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new head gasket for 06 prius, coolant leak ??? Have U heard of this ??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by priusowner1, Jun 19, 2010.

  1. priusowner1

    priusowner1 New Member

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    Hello !

    Boy , do I need a hand on this one !! LOL
    I already talked it over with the family to get their views.
    I want to ask some consumer "experts" now to see what they
    would do if they were in my shoes.
    I just bought my 2006 Toyota Prius about a year ago in 2009.
    It has been treating me LIKE GOLD !!! up to this point.
    I am in the northeast region of PA where we have ALL seasons spring,summer, fall, winter. Today it has around 83kmiles. About a month or two ago, the check engine light came on and stayed on along with a big red triangular warning light. I let it go for about a week before calling for help hoping that it would just go away.
    I brought the vehicle into my local Toyota dealership so they can diagnose it.They told me that they had 3 or 4 different "codes" coming from the machine when getting the signals from the check engine light. All the codes were related to the cooling system.
    They said that they felt that there was "debris" clogging the pathway for the coolant flow throughout the engine. They had recommended a "coolant flush" for the hybrid side as well as the mechanical side.
    So I took their advice and I had them perform the coolant flushes.
    After leaving the dealership that 1st time, the check engine light came back on the next day. I called the same dealership and explained it to them. They asked me to bring it in again.
    SO I brought it to them a 2nd time. They diagnosed it again. They told me they came up with 2 of the SAME "codes" and 1 that was different, but ALL the codes were STILL related to the
    cooling system. They explained to me that something was preventing the clear flow of coolant throughout the
    engine. And since the thermostat was the only major obstacle, they recommended that I replace it.
    Well, I did. And after I left the dealership that 2nd time, I was praying that this was the last of my Prius issues !
    And what do you think happened to me the VERY NEXT day ?
    Yes, YOU GUESSED IT !! The check engine light came back on the next day.
    I got on the phone with the same service person who helped me originally. They invited me back and did not charge me this time because it was the same issue.
    I told them that I am not in the business of randomly changing parts on my car unless I am absolutely sure I know exactly what the problem is.
    HOWEVER, this time they kept my vehicle for a good week or two. Running it through various
    diagnostics tests overnight here and there.
    They finally came out and said that they feel that I have a coolant system leak coming from my
    engine and that I need to replace my head gasket which is responsible for sealing the engine.
    They said this repair would cost over $1000.00

    I told them I need to think about it before I go ahead and take their word for it that this would be the end
    of my worries.

    I called around at different mechanics and dealerships to get different prices since this is a mechanical repair vs a hybrid
    repair. All the mechanics and Toyota dealerships came close to $1000.00 but they told me that I should leave that type of
    a repair to the dealership since they are highly skilled and it comes with 12 month warranty.

    I told my family and they said this: " If you brought it to them 3 times and they cannot pinpoint the exact problem, especially for a dealership, you don't need to spent the money for the repair. You should sell the car and get a better one. I would not have brought it back to them after the 1st visit. But you can do what ever you want. Its your call. "

    Wouldn't it be less expensive if I replaced the engine ??
    I have seen them online for under 1000.00

    So what would you do ?
     
  2. jelloslug

    jelloslug It buffed right out!

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    What were the codes?
     
  3. priusowner1

    priusowner1 New Member

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    During my 1st visit, the codes were P0117 and P1150
    During the 2nd and 3rd visits , in addition to those, there was one additional one that came up that I will post as soon as I find it !
     
  4. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I am in Northeast Pa. also, What dealer did you go to?
     
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Get some money back from that dealer and never go to them again.
     
  6. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    According to my Bentley manual:

    P0117 = Engine coolant temp circuit low input
    Investigate the following:
    short in engine coolant temp sensor circuit
    engine coolant temp sensor
    ECM

    P1150 = Coolant path clog up for coolant heat storage system
    Investigate the following:
    Coolant heat storage tank outlet temp sensor
    Water valve (coolant flow control valve)
    cooling system (for clogs)
    heat storage tank
    ecm


    Those guys have no freaking idea how the Prius works. If there was a clog for the heat storage system (thermos), the hybrid side wouldn't have needed to be flushed. The codes say nothing about a thermostat going bad - if it did go bad, then chances are the engine would overheat instead - and they should be able to tell very easily!

    A coolant leak sounds highly suspicious - IT WOULDN'T clog the engine coolant thermos. A leak would probably empty out the engine coolant reservoir empty. Was it below full?


    Since your check engine lights appear the day after, I predict that a faulty coolant valve or the thermos is not retaining heat. That or the thermos hoses are incorrectly hooked up.

