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ABS ECU Malfunction-Dealer wants 3300.00 to replace??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pkwhisker, Jun 13, 2015.

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  1. FazilHussein

    FazilHussein Member

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    Hi PK,

    Have you checked your tire pressure? I had the same intermittent thing with my car; turned out the front left tire was down to 20 psi...would cause the ABS/VSC to randomly appear....more food for thought.

    FH
     
    #81 FazilHussein, Jun 26, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Interesting
     
    #82 JC91006, Jun 26, 2015
  3. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    Actually I have checked it, as I let some air out a couple of weeks before taking my car in using a really cool air tire compressor thing you keep in your car, because I read on the forums, to go UP from the suggested toyota psi's.

    Hey everybody I just got word from this second stealership I've used. She made it sound like 'well it took some real troubleshooting today, but they finally got it figured out'. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SENSOR AGAIN




    They figured it out when you go over 26 mph it caused the brake lights error to be triggered. They unplugged the LF Wheel Sensor and the lights/issue went away. They traced the issue back to the CAN BUS codes, and realized it is the LF Wheel Sensor as it is NOT a OEM part, and decided not to put the original one back on as it could have internal issues. (they knew it wasn't an OEM part because I gave them the old box with the original toyota LF Wheel Sensor I had replaced).

    DAMAGES:

    $245.00 for the Toyota Left Front Wheel Speed Sensor. Plus labor brings it to $500.00 - CAN U SAY STEALERSHIP???????????


    I asked her if they are sure this is the actual final fix and she said yes their technicians pride themselves on fixing the car right the first time, and getting to the actual final issue.


    I asked her if she received my email on the history with the shop, and timeline of all the other codes, and she said no she never received it, but to send it to another email address which I did. I asked her to put that in my file (as I am not 100% confident that this is what the issue is)


    So, I will get the car tomorrow as they won’t get the part till in the morning.


    Can you imagine them charging me that much money to put that wheel sensor on? The other guy charged me $20 bucks! Took him 20 mins I WATCHED HIM .
     
    #83 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    well you can buy the OEM part and let that other guy put it on for $20
     
    #84 JC91006, Jun 26, 2015
  5. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    JC, if it were any other time in my life, and it was the same 'code' but after this long and arduous journey, the third shop it's been to (the first stealership told me it would need a $3300 NEW ECU), that I think it will be best to let them do it, and I will eat the charges because at this point I need a stealership to own it by saying 'we fixed it' and then if other codes appear they will be somewhat responsible.

    This is the deal right now.. so far I have not had a good trusting experience with the Freeman Toyota finding the issue with my car two weeks ago.. I see better reviews on this one, but time will tell if that truly fixed it.. and for that I guess I'll have to eat it for now.

    I don't think I will truly know this is fixed until I've driven it for a couple of weeks.
     
    #85 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  6. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    Can you please copy, paste and email this to her:
    Just to confirm our conversation earlier today, you are sure replacement of the left front wheel speed sensor will resolve my issue with my ABS lights coming on in my car.
     
    #86 Avi's Advanced Automotive, Jun 26, 2015
  7. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    THANK YOU!! good idea!!
     
    #87 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  8. FazilHussein

    FazilHussein Member

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    Thankfully it's not the ECU; $3k isn't money you sink into a car....it's a whole replacement car. ;)

    Hopefully they got it right and you can rest easy.

    FH
     
    #88 FazilHussein, Jun 26, 2015
  9. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    Maybe start with asking her to email you what she told you, then, when she replies with the details, send that. That way the story can't change. Also, tell them you'd like to keep the old parts.
     
    #89 Avi's Advanced Automotive, Jun 26, 2015
  10. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    Seeing as how those ECUs rarely, if ever fail, there are plenty of second hand ones available for much less.
     
    #90 Avi's Advanced Automotive, Jun 26, 2015
  11. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    Oh may I just sent her what you wrote above!

    I did tell her I wanted to keep my old part to return it as I have only had it one week. I am still waiting for her to write me back, as now she has given me two email addresses. grrrrr
     
    #91 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  12. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    YES absolutely I will take this over a $3000 ECU any day! I just bought the car for 9K, then another 3K? OMG I would die.

    I hope they got it right too FH... hope hope hoping
     
    #92 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  13. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    Well that is good to know. I have learned SO MUCH about Prius's. Who I would ever let touch my car (installers that is).. what not to let happen, etc. I have learned so MUCH
     
    #93 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  14. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. MSRP of the speed sensor, 89543-47020, is $233 and you can buy it online for $174 at AutoNation Toyota Gulf Freeway, Houston.
    2004 Toyota Prius Parts - AutoNation Toyota Gulf Freeway Parts

    2. So the price that you are being charged for the sensor is not terrible. $255 for labor is probably for two hours. It might take 20 minutes to install but it takes some thinking time to decide what is the problem and what needs to be replaced, so that also is not terrible "for a dealership."

    3. I hope that in fact this does address your car's problems. I am concerned that the U0xxx codes you had earlier reported in another string will persist. The reason for my concern is that the wheel speed sensors are wired directly to the skid control ECU, they do not go through the CAN. Hence, the communication errors evidenced by the U0xxx codes are not related to the speed sensor being faulty or aftermarket.

    4. If the speed sensor replacement does not help, I suggest that the skid control ECU wiring harness connectors should be removed, electrical contact cleaner spray used to clean the connectors and the mating sockets on the ECU, then the wiring harness connectors reinstalled. That may save having to replace the ECU.

    5. When you authorize repair of your vehicle on a time and materials basis (which is what you are doing here with your dealership) they are responsible for exerting reasonable professional efforts on your behalf. However if the tech is wrong and parts are suggested for replacement that hindsight proves to be unnecessary, the dealership is not legally liable for that error. They might give you a discount (or credit) on the repair invoice if they care about customer satisfaction, but I do not believe they are legally required to do so.

    Good luck.
     
    #94 Patrick Wong, Jun 26, 2015
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2015
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    That's the thing: there's more to it than just the part swap. Well, hopefully. :)
     
    #95 Mendel Leisk, Jun 26, 2015
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  16. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    Oh Patrick. I will be forever indebted to you for your amazing insight kindness and sharing your experience with us all .. I don't have a very good feeling about this at all .. I'm so glad you wrote all that out it really does make sense to me ...I guess because I've been thinking so much on it ...looking at it for two weeks taking all of these codes it actually makes sense to me what you're saying .

    I do not for a minute think this is the end of it
     
    #96 pkwhisker, Jun 26, 2015
  17. pkwhisker

    pkwhisker Member

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    I wonder if I should ask them to run the codes again while I'm there ...

    If anything I'm going to have her write everything out. What else can I do before I completely leave their lot
     
    #97 pkwhisker, Jun 27, 2015
  18. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    If you are lucky, the $500 will be money well spent on someone who has a clue. Expertise has value.
     
    #98 SageBrush, Jun 27, 2015
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  19. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I can't believe that comment came out of SageBrush
     
    #99 JC91006, Jun 27, 2015
  20. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Why ?
     
    #100 SageBrush, Jun 27, 2015
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