Replacing my Engine

welcome!
sorry for your troubles. some here have used LKQ

all the best!

 

The fact that the check engine light came on and you didn’t pull over immed and check all the vital
Fluids instead drive it to a car dealer tells me your not to good with cars.
Don’t feel bad we see that a lot here. unfortuneately you lunched the motor.

Your engine uses engine oil and uses alot of engine oil on a long high speed trip.

What happened was you ran it out of oil and the engine threw a rod out the side of the engine.
Seen that many many times. It was pretty good explosion right?

Motor replacement has been around $2000 installed from what we see here. If it has the original hybrid battery that’s a little time bomb waiting for you after you drop the $2 on the motor so I would be hesitant to spend that kind of money on the car given the miles and age.

 

I'm not so sure the OP ran out of oil.
I'd think a dealership looking at a check engine light, AND with a customer asking about continuing a long trip, would at least check the oil.
It's possible they didn't..but I don't assume they didn't. I'd hope the did.

And if there is Oil splattered everywhere? That suggests to me that there was at least some oil in the system at the time of the event.

But really? Whatever the diagnosis is now? It's more about what to do now.
If the code was correct? The OP would be looking at a 9+ year old Prius, with 183K on it, that probably needs a new engine, and possibly needs a new catalytic converter...at the very least.

And unfortunately the OP owes $6000 on the vehicle.

I'd assume whatever happened...you probably do need a new engine now. I'd wonder if you also need that catalytic converter. THEN?
It just IS a tough situation.

With those problems, I don't think there is any way you get that vehicle running- particularly cheaply.
With a blown engine and quite possibly needing a Catalytic Converter? There is no way you sell it, for much.

Is it worth making the investment necessary, to just get it running? To either keep or sell?

I wish I had a better answer...
Can you afford to take a total loss on it? Because if you do nothing...that's about what you'll end up doing.
But the converse, would I think mean investing much more into the vehicle than what it might be worth to you. With absolutely no way to guarantee what it's future might be.

The OP wants to get ahead of this. But it might be a case, where you just have to sit back, and find out what might be possible...at every step. Then weigh options.

 

The only cheapest way, if I were the one, is to get only the engine block from any salvaged vehicle with a head gasket only problem, and do a swap. I don't know how much that would cost over in your area though.
Are you a DIYer, that can handle a tasks like that? I'd you can't, if your mechanic friend is willing to help, and has some engine blocks in his shop, that would be great.

I hope at the end of getting the car back on the road, you won't have HV battery issues springing up?

If you can't do the swapping of the block, then you for to sale the car as is, and move on!

Dxta

 

I am replacing the motor on my 2006 now. I blew out the bottom end of the motor...when I bought it, it already had a knock and I knew it was a matter of time. I got a motor with 120K miles on it for $300 from a website http://www.car-parts.com. It pulls a bunch of information from local junk yards on what they have available. If you call ahead, they should have the motor already pulled for you and they rate the motors too, of course you want to try and find an "A" grade. My friend has been using the site for years, has bought hundreds of motors from them and has only had 1 bad one...that he just took back and swapped for a different one. I think it is definitely worth checking out. Best luck man!

 

OP is screwed, period.

Owes more than the KBB value of the car.
Does NOT seem to be DIY inclinced; will be paying costly auto labor rates.
Needs engine and Catalytic converter, for now.

OP should cut losses and just get a different used car.

 

Yeah...I think I agree...I was just trying desperately to find some type of positive angle....but.....????

I guess the ONLY positive is if the OP ends up at Fort Collins CO...and can live car free?
Well..unfortunately that might be where the OP is heading one way or another.

 

You can invest a little bit of time to see for yourself, what you THEORETICALLY could get. Remember, each market/area is unique, and what you want vs what buyers are willing to pay is what will determine the actual selling price, and it is usually somewhere in the middle. You want $10K, buyer wants $5k, maybe final price is settle for $7.5k?

Zip: 84044 (somewhere Salt Lake City, UT)
Year: 2009
Miles: 183,000
Options: Prius w/ Package #6 (only you know the true option make-up)
Color: Gray (color that sells easily; only you know the true color)
Condition: VERY GOOD (only you know this; 23% of cars meet KBB's definition)

Has minor cosmetic defects and is in excellent mechanical condition

• Has had minor paint touch-ups and/or bodywork
• Requires minimal reconditioning
• The engine compartment is clean and free of leaks
• Is free of rust
• The body and interior has minimal signs of wear or visible defects
• Wheels are flawless
• All tires match and have 75% or more of tread remaining
• Has a clean title history and will pass a safety and smog inspection

​

In general, KBB prices seem to be generous. Market forces will ultimately determine what you will get.
KBB Trade In Value : $3001-$4236 (median value of $3619)
KBB Private Value: $5976-$8227 (median value of $7102)
KBB link

Pick-up the phone and make phone calls. Some people report paying $2k+ for a used Prius engine install. Your area might have far cheaper or far higher labor rates.

*AC will be the biggest expensive repair due to labor, complexity, and few people know how to correctly work on it.
*HV Battery will go out in the near future. $1800-$2500 from Toyota dealers who sell online.
*Suspension (Front Struts/Rear Shocks) I paid $320 in parts, in 2014. Labor was my time on the weekend.
*People who get high mileage seem to take care of their cars and DIY, which justifies spending money on a car that is worth $zero.
*You never know what can/will go wrong.
*Just like human longevity, its all over the place: drop dead tomorrow, to live to 107years. Who knows.

RECAP:
Currently owe $6000
estimated used engine replacement: $500
estimated engine installation cost: $2000
estimated cost of Universal Catalytic Converter weld on replacement: $100
estimated weld on cost of Cat by muffler shop: $100
rebuilt combo meter $150 + ($75 refundable core deposit; not included in TOTAL calculation due to refundable deposit); Prius Speedometer Replacement
estimated labor rate to replace combo meter: $150
TOTAL guestimated COSTS: $9000
Guestimated Private Party selling price: $6500
NET LOSS: $6500 - $9000 = $2500

These estimates could be off by a lot. There are a lot of assumptions being made. Do some work and call shops to get more accurate numbers.