    Questions: Does the check engine light appear upon startup? in the middle of driving? when?

    This car was used right? Since you bought this 2006 in 2009, if that's the case, was there any front-end damage or other repairs done to the front of the car?
     
    danlatu likes this.
  7. priusowner1

    priusowner1 New Member

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    Thank you for ALL your help !!

    To answer your questions in order:

    1. After the 1st vist, when they performed BOTH coolant flushes,
    I did not notice any dripping or leakage of coolant from anywhere on the vehicle. The coolant resevoir (relief tank) was not "below full".


    2. The check engine light appears sometimes at start up and sometimes during the ride while driving. Occassionally it shuts itself off. But it is on MORE than it is off. and when it DOES come ON,
    the BIG , RED triangular warning light to the left of the check engine light follows right behind it not too long after the check engine light comes on.

    3. I bought the car used in March of 2009 from a BMW dealer who said that it was a trade in for a BMW. The manager at the BMW dealer said that the previous owner was looking for a car that delivers "more performance". But I checked the carfax reports on it
    before I bought it to ensure that the title was clear and it did not have any major dings or dents.
     
  8. priusowner1

    priusowner1 New Member

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    Hey NorthEast PA !!!

    I brought the vehicle to the dealership that I was at the closest at the time but I think that I am going to take it to Hazelton or the surrounding area for a 4th or 5th opinion since I already asked 5 mechanics and 3 dealers. I already spoke with Stroudsburg and Scranton and they both said that If there is an "open case" with the situation, chances are that the other dealerships would not tell me anything different that what I already know from the first one.

    Might you have any good suggestions ?? Thanks !
     
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The system ate my earlier post. I recommend buying a ScanGauge so you'll be able to monitor coolant temp & read the DTCs.

    Go to http://www.toyotaownersonline.com/index.html and register your VIN to see the dealers' service history.

    I'll leave you in the good hands of the technical experts. In my non-technical opinion, if you are overheating you would know it by now.

    Given the choice, I'd ask for & trust the advice here before going to the dealer.
     
  10. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    I've always had good luck with halterman's but never had a problem like you. However the Prius tech there said NOT to fluch the cooling system with the machine like other cars. They always seemed very knowlegable about the Prius.
     
  11. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Hmmm.... I have to admit that the lack of a scangauge makes it a bit harder to figure out whats wrong...

    Does the car make a whirrling sound in the mornings/at the end of the drive? Does the warning light appear before the whirrling sound or after?
     
  12. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Excuse me, but if there is a leak in the coolant system, shouldn’t the coolant level go down? If there is a clog in the system, wouldn’t that be noticed when flushing the system?

    The descriptions of P0117 and P1150 above provide a very specific list of things to check. P0117 sounds like either a bad temperature sensor or a bad connection to the sensor. Maybe as simple as a connector not fully plugged in. P1150 says that there is a clog in the system. Like maybe the coolant flow control valve is jammed.

    A ScanGauge II would allow you to monitor engine coolant temperature. I don’t remember ever seeing mine go over 185 F.
     
  13. syed r rizvi

    syed r rizvi New Member

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    there was a sam problem with my prius , and i talk it to different expert at the end the motor gaskit was burned and they suggest me ether you change a gasket or change refurbish engin both cost will be same
     
  14. syed r rizvi

    syed r rizvi New Member

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    i have a same problem with my prius 2006 same sign come with red triangle ,i talk to different expert regarding same but they cant not resolve this problem, at the end they realized that the motor gasket is burned and suggest me eather you change a had gasket or change a refurbish motor which cost me a $ 6500.00 , sofar i dont deside what to do , is anyone give me a batter suggestion
     
  15. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    You need the codes that are currently showing and post them here for others to analyze for other opinions.
     
  16. Adan x

    Adan x New Member

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    It is nearly always cheeper to replace engine. Dont get riped off by stealerships. If it is the head gasket you have to fix other problems first. You are better off buying a used junk yard engine with low miles because its way cheeper. If you do infact have a head gasket leak and are going to replace engine, try head gasket sealer First to see if it gets you buy. Read instruction on bottle!!! It worked 1 year for me. But you have to put car in diagnostic mode so it runs all the time so sealer can work. Blue devil and bars poor and go are good brands.

    Diagnostic mode procedure
    1. Place parking break
    2. Push start button twice w/o touching break
    3. Hit gas pedal to floor twice
    4. Apply break and shift to neutral and let go of break.
    5. Hit gas pedal twice
    6. Push park hit gas twice again
    7. Hold break push start. Engine will stay on