I wish had not bought the Prius

You could be right JC. Electronic braking and these weird chattering noises has me spooked. I have no idea if any of it is normal.

I haven't had any codes thrown since they replaced the inverter. The only warning light is a Tire pressure monitor light.

I did find a mechanic yesterday who claimed to have replaced 2 of them in the past for other customers with a rebuilt unit. He said he would replace mine with a re-manufactured actuator for $550. I spoke to another mechanic yesterday who claimed the actuator could not be rebuilt, advised against a used unit and quoted 2k for new.

 

I bought the car as is because it has great service records, had been garage kept, didn't have a rattle one. I liked the color and the package 6 and there wasn't much of a scratch on it anywhere. I paid $5300. The tint, tires and mats I did on my own to save money at a cost of $400.

I didn't and still don't have the money to spend on car repair. That doesn't mean I am cashless just that my money needs to go to more pressing things.

 

You are right Jc and thanks. I need to compare and get more opinions. It could be nothing.

I am trying to bring the car into excellent + condition and am fretting over every detail. This car will have to last me for a very long time and why I am protecting it so. I wash and vacuum it even when it's not very dirty.

Not having transportation for so long threw me over the edge. I vowed to care about my car when I got my next one and that's what driving all this pursuit of perfection.

As a new car to me, I just want to know that brakes, wheels and tires are working properly as well as the drive train and electronics. I plan to change my transaxle fluid soon, have an oil change coming up in 2000 miles. I already have my oil and filter in hand and a quote on the transaxle fluid change.

I feel I did more than a reasonable amount of homework then purchased a car with good service history and I still had/having major failures right out of the box.

Below is my personal Prius file that I put together before buying this Prius. (All this comes from reading Priuschat and copy and pasting into a text file. )

Brake pads:

toyota reccomends replacing the pads at 1mm

This is a known problem and is covered in a TSB as you noted (attached PDF). My "Chirp" noise at 105,000 miles was corrected by bleeding the right front brake (only $39 - the brake inspection fee at the dealer). It has not yet returned

Toyota specifically states to remove the two abs motor relays, whilst working on the rear brakes hydraulic system.
hey guys, just changed my brakes on my 04 prius and i forgot to turn off the 12v battery. The car turned on midway through changing my brakes. i finished putting the brakes on and there is good pressure in the brakes. But now the car won't start, the car doors won't even unlock. Any ideas?

clean up and relube the caliper pins while they're at it, you might ask about that. If the caliper pins dry out the caliper will not be able to shift laterally, it leads to all sorts of problems, asymmetrical pad wear, poor braking.

The rears are drum brakes I think. In my experience drum brake shoes tend to last longer. They still should be looked at periodically. The main thing is to lubricate the points of contact between the shoes and the backing plate, typically 3 points per shoe.


Pet Hair:
Car Pet Hair Remover Brush

Wash car
Clay Car
Wash Again
Dry Car
polish/seal/wax

If your Prius will have navigation you also don't want to use a metal based window tint. I had all of my windows, including the front, tinted with a ceramic based tint which did not reduce the GPS signal.

Portable JUmp starter. 900 amps is overkill for a Prius. The 300 amp unit should work OK. you can start a prius with a 12v battery... or 8 AA batteries ran to make 12v... or a power tool battery... it requires less than 100 watts for a few seconds.. then the hybrid battery takes over....

Compound - your go to for the DA polisher. Follow up with Meguiars Ultimate Polish Sealant or wax, I use Klasse All In One sealant/polish (instead of the Ultimate Polish) and it lasts for about 6 months with easy touch up.

If I clay, I polish. Period. M205 or Megs Ultimate Polish are probably 2 great choices to go with.
We clay 2-3 to as many as 6-7 cars a day. I buy clay by the case every 3 weeks to a month. We always use water with a few drops of soap in it an dit works great.

I use Klasse All In One sealant/polish (instead of the Ultimate Polish) and it lasts for about 6 months with easy touch up. I followed this product with a Klasse sealant/glaze.


Applying NXT Generation Tech WAX 2.0

For best results, apply in the shade to a clean, cool surface one section at a time, allowing 3-5 minutes before removing Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0.

By Hand:

1. Using the included applicator, apply a strip of Meguiar’s NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 directly onto the waxing pad.
2. Place the face of the pad flat on the vehicle’s paint and with light pressure in overlapping, circular patterns spread the wax onto the vehicle’s paint surface.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 as needed to complete the rest of the vehicle.


Tires:
Adams super VRT
Zaino Z16 Tire Dressing
Carpro Perl undiluted is my favorite. Perfect shine and a usual 1-2 month durability.?
Tuf Shine Tire Clearcoat
Optimum Opti-Bond and Tire shine, along with Perl
CG VRP -

Blackfire Total Eclipse Tire Gel

Ask:

The inverter probably has failed but you will need to obtain the DTC to be sure. P0A08 will indicate the DC/DC converter within the inverter has failed.

