1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

New Prius Owner (issues)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by stu4084, Oct 12, 2023.

  1. stu4084

    stu4084 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2023
    7
    3
    0
    Location:
    Russellville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just picked up an 09 Prius with 178K. Had the brake actuator replaced with OE equipment in 2022. Went and looked at it, drove it and everything checked out. The guy sells lots of used Prius cars and works on them as well. He went over everything with me, we felt good about it and purchased it. About 30 miles down the road a red triangle, VSC and CEL came one. Pull off the exit and shut down the car. Messaged the guy about it and he said could possibly be inverter pump. Had it scanned and that's what it was. He is purchasing the part and installing for me at my house today. Good service but it still just gives you that sick feeling or at least it does me. Is this a common thing with these? Just praying this will take care of things for a while. Car drives great, I've never driven one before, handled nicely down the interstate.
     
    SFO and bisco like this.
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,375
    1,792
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Yes the inverter pump is very common It's like $140 factory original part and should go the distance for you That's pretty damn good service that's what I would have done I don't have any customers like that but right. So you're in good shape I don't know the battery health I'm sure all that was discussed with you you felt good about it you bought the car Don't know what you paid doesn't really matter. So don't let the light coming on in the inverter pump going out short your expectations You bought a great car I don't know if your car is great but the generation 2 Prius is one of the best out there still today. I wouldn't change every inverter pump that I run up on and one of these cars I wait till it breaks as a lot of people do with most of this stuff You don't replace a break actuator and inverter and stuff like that until you have reason to believe it's broken like with the software that reads the nonsense and tells you that I'm assuming this car I don't even know what your thing said how many miles but again nothing serious this is an easy normal thing now you should be good with the Toyota replacement for a long time You want to find out from the guy if you use in a $40 part from Amazon or $149 part or something like that from the Toyota dealer and online buying will be a little cheaper for this part you really do want the Toyota model or upset another pump to do that duty but we're not going to go into that here.
     
    stu4084 likes this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,049
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congrats and welcome!

    these cars can get expensive if you don't diy. 15 years old with 180k, you never know, but i would start saving for a rainy day
     
    stu4084 likes this.
  4. stu4084

    stu4084 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2023
    7
    3
    0
    Location:
    Russellville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks!
    Yes, he came up today with the genuine Toyota part and installed it. Drove it to the office and back, drove great. Getting use to the noises this thing makes. Looking forward to saving some gas. I normally drive a Tundra.
     
  5. stu4084

    stu4084 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2023
    7
    3
    0
    Location:
    Russellville, AR
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Will do, hopefully that gets me by for awhile.
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. txexplorer

    txexplorer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2023
    50
    23
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Gen 2 Prius is definitely a DIY car. But luckily there are a ton of videos and resources to help. Parts are inexpensive and once you go through everything you'll know exactly what the car needs.
     
  7. highmilesgarage

    highmilesgarage Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2022
    339
    125
    0
    Location:
    Kansas City
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    this is only true if the Prius doesn't give you problems down the road because the repairs are expensive if you don't DIY. One repair could wipe out those gas savings. That's the reason DIY people buy them cheap and maintain them, for folks who rely on shops for basic repairs.. think again..
     
    Tombukt2 likes this.
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,375
    1,792
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Can be somewhat true but I mean changing an engine or a transmission in this particular model series of cars actually pretty rare almost anybody can change out the inverter and/or the part that breaks in it if they just want to give it a go same with replacing a battery You can be scared of it and worry you going to be shocked to death and all that nonsense or you can take the necessary precautions Do what you need to do I don't know how many people have died from getting shocked by Prius batteries. Generally speaking these cars cost what a Corolla cost to work on You just have an extra $3,000 electric battery cable and inverter and motors in the transmission that you don't have in the Corolla but that's okay because that stuff rarely really goes bad looking at all the years of Prius repairs even on this site people ripping out transmission and engines is not so often or so it seems.
     
    stu4084 likes this.