So I just purchased the Prius featured in Curb Your Enthusiasm, need some help with it.

We have a number of folks here on Priuschat who also do not regard either their own life, or those of their passengers as worth protecting, and I guess that is their call. In that case, any battery you find with JIS posts that fits the space is going to serve the car well, just not the humans.

(should you SELL it with a dangerous battery, now THAT is unethical)

 

So you only paid $1000?
You're probably OK since that is bicycle money.

BUT...

The repairs you are faced with, and some you are proposing won't be cheap.
Even at only $1000 buy in, you at some point need to ask where the line should be in further investment.

I don't think the fact that it was owned by Larry David and featured on Curb Your Enthusiasm, even in a restored state would lead to much if any increase in value.

I think you need to make decisions in relationship to the vehicle as if it a 2004 Prius. With issues.

If you can do a lot of the needed work yourself? If you want to do the needed work yourself? Then you'll be fine.

Who am I to tell you to curb your enthusiasm?
As long as you realize what you're getting into? Then best of luck.

 

no no no you misunderstood, I said they are out there I didn't say that's what I sell them for..
the gold one I paid $1200 for I want $3000
the red one I want $4200
have to make a living

 

wow $3000, what heavy profit taking. Half sounds about right at $1500

Hit up Todd at TampaPrius, he'll take both of them. Of course you would have to get off the steak on lobster stuff.

He paid more than $1000, he said you were on drugs to pay $1000 for a running prius

 

Well...I'd like to know how much he paid, also how many miles are actually on the vehicle.

 

yes a mark up of double is a nice profit and no where near what used car lots make, a 2005 with 170,000 miles would be close to $5000 plus interest for 3 to 5 years...Im giving these cars away at my low low prices

Ill bet the OP paid about $3000 for that mess...
I see he has body damage, low oil pressure issues, suspension issues,electrical issues and its 11 years old from the north where cars turn to rust ...so no matter how you look at it he got screwed

 

Because the battery's in the passenger compartment, it should be AGM type (Absorbent Glass Mat, much less likely to spill) and able to be connected to a vent tube (to deal with hydrogen gas).

A new OEM battery is something like $200. That would be my first choice, since it's exactly what's spec'd, and no fit issues. And the dealerships are likely to have fresh stock.

 

drive two over and one back.

 

LOL seems I struck a nerve, no one likes the truth kido...if you can afford to do everything you can afford to go to the dealer, don't get mad at me because you bought junk, and why would I do all the work for you for $500 when I make triple that when I sell one..

 

Nice Porsche Targa! Prius does not look that bad. Try replacing the 12v first, that may solve all your issues.

 

You know Prius Chat does allow you to IGNORE a poster?

And you should calm down.
You're asking for advice and help in an open forum.

You're not giving full disclosure about how much you paid, or how many miles on the vehicle, nor until recently your ultimate intent, which evidently is to fix it up and sell it.

If ANYONE appeared in Prius Chat with a 2004 Prius in seemingly as bad a shape as yours, I'd want to know how much they paid, how much they were willing to invest, and how many miles on the vehicle. Also, how much of the work you are able and willing to do yourself.

If only because my sincere advice might be....it isn't worth it.

If it's worth it to you? Fine.

But without full disclosure as to condition of the vehicle, amount invested, and what your intentions and abilities are in regards to the vehicle, expect assumptions.

 

But you see, that disclosure helps.
When you first appeared, all we know, is that you have a 2004 Prius.

We don't know that YOU intend to do a lot of the work on it yourself, we don't know you consider yourself a competent mechanic, and we don't know your intentions are to restore and resale.

Without this information, I do assume you've bought the vehicle for your own usage, I also assume if your asking for help, that perhaps you're NOT someone who was going to do a lot of the work themselves.

From your original post, I think it fair NOT knowing a lot of this information to consider or offer the advice that further investment into the vehicle NOT be worth it.

Knowing what we know now? OK...best of luck in getting the vehicle into good/great shape.

Now that you have revealed some of this information, and been more specific, hopefully people can help you.

And at least I know, that you're not going to drop the project, and that you feel investment both personally and financially is worth it.

 

I think we answered all we could with the information given.
Certainly all I care to with the attitude expressed

 

(1) The big hunk of plastic under the center console that the cigarette lighter port is on is super easy to remove. Locate the plastic pin on the passenger side, put your hand behind the plastic near the pin and pull hard. The pin should fall out. Then there's a catch right by the lighter socket and another catch on the other side, next to the OBD port. Pull hard on each side and the entire piece should come out. That will give you access to the wiring going to the lighter socket.

There's a really great dash disassembly guide with lots of annotated photos linked to in the first post of this thread. Page 3 shows the removal of the piece in question - Dash disassembly PDF | PriusChat

(2) If your Prius has fog lights (and looking at the photos you posted earlier in the thread, it does) then your head lamps are the HID/Xenon headlamps. That being said, you should take out one of the bulbs and check the text printed on the base to see if it's a D4R bulb or a D2R bulb and make sure to order the same type. Good luck with that one, they're a bit of a pain to access, especially if you haven't done it before... But there's numerous videos on YouTube showing how. The driver's side bulb is a bit easier to access than the passenger side. The D4R Sylvania bulbs I currently have in my '07 were $35 each on eBay and are working just fine for me.

 

Working Gen 2 Prius for $1200. I love the internet. lol

The cheapest one in NYC area was $4500. Just bought one myself 2008 w/ 120,000 for $6500.

 

different parts of the country my friend, everything is more in NY that's why you all move to florida to retire
look at craigs list for florida and you will find many under $3800 and high miliage ones for around $2500..I got this one from a woman returning to Ohio and didn't care what she got for it..its far from perfect but everything I want done is cosmetic...bumper cover,paint stuff like that

 

your best bet is to search threads here for advice on issues you are having. they are very common to older gen II's and there are all kinds of write ups and pics. look through the knowledge database, and maybe start a new thread with technical questions only. pray for no trolls. all the best.
MERGED BACK TO BACK POSTS AGAIN BISCO
is there a fuse for the cig liter?