The dealer will charge you a healthy four-digit price to replace the inverter. The inverter is sitting in the engine compartment and has a shiny aluminum cover, next to the main relay/fuse box.

Personally, I would get the Exact Fit seatcovers sold on ebay for $62.10 (front and rear) in tan:

2005-09 TOYOTA PRIUS 2 ROWS SEAT COVERS TAN VELOR : eBay Motors (item 200326557485 end time Feb-24-10 09:03:43 PST)


Welcome to PriusChat!!

Register your VIN here and see what services have been performed : https://www.toyota.com/owners

Read the manual(s), if needed : Toyota Online Owners Manuals and Warranty

Have you already visited this thread? What services you need and what you don't | PriusChat What services you need and what you don't | PriusChat

Your 12v battery tested 13.8v at a resting state?

Transaxle fluid change as early as possible, possibly had the recall for the inverter pump done, had the 12 V battery changed? Brake fluid change? Coolant flush and fill?
Does it come with two key fobs?

Any accodents?
Have all the recall items been done?

Ask or check:

How old is the 12v battery? They last 4 years.

I would suggest look inside the throttle body under the air filter. Make sure there is no engine oil accumulation inside the throttle body. Use a flashlight to inspect beyond the throttle plate. Make sure there is no bright light reflection from oil accumulation at the bottom of the throttle body. If there is oil, it may be an indication of internal oil leak, which is quite common in 2nd gen. Prius.

4. When was transaxle oil last changed? Wrong answer: never. Negotiate a lower price.

5. Inspect the throttle (remove air cleaner) for 'crud'? Something for an early look.

6. What does the tire wear look like? Fixable, look for evidence of uneven wear. Negotiate alignment report.


7. Was the gas paddle “fixed” during the recall?

8. Check the production date in the doorplate. It may be, for instance, a 2005 model when the seller says it’s from 2006 (perhaps registered early 2006)

9. Did you ever change the ATF (Tranny Fluid)? Toyota says it only needs changing in "Harsh Use". Lab testing has shown that it should be changed every 60,000 miles. It should cost about $100 at a dealer.

If the alignment, including the rear wheels is off, even slightly, this car
can really chew up tires -- like to the tune of only 25-30k miles a set.

The Autopia article does not recommend 303 on textured black plastic trim. Instead they recommend a gel type tire and trim dressing. They like 303 on smooth black plastic and rubber. IMHO, the trim on the Gen II Prius is pretty low quality, and mine is faded also after years of protecting it...and I always used a gel tire dressing type product.

Always, always, always, no matter who does an oil change: let the car sit OFF for ten minutes and then check the level yourself before driving away. This can find many gruesome errors before they become expensive. Pay attention to the amount of oil when it is changed. Three and one half (3 1/2) quarts is all that is needed with a filter change. Four (4) quarts is TOO much and will overfill the crankcase. You do NOT want to overfill the Prius engine as it will cause problems. It is best to keep the oil in between the two marks on the dipstick and NOT above the top mark.


We have a 2010 Prius II with 171 k miles and going strong .

At around the 120 k miles mark, I noticed some oil consumption at the quart every 4500 miles rate.

I’ve been able to work it down to 20 ounces between 10 k mile oil changes.

Main factors:

Check oil on dip stick every Saturday after sitting overnight
drive 0-5 mph above posted freeway speed limits
Went up to 5w-30 full synthetic oil
Buy top tier gas
Perform engine flush with BG Products EPR before oil change
Add BG Products Extended Life MOA with new oil

I use 5W30 which I think is preferable to 0W20 unless you're in an extremely cold climate. Patrick Wong said that his engine got a bit noisier and started consuming oil when he switched from 5W30 to 0W20. There are plenty of 5W30 oils that will still give you great fuel economy.

5w-30
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-120766-Extended-Performance-5W-30-Motor-Oil-5-Quart/111569385
You could try the M1-209a filter. Same internal specs but almost twice the filtering surface as stock. Been using it for oil changes for almost 20K.
Check tires once a month. Tire pressures of 42/40 or 40/38 PSI, seem to be popular here. Using the factory recommendation of 35/33 is too low.

Gasoline:

I started off with casey's gas tried walmart(Murphy OIL) and got worse mpg tried shell 87 octane and average 53 mpg now. So Shell 87 for this prius, But there is no need to use premium just 87 octane is fine and recommended by Toyota. Chevron was the only gas they found that had any better effect in keeping valves clean (VW and Porsche did the testing). Since that time, the Top Tier standard makes Shell and the other Top Tier gasolines equal to Chevron.

