it with a used part?

 

Thank you again Patrick I cannot even possibly begin to tell you how you have saved my butt with this valuable information

Okay going to call them now. Patrick... isn't it possible the joe shmoe at that shop could have caused this trigger to happen trying to go in and install the radar (which they never did).. he couldn't probed around and realized he screwed something up and said 'oh uh I better back out of this now' as they never could finish the install. I think that speaks volumes.

Patrick talked to Toyota dealer and they said they will clear the DTC (I said 'clear' it i understand it's disconnecting the pins at the jumper or something' and he said 'oh that is for people that don't have the equipment like we do, we can do it with our machine' or something.. so I'm crossing fingers this will do it and it is only to YOU PATRICK that I thank for this information or I would be paying them $3400 to install this new thing that could have turned out to be a false alarm!
I am going up there at lunch to drive it after they have the DTC cleared so will be holding breath!

Hi Patrick, you just saved me 3 GRAND!!! They did this and all lights were cleared, so I drove it for 20 mins then I only received a ABS and VSC lights. I pulled over as I saw an Autozone, and they pulled the P1121 code (read a gazillion prius threads on the known valve issue) so I took it back to the dealer and they will replace that valve for $334.00 bucks so I'm SO RELIEVED! I have read so many posts I wanted to ask if I should have them go ahead and drain/refill with the ICE coolant? I doubt that has been done in a long time as this car wasn't driven much before I took ownership of it. Or should i not borrow trouble there as it is hard to bleed the air out if that is done?

THANKS a million you're a prius GOD

 

Lol that's funny you said that a friend said that they totally missed the mark on that one !!!


Okay I just found out that they found another code C0205 which is a front left wheel sensor .. Wth? I'm trying to do some research on that and I'm not finding much information now that car was shipped to me from Florida to Texas I don't know if it just got damaged but I've had it for six months it seems like it would've shown up before now

Yeah Patrick he is the Prius king !!!

 

The check engine light used to come on and off for two straight months and now that I think of it it had codes P1121 and P116 . But it was so intermittent that every time it came on within a day or two it would go back off again it hasn't come on for two months and now all of this ... So it must all be related

These are excellent tips Patrick it's exactly when I'm going to go back to the dealer and do and say and I read something about what you mentioned on Amazon and I'm going to purchase it right now I can say I'm definitely going to keep it because I plan on keeping my Prius for quite a while

 

Oh you don't have to worry about that, i don't trust my dealer and the last thing I would give him is any information that would help US. Still not happy he was trying to get me to fork over thousands of dollars to replace the computer module and I had to TELL him to clear the DTC code what Patrick told me to do. That tells me basic troubleshooting is not on their agenda, but replacing the most expensive parts is.

I just read my post and see it sounded like I would have told the dealer, and no way I'm at this point feeding him instructions from Patrick on what to do, this morning I sent the latest instructions about the sensor, and what to do, and the inverter coolant change he said 'ok will do' lol

Patrick or Dolj I see several of those Mini VCI things on Amazon can you copy/paste the link here on the right one for me to get?

Amazon.com: mini VCI

I'm an Amazon prime member and can have it to me by friday

 

Ya know dolj I am not surprised.. so many people just don't give a damn anymore.. those like your brother are getting fewer and farther in between.

 

This must be it as it has the most reviews.. can you guys confirm?

Fotga Newest V8.00.034 MINI VCI for TOYOTA TIS Techstream Diagnostic Cable & Software
I
Estimated Delivery Date: June 30 - July 15 when you choose Standard Plus at checkout.

● Cost-effective, the price of product is only one-third of similar foreign products.

• Support Toyota TIS OEM diagnostic software. Software updated from V8.00.034 to V9.30.002 or better version. New version support all functions of the old version
• ● Support all the diagnostic communication protocols needed for Toyota (since 1996).
• ● High reliability of products using SMD chip, and certified by CE and FCC.
• ● High performance with ARM cpu inside.

OOPS sorry dolj i must've posted this right after your message. Okay this I shall do and grab one, thanks!!!

well i don't have a 'junker' laptop, but maybe i can find a junker on craigslist

 

Yeah good info dolj I read everything and many of the comments.. I saw a decent Dell laptop with XP that has a strong battery for a 100 bucks on craigslist so I'll look at getting one just to use for checking my codes, as I see I shall save a LOT of money by using this.