Dealer wants $4000 for new head gasket...advice?

Sketchy's Garage up the street can install a working used engine for a lot less than $4k.

An engine swap is an engine swap. Toyota dealer is not a cost effective repair venue for a 10-year old off-warranty Toyota.

 

Plenty of issues, will eventually become a money pit. Sell now to a used car dealership once codes disappear and get a beater or prius C if bitten by the prius bug.

 

Plan on using the truck for a few days to not worry about getting the Prius fixed quickly. A used engine is the way
to go, where are you located? If you give us that info you may well get some good ideas about where to find an engine, from
folks on this list.

 

it's always best to use Toyota Techstream software on a laptop to analyze, diagnose & eventually clear codes from a Prius. More or less anybody can get set up with that for about $130 soup-to-nuts.

But that isn't even the only way. It is not hopeless to do it with other pro diagnostic scanner systems.

Not every random mechanic would agree to take on a Prius engine swap, but you're just trying to get the gas engine swapped. It isn't rocket surgery, as they say.

Edit: You're in LA County? You've got options.

 

Just for the record: dealership is proposing a head gasket replacement, not an engine swap. That said, with 180K miles, swapping the engine with a salvage one might be most expedient.

@CanyonKid:

1. What's your location? <Ah, see location in one of the postings now.
2. Is the car consuming a lot of oil?

There are guys that'll come to you and replace the head gasket and various other gaskets/seals, for around a grand. That's rock bottom, no-frills:

New head gasket replacement video from Gasket Masters | PriusChat

^ These guys are in San Fransisco.

Then there are independent shops that'll do a more thorough job, and sends the head out to a machine shop for cleaning, valve seal replacement and check over, for $2000~2500. Probably the best option.

And an installed salvage engine through and independent shop, probably about the the same price.

 

Once you decide on the used engine option forget about the dealer. As Leadfoot says, you have choices where you
live that are better than almost anywhere else in the country.

 

Take it to Avi. He is a member on this forum and specializes in these cars. He is a bit of a distance from you, but is probably worth the one-way tow.

Hybrid Fix, 310-426-8432.


iPhone ? Pro

 

I highly recommend you DO NOT go ahead and replace this head gasket issue BEFORE getting the brake problem addressed. The brake issue could be a major problem that will run you thousands of dollars. $4000 for a head gasket and then get surprised with a $3000 brake repair after you spend $4000. JUST DON'T DO IT.

I'm not sure why the dealer cannot address the brake issue first. The engine should not be that big of a deal at this moment. If you have it at Pasadena Toyota right now, those guys are just trying to rob you of your hard earned money.

I think you should tow the car to Avi's advanced automotive (near USC), he is a member here and specializes on Prius cars. Get a second opinion before doing anything to your car. It may just be time to move on from this car as it is needing thousands of dollars in repairs.

Send me a private message if you don't have AAA for a free tow, I live 10 minutes from Pasadena and I can arrange a free tow to where ever you want it towed.

 

I had similar brake issue, and it was apparently just a communications hang up. I had a ScanGauge constantly hooked up, and started getting "check hybrid system" warning, plus the all the brake warning lights, and that strange "work to rule" feel with the brakes. They got you stopped, but that's about all the good you could say.

The dealership looked at it at 3 such events, and on the last, the mechanic pointed out how jiggling the Techstream connection was causing his signal to drop. He suggested to take off the ScanGauge, see what that did. I did, and that was maybe 5 years back: no further problems.

Not necessarily OP's issue, just a possibility.

 

Is this dealer charging you a diagnostic fee?

If so, they should supply the OBD2 codes (DTCs) which led them to claim that the engine and brakes need work.

If not, and if you asked nicely maybe they would be so kind and supply such. When you have the DTCs, please post them here.

Could you please tell a bit more about this situation.

 

Definitely decline any future work from the dealer. Get as detailed a report as you can from them. Written. No chance for misunderstanding based on you recalling what they told you verbally.

I bet many people on this list would be able to work their way out of your problem very efficiently, due to their knowledge of these cars. Could do it better and cheaper than any dealer, and most mechanics.

So for you, the best option may be to get it back in your driveway. Drive your truck for now. And sell the prius on craigslist to someone with sufficient knowledge and skills to get out of this problem efficiently. Give the full story, the dealer's written report, etc. If your new battery is worth something, the car should command a higher price because of it. Then buy a newer one of your choosing.

This is a general problem with many older cars. If you're not the right person to handle it, sell it to someone else who is better suited. Good luck.

 

I really think that's not true.

 

Looks like its time for a Gen 4 motor swap...