Optima batteries are overrated. A good alternative is an Exide AGM battery, which is closest in design to the GS Yuasa that
Toyota puts in new cars and off the shelf replacements. If Optimas are so great, why don't OEMs install them in new cars?
My local Toyota dealer sells the OEM battery for just over $200, $220 with local sales tax. Best price I could get on Optima was about $195 with tax. For $25 extra, I went with the OEM. I usually avoid the dealer, but this time it made sense.

Oil filters; Mobil 1 M1-103 OEM replacement, Mobil 1 M1-209 much larger replacement. Save money. The OEM will last 10,000 miles.

As for the oil, given your s florida climate I'd recommend staying with 5W30. If you're somewhere really cold then sure you can get slightly better fuel economy with 0W20, but from my experience in a warm/very warm climate there's absolutely no detectable difference in FE, so no reason to depart from the recommended viscosity- 5W30.

Keep fresh Inverter Coolant in the car. That uses one gallon of Toyota Super Long Life coolant (SLLC) Lots of corrosion going on in the Inverter cooling system and down here we see blistering heat stop & go. Best to keep the Inverter & transmission cooled properly as they are the most expensive components. Changing Inverter coolant could not be easier.

Change oil & filter every 7500 miles using Mobil 1 and factory filter ($4.89)
Change Inverter Coolant and trans fluid every 30,000 miles
Engine coolant truly lasts to 100,000 miles

Actually, the Prius is very tough on motor oil. When the engine stops (often), the oil stops flowing near the rings and piston bearings where it is hot. That is why Toyota says to use 5w-30 when they would like to spec 5w-20, as they think the 5w-30 will not scorch as easily in the hot areas like 5w-20. Using a synthetic 5w-20 solves that problem, although Toyota won't say you have to use a synthetic, so they take the easy way out and spec 5w-30 instead.

And, yes, you should go to 1-year oil changes, because it is good for the environment, and Mobil1 Ext Perf can take it just fine. Mobil - The Oil That's Changing Oil has a Las Vegas taxi field test that demonstrated the oil in several Prius taxis, amongst other cars. Some test data I saw a while back showed the PureOne as filtering well but restricting flow, so I'd go with the Amsoil or Mobil 1 filters that have a better filter media that doesn't rely on paper cellulose, getting good filtration with low flow restriction.

The P21S is awsome stuff and you can get it for alot less that $100. Check autopia or autogeek.com. Before you apply it you should use the P21S cleaner. You Prius will shine like a piece of glass.

Dealer only Items:
Transaxle fluid change (no flush) replace aluminum drain/fill plug washers. The average cost $44 - $123.

front brake - clean, relube caliper pins, measure rotor thickness & runout, measure pad thickness (you will likely have more than 50% of pad thickness left)
rear brake shoe-clean, lube shoe contact points, adjust shoes, measure shoe thickness, measure drum thickness & runout

Full brake fluid flush at 100k


Change pcv value - $78-123
Change spark plugs. $93-220
Main Radiator Coolant Flush - between $44 - $100.
Inverter coolant change - check to see if recall was done.

Brake and caliper pin inspection and Lubrication, not a bad idea to flush the brake fluid either
Inspect the two (2) water pumps and change if needed

Clean the HV battery fan of all the dog hair that has accumulated over the years, important

Clean the maf sensor
Clean throttle body
Change air filter
Change cabin filter

Spark plugs dont get replaced until 120K mile/10years; California lists the interval at 150K miles/10years. Realistically, you can replace the plugs at some point between 120K-150K miles.


Cargo Net:

headlight bulbs

2009 Prius Headlight Bulbs | PriusChat
My friends use a "Hella" brand bulb from Amazon. It's about $8.00 each. Made in Poland but seems to hold up quite well. I would try that and not use the grease.

Cleaning the Prius Hybrid Fan for Preventative Maintenence | PriusChat

Consider buying (or sharing) a Prolong reconditioning system for the HV battery, or budget for a new HV battery
Monitor the engine oil level on a regular basis, and know that when the light comes on its too late

It’ll help keep your new to you Prius in good sorts.

Did it come with two key fobs?

Log in to http://www.toyota.com/owners with your VIN and see what kind of dealer service has be done already.

Black on the car, tires and trim Zaino Store : Z-16 Perfect Tire Gloss

I saw 303 protectant at Schuck's Auto Supply, aka Kragen or Checker in other states. It works great on interior plastic as well as exterior, and is used to keep clear plastic lenses from fading (headlights and taillights). It makes the black plastic underbody trim and mudguards look nice and black. I also use it on the windshield wiper blades (keeps 'em from cracking), the plastic trim below the windshield, the antenna, and the rubber door lock buttons.

