Potential new Gen 2 owner

Pretty much easy to handle no special tooling you'll need to round up some way to use TIS software from Toyota there's a buttload of ways to do it but you'll need to get it done more than likely unless you want to buy an upper end scan tool that can cost money. When it comes time to do the brakes and bleed the brakes when your ABS accumulator pump goes bad and it will You want to have the software to do that as well as read all of the myriad of computers that is Prius so that's something you need to be looking at like right as you're making the deal on the car I bought an '09 for $2,000 at the beginning of the pandemic that essentially had been maintained and needed nothing of course it was near 12 13 years old so it was coming time for the hybrid battery which I handle that and then next came the brakes got that done miraculously without having to use TIS to bleed the brakes I was lucky Don't think you'll be so lucky apparently it doesn't ever happen. This is a great car to own unlike the generation 3s and anything with the two Z engine. You're doing the right thing parts are plentiful if you know what you're doing You should be good for a long time if you want to be till you get tired basically.

 

welcome!
gen 2 is very reliable overall, but there’s no way of knowing about this particular gen 2.
A/c is best left to professionals because it is high voltage compressor and some special systems.
Brake actuator can be expensive and the more difficult side of diy.
Hybrid battery will need replacement at some point.
It’s an old car and just depends on your level of commitment.
If you can’t diy something, mechs are hard to find and expensive.
All the best.

 

why are they selling it for 2500 when the market is about 5000 or more in most places?

 

Start by telling us where you are. Some areas of the US could cost you $10k in common repairs while other areas might be half. Hv battery and brake booster alone could be $5k, the ac and evapative system could add $3k. Many burn oil and could be ready for an engine. Could be an expensive $2.5k hybrid.

Few general shops know much about these items, forcing newbees to a dealer. Be careful.

 

Could be a sale through military channels which are generally way below market. Could be just normal honest folk but just want to get out of the car and not spend their life answering questions to people that know about these cars that are going to be calling I paid 2K. For mine at the beginning of the pandemic very similar conditions not military. The prices hadn't Even gone up yet for the pandemic this is before that and this would have been about proper for the '09 that I bought before the pandemic nonsense. I used to get Toyota Corollas and yaris and others for FREE. Just up until right about when the pandemic started people used to drive them over here and leave them because they needed front hubs brake jobs whatever I've had people drop a car off here on their way to the dealer to go buy a new one me like here you go Tom You can have my Corolla needs a front hub car and beautiful condition and I drive that sucker for 5 7 9 years whatever it is. The beginning of the pandemic and just before are the first time I've bought cars in I don't know man like 14 years.

 

Make sure it’s a new oem battery

 

If there is no refrigerant in the system, then most likely you will have to replace the evaporator coil hidden deep in the dash.
Recently i've changed one on 2005 Prius and I have 2 more 2006 and 2008 with the same problem leaking refrigerant.

 

if it was done at a toyota dealer, it will be logged in the maintenance records at toyota.com/owners

 

new oem battery is a big deal, worth as much as they're asking for the whole car

 

is cat theft a big deal in your area?

 

Extremely labor intensive, but DIY-able. Then you'd take it to the A/C shop to let the pros do the final evac, seal test & recharge.