Gen 2 vs. Gen 3- Water Pump Disaster, more expensive repairs?

Auto be yours sells rebuilt batteries for $950, not brand new.

Both gen2 and gen3 will be very reliable. Both have their little demons too. I don't think there's one better than the other. Total personal preference. Drive both and decide on what you like best, forget what others like.....It's what you like

SM-N900P ?

 

If you're worried about the water pump failure, replace it every 100k miles. Do the same for the inverter pump



SM-N900P ?

 

Neither car is immune to a water pump failure and the results for the engine are equally disastrous for both. I think it's pretty rare, though, for a pump to suddenly stop working without warning unless it's a broken belt (gen 2) or an electric motor failure (gen 3). And I'd think you'd get an alarm for the latter. I don't know if there's a coupling between the motor & pump on the gen 3, but that could fail if there is one. Most often, they'll start leaking a little and that's the warning sign. It's pretty easy to spot since the coolant is a bright pink. As for replacement cost, I would expect the gen 3 to cost more if you have to buy it without the motor. That's something I've never looked into. Since there's no belt-induced side load on the gen 3 pump, I think the bearings & seals should last longer, everything else being equal.

But I'm just theorizing here.

As @JC91006 said, drive both and decide which you like better. There are some things I miss from my 2005 and some things I REALLY like about my PiP. I wouldn't get too worried about the differences in water pumps. Either one, if it quits, will warp your head in no time flat. That's true with any water cooled engine I know of.

As for the $950 brand new battery installed, he'd have to practically steal them from Toyota to do that without losing a lot of money. Has to be reconditioned and that seems like a fair price.

Bottom line: I'd say, if you like the car and the mechanic thinks it's in good shape, go for it. And welcome to Prius Chat. These folks have helped me a lot!

 

A brand new battery from Toyota cost more than $2000. I can't see how anybody can offer it at $995 and make money.

 

There have been talk about failed head gaskets in the Gen3, possibly linked to a water pump failure.

As far as your question on Gen2 batteries outlasting Gen3, time will tell. There's no magic crystal ball. Gen3 started in late 2009.

 

Hmmm. Interesting theory. I was thinking along the same lines as JC. But this seems plausible. We'd have to do some math for which I'm too lazy right now. But as one kid in "The Sandlot" kept saying, "It could happen!"

On the battery longevity, even if the gen 2 did last longer (and I don't think that's the case from what I've seen here), it's also older. So, to oversimplify things and ignore mileage and other factors, if a 2009 battery lasted 10 years (most last considerably longer), then a 2010, if it lasted just 9 years) would die at the same time. But gen 3 hasn't been out that long, so we really don't know how long is typical. I won't be surprised to see them lasting at least as long as gen 2 on average.

 

There was probably a little tweaking in Toyota's part to make the Gen3 perform better and give it better MPG. Get the battery to work a little harder than the Gen2 batteries, therefore possibly weakening them sooner than earlier generations.

There are some truths to the battery modules being better in the early parts of Gen2 production. By the time 2008 modules came out, they started to get inferior, as 2008 model batteries had failures that associated with DTC P0AA6.....due to modules leaking. There weren't many instances of P0AA6 leaking errors from 2004-2006 models. So possibly the production of the module bodies changed during this time. This information is mostly from my testing experience and talking to other battery rebuilders....I don't believe this is well documented.

Companies tend to cut corners if they can make more money, maybe that's the case in making modules not as robust/reliable as in 2004.

 

You mention a pillow under you. Many trims have adjustable seat height for the driver.

 

I just did a quick look

All 2015 Prius have height adjustable drivers seat. Headroom is 38.6 inches.
2008 Prius have only 4 way seats. Headroom is 39.1 inches
So, the difference is about half an inch, maybe. I do not know how the seat height adjustment affects the measurements.

 

I used Google & then an Edmunds link. I believe Toyota has the older brochures online.
Here's the brochure for 2013, http://www.toyotacertified.com/ebrochures/13_prius.pdf
Used 2013 Toyota Prius Features & Specs | Edmunds
Click on "See all Features & Specs"

 

I have a Gen3 2010 with 120K miles on it now, and it's never had any water pump problems, so I really can't verify if that's a general weakness. (I've had no other big problems either)

 

The theory behind the electric water pump is that it will only turn and circulate coolant once the engine reaches a certain temperature. For this reason, the pump isn't continuously spinning, thus, it should last longer than conventional water pumps. As for cockpit room, yes, the Gen II is compatible to the 2004-2006 Scion XB. Wife had a Gen II and entire family fit in it without an issue. Family is on the tall side.