I used Griot's Garage Bumper and Trim Reconditioner for the same problem on my old 4Runner. It's a black dye, and it worked on 9-year old faded plastic quite well. I followed it with Griot's Garage Vinyl and Rubber Dressing, which is what I use on my 08 Prius now. The B&T Reconditioner is the only product I know that is designed to restore faded plastic. It made a pretty amazing difference on the old car, and lasted until I traded the 4Runner in for the Prius, probably over a year.

http://www.griotsgarage.com under "Car Maintenance" then "Restoration"

Brakes: Brake pads & remaining life Midas or other franchised specialty shops may check em for free

Rotor noise from rust will be apparent when you brake below eight mph. If you hear the noise braking gently at speed, then it's not the rotors.

Rust on the rotors is very common with the Prius, since they don't get much use. Many people clean them off from time to time by braking in neutral, which will force the use of friction brakes. On a clear stretch of open road, move the shifter to N and hold it for a second or two. The Prius will switch to N. Gently apply the brakes until you slow down, then shift back to D. Repeat as needed.

I wouldn't be surprised if you're going to have high oil consumption from this point forward due to neglect. Yours is not the 1st time I've seen posts here of the same sequence of events: oil unchecked, master warning, discover oil is low, oil consumption is high from that point forward.

The inverter coolant pump is fist-sized plastic and is behind one of the headlights. I learned the hard way that you better replace it regularly, before it blows as when it blows it can burn our your inverter which dealers charge $3000 for plus labor. Good luck finding a shop that knows how to put in a used one (Check Car-Parts.com) which you can find for $800 and up.

The average cost for a Toyota Prius Water Pump Replacement is between $1057 and $1657. Labor costs are estimated between $149 and $200 while parts are priced between $908 and $1457.

My Toyota dealers never warned me once about the danger of pump failure causing such an expensive repair. Just never crossed their minds, huh, as I brought it in for inverter coolant changes. So now, instead of just changing a cheap pump, the dealer is requiring me to buy a new inverter, plus labor for total of more than $4000. Thanks for nothing, Toyota. I invest in this vehicle and this is the best advice your dealers can give me? No warnings at all. For honest advice, check out Luscious Garage in San Francisco, which services the S.F. Prius taxi fleet along with all the bay area Priuses. They have a good web site. They told me more about the Prius than my dealers ever did.

check for air in the inverter system.
Did they drain and replace the coolant with Toyota Super Long Life Coolant? I'm wondering if the inverter may have developed clogging in the coolant channels.
3. When was the inverter coolant last changed prior to this incident?
4. When the inverter overheats, the DC/DC converter will shut down which puts stress on the 12V battery. The skid control ECU will turn on warning lights and eventually turn on the horn to tell you the braking system is severely impaired.

Recall to 2007 Recall Alert-2004-2007 Inverter Water Pump | PriusChat

First mods:
I have BT Tech stiffening plate which improves the feel of the car IMHO mudflaps to protect the paint, and I got a bumper protector which you can fit after the bumper is scratched but it's better to get it early. I also put the side strips on to reduce car park dents.

I'd recommend the 205/60 R15 - I really like my General Altimax HP tires, and they are not expensive at all. You can order them from WalMart too! .

Solar 4XS 205/60R15 91H Tires - Walmart.com

" As its name promises, the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred provided the most comfortable ride of the group"

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...ta&autoModel=Prius&autoYear=2004&autoModClar=

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/resu...sort=Weight&filterNew=All&filterSpecial=false

Vibration absorbing material like Dynamat Extreme stuck on the insides of the door sheet metal and the passenger and cargo compartment floor will go along ways towards making it feel like you have better ride. If you don't hear tinny sounds and rattles your mind thinks the ride is smoother.

mirror adjust:
1 Sitting in the driver's seat, lean your head against the driver's side window and adjust the left outside mirror so you can just see the back left corner of your car;
2 Now, lean your head just over the center console/armrest and adjust the right outside mirror so you can just see the back right corner of your car.

I personally do the sidewall max of my tires, 51PSI. It seems that most people don't like the harsher ride, though, so somewhere around 40-44PSI might be more suitable to your tastes and still give you some more MPGs.

Buy some ArmorAll Fabric wipes if you bought one with cloth seats like me. I have some and they do the BEST job of getting little spots out of the seats. They come in a mini-can at Target for $2.99+tax.

Shark fin antenna mods. VG Garage is what most people use but you do loose reception.

Easiest/best headlight upgrade? Easiest/best headlight upgrade? | PriusChat


Horn upgrade Fiamm is difficult to beat for the money.

