First-Time Hybrid Owner ('02 Prius)

Congratulations, you've got a fine car just there are some things we've learned over time that help the car run longer with less stress.

Try to cruise at 65 mph for better fuel economy and lower stress on the car. When going up large hills that have a truck climbing lane, use it and follow trucks at their climbing speeds. Going 70 mph is OK but above 70 mph for extended periods of time, the parts heat up and this really hits the fuel economy.

If you have an interest, I would recommend looking at getting a Scangauge II to provide instrumentation not otherwise available. You'll also have the option to add XGAUGEs, user programmed codes, to read a lot of detailed car data like traction battery and transaxle temperatures. You can also read out error codes so if (or when) something goes 'boink' you can tell what is going on.

Otherwise, enjoy the car, GOOD LUCK!

Bob Wilson

 

What a beautiful looking car! Congratulations! I paid $4200 for mine with 175K on it and a rebuilt battery. I'd say you got a good deal. What part of the midwest are you in?

 

I rerely use the interstate now. I've changed my commute (and driving habbits) to all city streets. For my 22 mile round trip 5 days a week I get 55+ MPG and usually between 60-65 MPG. Love this car!

 

My experience is if there are a lot of traffic lights, it's better to cruise at 55-60 on the highway (in the right-most lane). I can usually average around 60-62MPG doing this at 60-90 degrees. If there are a lot of light, learn pulse and glide, but this tends to really frustrate people behind you.

 

FinsUp,

Check below the radio behind a flap/door, you might get a surprise like I discovered about a month after I got my 2002.... A six disc CD changer!!!!

 

I did the same thing with mine. In fact I was a shop getting ready to have a CD player installed when I located my CD player.

 

HEY, BRO! Just did my 120,ooo mile oil change on my 2002. I have a factory CD player in mine No nav though.
I bought mine from a Toyota dealer, the same in fact that sold the car new in '02. It had about 74,000 miles on it at the time and here 4 years later still kicking myself in the nice person for not negotiating money off the price the dent in the rear fender, ashamed to say I paid $11k for it in that condition. I have enjoyed an average fuel economy of right about 46.7 Would be terrible hard to go back to a gas guzzler now but anyone want to buy it? I am a bit tired of running it 90 miles out of my way every time it needs service other than oil changes. I do my own oil changes nowadays cause the idiots who do it for a living can't seem to get it right! (long story but the short is when the dealer puts in a whole quart extra it costs about 4mpg off your fuel economy) oil changes are easy! on this thing with the right filter wrench.
Yes, I can verify that this car will achieve up to about 65 mpg in the city, I have seen it. My commute is country roads with multiple stops and turns and 55 mph accelerations. Only way to beat my 47mpg is to go all electric.

Yea, things to watch out for; the first generation Prius had troubles with the power steering. I recently went in for a recent recall on the steering link pins. Toyota now warrants the power steering system until 2013.

DO NOT let whatever mechanic you take it to put this thing in Neutral with the key partly off, quick way to kill the 12v battery.
The original 12v battery was a joke in these things, make sure yours is updated.
My 2002 has now developed a brake fluid leak in the brake booster pump. Found out this morning it will cost $2000 to replace it. To check this get under the car and look up behind the engine on the passenger side and see if there's oil anywhere up there.
Careful about parking on a sidehill with the steering turned, this can trigger a "triangle of death" light. Carefull about putting things in the trunk and bumping the front left corner of the trunk where all the sensitive wiring harness from the traction battery lie, this is sensitive and can trigger a "triangle of death" light.

 

this actually kinda pisses people off! You will learn to be hated in a Prius!

 

It sounds like the 'hydrocarbon converter.' Between the exhaust manifold and the catalytic converter is a special, hydrocarbon converter. It is designed to hold the startup, hydrocarbons using a flap to redirect the exhaust. Once the catalytic converter is hot enough, it moves the flap and the startup, hydrocarbons are burned up.

The problem is in salted, winter areas corrosion can build up and seize the shaft.

Bob Wilson

 

Does that last entry show a part number. It does sound like the catalytic converter assembly. They call it "pipe assy, exhaust, front" 17410-21261.

 

MSRP $1192.11, I wouldn't worry about it yet. It won't leave you stranded.