Refurbishing my 2009 Prius

I am refurbishing my 2009 Prius to be confident in taking it on long trips and on the highway to and from work as well. It has 267000 miles, and I just purchased it. I do not know much about it, except it was a one owner car. The previous owner (PO)claimed to have had all his work done at the dealer, etc. and so far I have no reason to doubt that, but aside from a single oil change sticker, I have no paperwork proving that.

I thought I would use this thread to document what I am doing to this car as I work through it.

Here is what I have done so far:

Changed:

• spark plugs (stock plugs were in the engine--quite possibly the original ones. They were in good condition for their age, no fouling, and no steam cleaning.)
• cabin filter (PO did not ever change it. 167000 miles of dirt and leaves.)
• ICE air filter.
• ICE belt.
  
• ICE tensioner pulley.

Inspected:

• Tires - front two are damaged and need replacement. PO's said his daughter drove car to college for two years. Guess she clipped a couple of curbs or hit a couple of bad potholes. It happens. Found tire pressures at 23 lbs, so increased to 35 lbs.
  
• Valve cover - oil spills from someone missing when filling the engine, but otherwise no leakage. No oil found in spark plug tubes.
  
• Head gasket junction - no oil or coolant leakage.
  
• Right Front brake pads - at 90%, so a very recent front brake job has been done.
  
• Right front strut tower - Original, crumbling bellows, but not leaking. Ride is rather good, so not an issue.
• Front main seal. No leakage. May change anyway. Not sure yet.
• Timing chain cover. No leakage.
• Rear of engine. Clean.
• Water pump. Clean, no leakage. No looseness in bearing. Original pump.

Cleaned (and greased, as needed):

• Main battery fan and shroud. Not much found, even after 167000 miles of use. PO did not have a dog.
• Throttle body.
• Right Front caliper pins - cleaned and regreased with caliper lube. I need to replace their boots sometime soon.
• All of body, especially water channels by hatch and hood. They were clogged with leaves and rot.
• Greased all four doors' hinges and latch mechanisms. Rear two were in bad need of lubrication. I was able to restore functionality.
• Greased fuel door, rear hatch, and hood hinges.
• Greased ICE belt tensioner mechanism.

On my immediate horizon is to work through the cooling system:

• Replace both water pumps, and put current ones on shelf as spares.
• Replace upper and lower radiator hoses and bypass hose.
• Replace thermostat and gasket.
  
• Flush radiator and refill with new Red coolant.
• Inspect all hoses and clamps, replacing as needed and as opportunity presents.

Outstanding projects are:

• Engine oil and filter change
• Trans fluid change
• Brake fluid change
• Valve cover gasket change, inspecting valve train, PCV valve and hoses, timing chain, VVT solinoid. Cleaning VVT filter. Replacing the timing chain tensioner. Possibly replacing injector seals. Unless I find I have oil losses, I will pass on changing the valve stem seals while the valve train is open. At 13 years they should be OK for a while longer. If I do have oil losses, I will seriously consder new pistons and rings.
• Intake manifold gasket inspection and possible change.

Please leave comments.

 

Wow, thank you very much for this tip. I went onto toyota's site, registered the Prius, and pretty quickly found the full maintenance history!!!!

Lots of good news. Oil changes were indeed every 5000, like clockwork, the hybrid electric pump was changed at 60k, the steering shaft recall was performed. I also found out that the engine water pump was replaced at 100k due to it leaking. So thank you again!

 

I got the Toyota site's history, and there is no record of a tranny oil change. I will add that to my list. Actually, it appears that all fluids need changing. Coolant, brake, trannie, and even a good flush of the windshild washer system would not hurt.

This car seems to be a good buy so far, though. It is not using oil or coolant, the suspension is quiet, the battery is working, the 12 v battery is not very old, and the recalls have been done. Of course it sounds like a demon possessed sewing machine when climbing a hill, but it is, after all, a Toyota engine.

I am finding it difficulty in hilly Northern New Jersey to average out at the book mileage, but did get a one way of 67.4 mpg going to work (mostly downhill) this morning. Average was a much worse 41, but hey, I get to gloat one direction, right?

Mine was owned by only one owner, a Chinese immigrant who is a computer programmer. I don't think he knows what a box end wrench is even for. I see only two things done by third parties: The front brakes (brand new), and a Greenbean battery.

 

Well, after 1000 miles and a road trip, I am happy to note the following about my 09 Prius:
1. Oil consumed 1/10 of a quart. Not bad for 157,000 miles, huh?
2. Coolant consumed - none.
3. 54 MPG confermed at the pump for a 700 mile trip, mostly highway speeds, with AC on.
4. Full tank to low fuel alarm - 7 gallons,

This was with a new air filter, a new belt, a clean PCV valve, new stock plugs, a clean VVT solenoid and filter, and tires inflated to 35 lbs.

Ah yes, and with an Easypass device. Love those Purple Lanes!

I will proceed with changing hoses, the two coolant circulation pumps, all fluids all tires and perhaps a headlight upgrade.

Speaking of pumps, the ABS pump whirrs once in a while so I will ignore for now. The coolant reservour pump whirrs but appears to do its job whenever I park the car, and whenever I get back in. I doubt I will replace it.. Yes, Priuses have 4 pumps, and an AC compressor!!! So make that 5.