To disconnect the center speaker, use a panel tool to lift up the center speaker, unplug the plug (make sure you press the release tab on the plug), then press the speaker back in.

I got my blind spot mirrors at my local toyota stealership auto parts store for $1.78. Walmart sells teh same one for $1.99.

'd go with the SOFT racks or the gutterless system roof racks: Gutterless Surfboard Roof Racks | SurfboardRacks.com

Wetsuit Seat covers costco. 20.00 Seat Covers For The Prius Costco $19.99 | PriusChat

wind noise A quick fix to excessive wind noise | PriusChat

Very simple things I would do again (on my next Prius.)

The BT stiffening plate. *I* noticed a difference. Best $150 and 30 min. I ever spent.

The mudguards. Really keep the car much cleaner. Looose MPG.

The bumper guard (black plastic) on the rear bumper.

Cargo net (I installed it myself), spider net (the rings are already in the car) and the cargo tote. Hardly a mod but I would do all of these again in a second.

GT covers, Wheelskins, Bartlett leather interior

Robinredbreast's (Priushoods) glove box covers and driver's side cover and the screen hood. Absolutely. As for the center console cover and armrests...I like them so much I've decided to get leather installed on them permanently and will have the car done this summer. But those aren't mods I can do myself so I don't count them. I haven't counted anything I couldn't do myself, like the 3M clear bra. I don't have tint (yet) either so that's not included.


Audio:
I installed BOSS BASS600 under the passenger seat. I am very satisfied with it. I don't loose any interior volume. It is hidden away. It gives me the bass that complement the crystal clear sound from the Infinity speakers. I spent $99.99 for it (comes with a built-in amp) and wiring kit for $13. I installed it myself with the guidance of F8L. I ran the RCA cable and Control wire (to turn on the sub) from the head unit to the sub. I ran the ground wire to the seat bolt. The power cable run straight to the trunk where the 12v battery is located. It is very simple. There is no drilling to pass the firewall like a non-hybrid to get to the hood.

It's a easy inexpensive unit that just plain works! You won't hear it cars away, but it will add to the bottom end nicely inside the car!
Search the forum, select "Show Posts" and input "SUBWOOFER BOSS BASS" it will return 9 threads that you should read through.

Don't forget flipping the rear view mirror. Anyone who is tall will have trouble seeing past the mirror and flipping it upside down does give you more viewing area.

aero wheel covers - MOON Discs

Tire size: 205/60r15 work fine on the base wheels, and look better that stock too. corrects the speedo too. 205/60r15 works great. had em on the '04, have em on the '05, I had 205/60r15's on my '04 for years, they look much better, ride better, way better handling and braking, and make the speedo more accurate. I didn't notice any loss of mileage. The US OEm is a 185/65 and in euorope 195/60.

This is how to disable the current reverse beep for the Prius:


1. Power on the car to READY.
2. Using the Trip/ODO button set the Trip/ODO display to ODO (not Trip A or Trip B).
3. Power off the car.
4. Now power the car to READY (brake on). This is required so that step 6 works correctly.
5. Within 6 seconds of powering on, press and hold the Trip/ODO button for 10 seconds or more.
6 WHILE STILL HOLDING ODO *after* the 10 seconds, shift the “gear†selector from P to R, then back to P. Now release the Trip/ODO button.
7 If the last step was successful, “b on†or “b off†should be displayed in the location where the Trip Odometer or Odometer is normally displayed. “b on†is beep on, and “b off†is beep off.
8. Press Trip/ODO to toggle the mode.
9. Now power the car off to exit the toggle mode.
10. Power the car on to READY and confirm the reverse beep status by shifting to R. The beep should not be audible if “b off†was selected, and should be audible if “b on†was selected.



1. BT Tech Strut Tower Brace

2. Goodyear Assurance TripleTreds 195/60/15

3. BT Tech Stiffening Plate

4. BumperDefender.com 2" Wide, Color-Matched, Front and Rear Bumper Guard Strips

5. Hatch Handle Attachment to Rear License Plate (Saab, Volvo & Mercedes Benz)

Body side molding They are not available through local Toyota dealers. I bought mine through SigmaAutomtive.com.

I have installed a hood over the MFD (multi-function display). I bought it on Ebay for $26.99 from Prius Hoods. A very quality product which looks great and keeps the sun glare off of the display. I also installed Toyota mud guards. I bought them new from a Toyota dealer on Ebay for $35.00.

Mudguards, side moldings, Wet Okole seat covers, sharkfin antenna, Dashmat, sunscreens, window tint, OEM rubber mats, rear bumper protector and debadged rear (with the PRIUS reinstalled on center of lower rear window - looks great) for starters.

