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2008 Prius expensive repair worth repairing

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Abarker190, Jun 15, 2020.

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What’s its worth; your 2008 Prius for $2,800 repair with 190,000 miles

  1. Fix and sell

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  2. Fix and keep

    5 vote(s)
    55.6%

  3. Trade in (if optionable)

    2 vote(s)
    22.2%

  4. Sell as is

    4 vote(s)
    44.4%

  5. Part it out

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  6. Burn it up

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Abarker190

    Abarker190 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2020
    1
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    Location:
    Atlanta GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I have a well maintained clean 2008 Prius with 190,000 miles, after a long trip multiple light displayed; E Break, ABS, (!), VCS, maint required lights now continuously on. Lite ticking sound intermittently for a few seconds repeating a few times a minute, when first started and backing up, then breaking before put into D car slows down but doesn’t stop (only when first started) I believe it’s the break actuator. Took to Toyota cert shop and told actuator assembly need replaced for $2,800. Car is old, high miles original main battery and concerned about future repairs aswell. I recently replaced the 12v battery and seemed ok for a couple months, but when I start in the am, charge almost depleted. I’ve taken good care of this vehicle maintained every mileage maintenance, new 12v battery, new tires, alignment, breaks, cat converter and headlights. Besides this issue, oil leaks 1/2 q every oil change, gas “blatter” only hold 7 gal and gas gauge not reading correctly. When gas is low car freaks out, that’s when all the light illuminated this time.
    Car is worth 4K in good running condition. $2,800 to fix and whatever else is in near further. What’s the best way to economically fix, sell, salvage, trade car? I wasn’t planning in driving for more then a year before newish car purchase, need to get the most $ out of it as I can without trying to get one over in anyone. Pics below and codes too. Thanks
     

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    #1 Abarker190, Jun 15, 2020
  2. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
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    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Find some place to fix it cheaper? Maybe somebody will know good places near your location.
     
    #2 valde3, Jun 16, 2020
    davecook89t likes this.
  3. Rph74

    Rph74 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2013
    292
    234
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    Location:
    Springfield,MO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I’m normally one to say keep the car you’ve got, but knowing that the HV battery is 12 years old makes spending $2800 on a new brake actuator seem like a tough one to swallow.
     
    #3 Rph74, Jun 16, 2020
  4. George W

    George W Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2018
    911
    513
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    Location:
    San Antonio
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    #4 George W, Jun 16, 2020
  5. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,302
    4,241
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Some have reported a correlation between a lower 12v SOC and increased brake actuator activity.

    How many hours per week are you currently using the vehicle?
     
    #5 SFO, Jun 17, 2020
  6. Moses Bruh

    Moses Bruh Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    97
    29
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    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I am also having this issue, as i believe my abs actuator is failing as well (lights come on, warning lights, loss of brake power, and usually appears when im tapping on the brake on turns, though it also happened on the straight lane freeway while tapping brakes). However my car (160k) has a new CAT, and original HV battery that is still good condition, so i think its still worth spending 1.5-2.5k to fix? If you hv battery is failing i dont think it is worth it.
     
    #6 Moses Bruh, Jun 17, 2020
  7. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2015
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    326
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I'd go with disconnecting the 12v battery each night using a switch and relay, that will sort the flat battery problem. Look for someone who can swap out the brake actuator for a recon unit and drive it around till the traction battery fails. Then do a revive on the traction battery and trade in on a new car if you were planning on getting a new car soon anyway.
    My 2008 Prius has huge miles on it and my 2006 has quite few on the clock, both still go great, but if something serious failed on the high mileage Prius, I'd use it for my experiment in adapting the trans to all electric and find a nice light weight donor car and turn it into an EV.

    T1 Terry
     
    #7 T1 Terry, Jun 17, 2020
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
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    I'm ruling out "Fix and Keep" because you say this:

    To me then?
    Well the best laid plans of Mice and Men go awry...

    You may of planned to drive it another year, but unfortunately your Prius isn't cooperating with your plan.
    I would justify fix and keep, if your plan was to drive it another 5 years. But if you were 12 months away from making a change anyway? I say cut your losses and take this as a sign that "change" day has arrived early.

    Unfortunately, I don't think you can get great value from the vehicle.
    With 2,800 worth of repair at least, I don't think you can make investment that would result in restoring enough value to return your investment in repair.
    So I would sell or trade in "as is", and just honestly search for the best value you can get from this definition. Which unfortunately I would imagine won't be great.
     
    #8 The Electric Me, Jun 17, 2020
    nemebean and SFO like this.
  9. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

    Joined:
    May 22, 2011
    1,003
    498
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    Limited
    I traded in my 2008 for a 2011. I had indications of wheel bearings going out and the first indications of traction battery problems. I had 192K on the clock.

    Quick edit, I saw my old 2008 still on the road the other day so somebody fixed it up. It had a characteristic dealer badge on the rear hatch and some dents on the driver's side rocker panel.
     
    #9 AzWxGuy, Jun 17, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2020
  10. Rose02218

    Rose02218 New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2020
    9
    3
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    Location:
    Ukraine
    Vehicle:
    1999 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Hey. I advise you to consider options with the search for an alternative workshop. Consult the wizard and options for repairing your Prius
     
    #10 Rose02218, Jun 23, 2020
  11. Sarah in TN

    Sarah in TN New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2022
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    2
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    Location:
    TN
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three Touring
    What is “the Wizard”? I have filed a report on the nhtsa.gov website
     
    #11 Sarah in TN, Apr 6, 2022
  12. SRQ

    SRQ Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2013
    149
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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Absolutely amazes me how people still confuse "brakes" with "breaks", especially when the annunciator light literally has the correct spelling of the word right on the dash.
     
    #12 SRQ, Apr 7, 2022
    edthefox5 likes this.
  13. Another

    Another Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2021
    1,802
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    Location:
    Naples, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Fix it and don’t sell it in a year. Don’t have the dealer do it. Find a qualified hybrid mechanic.
     
    #13 Another, Apr 7, 2022
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