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Need advice!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by tvspaulmoore, Sep 22, 2017.

  1. tvspaulmoore

    tvspaulmoore Junior Member

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    Our 2007 Prius died at a stoplight the other day and had to be towed to our local shop- who had no idea what the problem was so we reluctantly had it towed to the Toyota dealer who want $1200+ to get it going again (!)

    The dealer says the pumps are ESSENTIAL... but any idea if the rest is worth doing? (car has done about 120K miles, already had the hybrid battery fail outside of 100K warranty- ugh- so more expensive to keep running than we wanted)

    Hybrid invertor pump installation $245.88 parts $166.11 Total with tax $480.29

    Engine water pump installation $311.88 parts $109.22 total $498.72

    Hybrid fan service $191.40 with tax

    Spark plugs $136.91

    Fuel induction and injection service $442.00 with tax​
     
    #1 tvspaulmoore, Sep 22, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the inverter pump is likely the cause of the breakdown, and would be required to be repaired.
    if the dealer charged you for diagnosis, ask for the trouble codes and report them here.

    how many miles on her, and have you been keeping up with regular service? the other items may or may not need to be done.
     
    kenoarto likes this.
  3. tvspaulmoore

    tvspaulmoore Junior Member

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    Thanks

    120K miles and yes we have serviced regularly

    We bought second hand in 2012 and looking at the MyToyota site, it seems like the recall hybrid water pump work was done in 2011- 60K miles ago- presumably that part would not be infinitely warrantied?
     
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    1 year on replacement parts.
     
  5. tvspaulmoore

    tvspaulmoore Junior Member

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    Bah!
    Thanks for the reply

    Don't feel good about having to sink another $1K+ into a 10 year old car given its value but it's cheaper than replacing it I guess
     
    bisco likes this.
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Your car died (more correctly: went into protection mode) because the HV pump failed. The rest of those services are either A) just getting tacked on as dealer profit or B) upping the bill in hopes you'll trade it in on a new car, low ball the trade in price (because it "needs" so much work) and they can repair it for $100 and put in on their used lot for max profit.
     
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  7. tvspaulmoore

    tvspaulmoore Junior Member

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    Ha ha
    Thank you
    I figured as much
     
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  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    That laundry list of items the dealer provided is to help pay for their damaged boat from the hurricanes.

    All you need is the inverter pump replaced and the car will be fine
     
    MilkyWay, jerrymildred and kenoarto like this.
  9. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    1) Get competing bids (and use coupons) at other dealers for the inverter pump.The part price is too high;
    2005 Toyota Prius Parts - metrotoyotapartsnow.com
    2) Do the fan cleaning yourself when you have a couple of hours.
    3) Betcha the mechanic showed you some faint traces of coolant leakage? Put off the water pump until you notice significant coolant loss (and then have the belts replaced at the same time). That pump part price is way too high.
    2005 Toyota Prius Parts - metrotoyotapartsnow.com
    4) Plugs are a pain to replace, put that off till you replace the belts, fluids and water pump.
    5) Do NOT do the induction/injection scam

    At 110,000 miles, I had Car-X replace my brakes, rotors, bearings, water pump, fluids, belts and plugs for $1000 total.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    plug your vin into the toyota owners website and see what dealership maintenance has been done. at 120k your due for just about everything, if it hasn't been done yet.
     
  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    You're not that far from Home - Tampa Hybrids Inc.. Give Todd a call. You'd have to have it towed over there, though, I'm sure.

    Inverter pump -- probably the original problem and probably required as mentioned before. Many people replace their own. The trouble codes will give you the story.

    Engine water pump -- kind of hard to replace, but doable if you have some skills and tools. If it's leaking, do it soon. Myself, I would probably pay to have it done and I love wrenching.

    Hybrid fan service -- Unless you're confined to a wheelchair, just do it. Cost is $0.00 unless you don't have a used toothbrush handy.

    Spark plugs -- They are due, but they are also not very hard to replace.

    Fuel induction and injection service -- sounds like free money for the shop.
     
  12. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    HOLLY Shite! Stealership preying on your ignorance and stoking fear into you to for expensive service or to buy a new/used car off their lot.

    Hybrid invertor pump installation $245.88 parts $166.11 Total with tax $480.29​
    Inverter water pump $96.97 at Camelback Toyota
    2007 Toyota Prius Parts - Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping

    Engine water pump installation $311.88 parts $109.22 total $498.72​
    ICE water pump $55.33 at Camelback Toyota
    2007 Toyota Prius Parts - Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping

    Hybrid fan service $191.40 with tax​
    Good to do. If you are handy and comfortable to disassemble the interior, you can DIY.

    Spark plugs $136.91​
    $7.59/ea at Camelback Toyota (QTY 4 required = $30.36)
    2007 Toyota Prius Parts - Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping
    $29.68 four pack from Amazon



    Fuel induction and injection service $442.00 with tax​
    [/QUOTE]
    99.99% all profit. If you have always been filling up the car with gas from a Tier1 refinery/station, safe bet you will NEVER need induction/injection service (aka 1000% dealer profit line item). Read the Consumer Reports study on gas, and why Tier1 gas will ultimately save you money in the long run, esp if you keep your car for a long time.
    Study: Top Tier Gasoline Worth the Extra Price - Consumer Reports

    Guarantee you they will add a bottle of Techron (or similar Fuel Injector cleaner) into the gas tank. If you are lucky, they might even clean the throttle body.
    12oz bottle of concentrate Techron is $9 at Amazon. 12oz should be more than enough for the small Prius gas tank.
     
    #12 exstudent, Sep 28, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2017