Quiet - owners have put dynamat in the door panels in an attempt to reduce outside noise through those panels. If you want to go nuts, you could probably put some underneath the carpets but that'll require taking out the front seats.

You could also run on Goodyear Assurance ComforTred (or equivalent quiet tires).

Steering Wheel - The PriusChat shop does sell wheelskins leather steering wheel covers. Genuine Leather Steering Wheel Cover for 2004-2009 Toyota Prius by Wheelskins

Bg 109 oil restoroe. Use every 3rd oil change. heat activated so run the car 20 minutes.

EPR (added to oil prior to draining and let the engine run for 20 or so minutes): Bg109 Bg EPR Engine Performance Restoration 11 Fl Oz From the Makers of 44k
I have used this on our Prius and our 98 4Runner with 258 k miles and each time I have done it, the oil has come out jet black. So carbon deposits are being removed.

I work at a Mazda dealer in Florida and we have begun using this product for the "performance oil change". We have used this product with some pretty badly sludged engines and had pretty good results after removing the valve cover before and after the service to inspect what the BG 109 did. We run the BG 109 for about 20 minutes in an already heated engine. Then we drain the oil (you should see what comes out sometimes!) Then replace your oil filter and fill with the oil of your choosing. BG recommends running the MOA additive as well when you add your oil for extra cleaning and protection capacity. Let us know how it works for you!!

Amsoil SSO 0-30W. Pure synthetic, I change every 25k, rated to 35k. Lab analysis good, recommend try longer!

cheaper buying a 5 quart bottle of 5w30 Mobil 1 thru somewhere like Walmart and get the OEM oil filter at dealer for $5.00. Takes 3.5-3.9 quarts. DO NOT OVERFILL.
Car Wax:
I'd go with a sealant. WGDGPS, Duragloss 105, Menzerna Powerlock, Four Star UPP to name a few.
I'm in S Fl I use WGPS

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air filter: Hold the filter up to sunlight. When you can't see light coming through, it's time to change the filter. Compare to a new filter if you are unsure.
I used a K&N before in a different car, I can't say it's worth the trouble for me. The cleaning and oiling was a pain. The Toyota filters can be purchased for about $12 every 20,000 miles. The cost savings is minimal and just not worth the work involved in cleaning and oiling. I didn't notice any power difference when I used it.

Winsheidl treatment Aquapell.

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you should add coolant when it is low. I recommend you buy a gallon jug of Toyota Super Long Life Coolant from your friendly Toyota dealer's parts dept counter. This will cost ~$21 or so. The coolant is premixed with distilled water, just pour it in.
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You may find that a plastic funnel will help you to add the coolant, without spills.
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Every 3,000 miles or every other month, I soak the CV boots, steering boots, sway bar joints and strut boots with silicone spray (by Permatex, #80070). This is a trick I learned years ago while working for a gas station from the mechanic.
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My 2001 Honda Insight with 287,000 still had the original CV boots that were in perfect supple condition. I use "Permatex Silicone Spray", also available on Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more for $4.62 and JEGS Performance Auto Parts - Holley - Billet Specialties - Edelbrock - MSD - Moroso - Mr Gasket
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Transaxle ATF: The transaxle ATF level should be checked at 30K mile intervals and the transaxle case should be inspected for leakage at that time.

it is necessary to remove the transaxle fill plug on the side of the transaxle facing the radiator, when the car is raised up and level. Insert your finger into the fill hole to see if you can feel the ATF. The spec is for the fluid level to be 0 - 5 mm from the bottom of the hole.

At ~100k miles there are a number of other things that are more likely to
cause trouble:
* the inverter cooling pump is somewhat of a weak link, and some Prius
gurus recommend replacing it and the special coolant at 100k as a
preventative measure before it leaves you stranded.

* The "transmission" fluid is due for renewal. Again the maintenence gurus
recommend that it be changed a least once, and better yet twice, before
100k miles for logevity purposes.

* The service life on the small 12v battery is ~ 4 years. Extended high or
low ambient temps lower that figure. The car cannot be started if the 12v
battery dies as it "boots" the computer that brings the big HV battery on line
for starting, etc.

* If the alignment, including the rear wheels is off, even slightly, this car
can really chew up tires -- like to the tune of only 25-30k miles a set. No
way to know what the history is here but unevenly worn tires would be a
give away.


http://www.hybridcars.com/top-7-aftermarket-mpg-boosting-prius-accessories-26229/

Check car fax and ensure no accidents, ensure they followed maintenance regiment - 5k oil, 15k service

- New 12V battery (expected life of 4 years - 2006 prius would require new one soon)

- Check that transaxle fluid was replaced

- Shifting of car gears should be completely not felt by driver due to CVT

12V Battery health check; replace if weak
Alignment check; rear can't be adjusted so don't accept a bad one
(especially in your case, brand new tires may hide evidence of poor alignment)
Get a list of TSBs, look out for the described symptoms in test drive
Above 35-40K miles, get them to do an ATF drain and fill if it hasn't been done
If they can't/won't produce service records (scary by itself) you can check them at Toyota Owners Online | Official Toyota Owners Website - just claim the VIN as yours.

Ask or check:

I would suggest look inside the throttle body under the air filter. Make sure there is no engine oil accumulation inside the throttle body. Use a flashlight to inspect beyond the throttle plate. Make sure there is no bright light reflection from oil accumulation at the bottom of the throttle body. If there is oil, it may be an indication of internal oil leak, which is quite common in 2nd gen. Prius.

4. When was transaxle oil last changed? Wrong answer: never. Negotiate a lower price.

5. Inspect the throttle (remove air cleaner) for 'crud'? Something for an early look.

6. What does the tire wear look like? Fixable, look for evidence of uneven wear. Negotiate alignment report.


7. Was the gas paddle “fixed” during the recall?

8. Check the production date in the doorplate. It may be, for instance, a 2005 model when the seller says it’s from 2006 (perhaps registered early 2006)

9. Did you ever change the ATF (Tranny Fluid)? Toyota says it only needs changing in "Harsh Use". Lab testing has shown that it should be changed every 60,000 miles. It should cost about $100 at a dealer.

headlights: theres a cleaner called "soft scrub" with bleach in it.... put that on your headlights, and rub it in with a fairly rough sponge....the sponge that i bought is dark blue (rough) on one side, and light blue (soft) on the other side.... use the dark blue side and rub the soft scrub in real good, and then wipe it off.... my headlights on my truck were YELLOW and now they're clear

ot at those speeds. With firmware updates the 2004-2009 all have the same fuel economy. Better MPGs require slowing down, and inflating the tires to 42/40 PSI front/rear.
the tire pressure is as recommend. 33 rear, 35 front.

The best value in wax IMO is Collinite Super Doublecoat Auto Wax No. 476s. Great stuff, lasts up to six months, water beads like you have never seen, does a good job keeping dirt from sticking to the paint and reasonably priced. I bought 3 cans of it at Harbor Freight for under $4 each last year. Not sure if they still carry it.

New KYB shocks and struts will make the ride better. "As its name promises, the Goodyear Assurance ComforTred provided the most comfortable ride of the group"

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...ta&autoModel=Prius&autoYear=2004&autoModClar=

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/resu...sort=Weight&filterNew=All&filterSpecial=false

EPR (added to oil prior to draining and let the engine run for 10 or so minutes): Bg109 Bg EPR Engine Performance Restoration 11 Fl Oz From the Makers of 44k

I have used this on our Prius and our 98 4Runner with 258 k miles and each time I have done it, the oil has come out jet black. So carbon deposits are being removed


Climate Control- Assuming your 06's climate screen has a similar setup to my 05, you select your fan speed and temp (moderate is always best- i use 70) and make sure the little AC button is off. most times it will automatically turn on the ac, so you have to turn on the fan, then turn off the ac.

Package #1 (HE) (Model 1224)

Rear Camera
AM/FM, CD 6speakers & MP3 Audio
Smart Key Systemt

Package #2 (HG) (Model 1224)

Vehicle Stability Control
Rear Camera
AM/FM, CD 6speakers & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System

Package #3 (HI) (Model 1224)

Vehicle Stability Control
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security

Package #4 (HK) (Model 1224)

Vehicle Stability Control
2 HID Headlamps
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security
Front Fog & Driving Lamps

Package #5 (NL) (Model 1224)

Vehicle Stability Control
2 HID Headlamps
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security
USA EMV & Navigation System
Front Fog & Driving Lamps

Package #5 Touring Edition (NL) (Model 1226)

Vehicle Stability Control
2 HID Headlamps
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security
USA EMV & Navigation System
195/55R16 Alloy Tire $ Disc Wheel
Large (w/Fin) Rear Spoiler
Full Cap 16" + Ornament Wheel Cap
Front Fog & Driving Lamps

Package #6 (NR) (Model 1224)

Vehicle Stability Control
4 Spoke Leather Steering Wheel
Natural Leather Seat Material
2 HID Headlamps
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security
USA EMV & Navigation System
Front Fog & Driving Lamps

Package #6 Touring Edition (NR) (Model 1226)

Vehicle Stability Control
4 Spoke Leather Steering Wheel
Natural Leather Seat Material
2 HID Headlamps
Rear Camera
JBL AM/FM, CD Changer, 9speakers & Bluetooth & MP3 Audio
Smart Key System
Alarm & Homelink Security
USA EMV & Navigation System
Front Fog & Driving Lamps
195/55R16 Alloy Tire $ Disc Wheel
Large (w/Fin) Rear Spoiler
Full Cap 16" + Ornament Wheel Cap

I also try to avoid oil burning cars but it could be as simple as a pcv valve.

Battery: you can buy one anywhere, but it has to be an exact fit, and accept a vent tube. Pep Boys in Syracuse might have a Bosch brand AGM batery on sale for $152 + tax with free installation. I bought the same 12V battery from Pep Boys six years ago - good battery, no issues. $200 dealer item is the best battery for the money and hassle.

Lights:

15PCS White SMD Map+ Dome+ Door LED Lights Interior Package Kit For Toyota Prius 6874783877654 | eBay

Wind noise fix A quick fix to excessive wind noise | PriusChat

Shrok fin antenna How to install shark fin antenna? | PriusChat

Have you tried changing the bulbs to a non OEM halogen? Like Philips X-Treem or Crystal Vision Ultra or Night guide? Here is a link to the website: Philips Automotive Lighting
You can buy the bulbs at NAPA, or my favorite Amazon.com and they're not expensive.

I've used all 3 bulbs, the X-treem are super bright, but only lasted about 3 months (I do a lot of night driving and early morning driving so you might get 6 months from them) I've used the Crystal vision Ultra, which are way brighter than the stock ones. I currently have the Night-Guide bulbs that have a Tri-Color effect to them. These are bright, and reflect yellow light towards traffic, and crystal blue to the right towards highway signs.


Fog lights. HID/Xenon Bulbs for Foglights | PriusChat

You can try contacting:

Lightwerx
HID Projector Headlight Retrofit for Subaru, Honda, BMW, Scion and More | LightWerkz.net

Black Flames Customs
BlackFlameCustoms : HID Projector Headlight Retrofits, Retrofit Service & Parts

They both have performed very nice work. You can read more about them and retrofitting in general at HIDPlanet.com. That is THE place to learn about HIDs and projectors.

Here is my thread on retrofitting for the GenII Prius.
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...16-headlight-projector-retrofit-hids-max.html

Reverse light - JDM ASTAR 1200 Lumens Extremely Bright 144-EX Chipsets 7440 7441 7443 7444 992 LED Bulbs with Projector For Backup Reverse Lights, Xenon White

JDM ASTAR 1200 Lumens Extremely Bright 144-EX Chipsets 7440 7441 7443 7444 992 LED Bulbs with Projector , Xenon White

High & low beam headlamp - 9003 (H4) or HID

Parking light - 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Tail light - 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Turn Signal - 7440 [amber] (21W)

Fog light - 9006

License plate - 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Back up light - 7440

Front sidemarker - 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Map light - 168/194/T-10 (8W)

Dome light - 3175 (also fit: 3022/3021/6428/6430) (8W)(1.25", 31mm)

Step/Courtesy light - 168/194/T-10 (5W)

Trunk/Cargo area - 3022 (also fit: 3175/3022/3021/6428/6430) (5W)(1.25", 31mm)

Vanity light - 3022 (also fit: 3175/3022/3021/6428/6430) (5W)(1.25", 31mm)

Brake lamps are LED - see dealer parts (ouch)

i just replaced my stock fog lights to a 'Xentec HID conversion kit' (ebay) to match the HID headlights.... fogs are bright and look great! cost = $40 and 30 mins of labor. easy install too!

Bosch Icon replacement is 418A. For driver side it's 426A although 428A will work as well.

Honey burlwood dash kit RDASH WOOD Grain Dash Kit for Toyota Prius 2004-2009 (Honey Burlwood) - $49.99 | PicClick

Wiper blades Aero Voyager from Flee bay
The Bosch Ikons/Icons are great - I've got a set on my 2006 - you can slightly upsize the driver's side blade too, if you like, to 28" from the stock 26". The provide a very clean sweep and minimal noise, and they give the car a cleaner look to boot. There are two fitments - the Prius (I think, you should confirm) takes type 'A'.
No to Icons dns no to 28".
Have you tried Rain X or Aquapel? Aquapel IMO is much better than Rain X and lasts much longer and is easier to buff off. I get it from the following link.
http://www.tcpglobal.com/autobodydepot/aquapel.aspx?gclid=CPi88teetosCFQ-WbgodSGbK2g

How To Restore Your Headlights Permanently With Clear Coat And Sandpaper Restore gheadlights

Dog hairs get drawn in here like a vacuum cleaner and clog the cooling fan causing the battery to overheat and fail. Some filter material needs fixing on or behind this grill and the fan checked and cleaned say once a year.

 

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Sure. $142 plus tax.