Just wondering what this might be worth to sell to someone who wants to give it it's next life. Kind of bummed out, what would love to let a shop give this car it's second win- but I just don't appear to getting any traction on this in my market. Still my dailer driver. I've owned for 4 years and 100K miles. Mostly dealer service records. Great interior, weathertech mats, etc. Can sent more pictures. What is this worth?
I didn’t have a catch can. Not sure on the others, I’d have to look at the service history.I didn’t do it myself.
With 250K and a head gasket issue value is pretty low maybe $500 to $1000. Perhaps $1500 if the car was otherwise immaculate and already had a new hv battery and brake booster. I would look into resale value with a rebuilt engine and then determine if it's worth it. Same with a head gasket repair. Perhaps a used engine if you're just going to flip it. You have to be willing to take the car an hour or two away if necessary to find the right shop.
Ouch, that is nearly stealership pricing (won't talk about trusting). For a bit less you could have a gen4 engine installed in SoCal/NorCal. Curious if that "mark" includes a new OEM water pump, and the cleaning of the EGR circuit.
For $3500 it would include all but the water pump. Also includes cylinder head machine work, and a valve cover gasket. For $5600- I can get the water pump, thermostat, timing chain and tensioners, new sparks plugs, and new coolant. Also includes loaner car for the week. I don’t really do any of this kind of thing, but the valve cover gasket, that’s not necessarily always included in these jobs is it? And what the head machine work- what is that?
The head machine work is essential. New valve seals, lapping and flatten head machined surface if needed. Otherwise another hg fail soon. What you are not getting is new rings. The factory pistons and low tension rings were faulty and even replaced free for some under 5 years 60k miles. You need a rebuild to get a reliable engine.
If oil consumption was over a quart in 1100~1300 miles. What's OP's oil consumption? The pistons rings are not exactly "faulty"; they are (like their namesake) "low-tension", more succinctly meaning they have less outward "push" against the cylinder walls. AFAIK the only change in the revised piston is wider grooves, to accommodate the revised rings. Someone (on YouTube) was comparing before and after oil channels, could see no difference. FWIW, our 2010, with DIY oil changes every six months and (granted) only 96K kms, has yet to start consuming any oil. Knock on wood...
Some mechanics will reuse old gaskets, others will only put back new. The valve cover gasket only costs 10 to 30 depending on where purchased. Does that 'machine work' include replacing the stem seals and lapping the valves/seats, since you're already paying top dollar. They're not painting a pretty picture, as I've never heard of a shop doing a "quality" HG job and NOT replacing the water pump and coolant at a minimum, not to mention the oil/filter. They're taking a simple HG job and charging 3500, and now they want another 2100 to do the job properly, this sounds dubious at best. How much is just the labor to remove and replace an engine, you might do better buying a used JDM or LQK engine and having it installed. Now I'm curious what your local dealership would charge for a HG job. A week?!? I've seen two mechanics tag team a "basic" prius HG job in under two hours ($1200, and less if repairing multiple vehicles).
The only thing I can say is, I called a few shops, and went to one other- and I didn’t feel comfortable with them. I went to shop that was full of hybrids, very clean, and had a ton of parts on hand to do this job. Because they showed me and gave a me tour lol. They do this, and do it often. Says they’ve done 50 of them at least. It DOES sound like a premium price point, I get that. I am not a premium price point guy in all of my endeavors. I am a ramen noodle and use the same water bottle over and over for years kind of guy. Unfortunately, I found myself needing a job done right and quick. I get it- it isn’t done quick, but I’m driving another Prius while I wait. I’m happy so far, but I haven’t wrote the check yet. I feel like this forum has more engineers and diy’ers that could have done this themselves. I wish you were my brother in law, lived near me, and I had a wife that was more comfortable with me taking her car to work each day. None of those things exist here- I’m stuck in a town where I don’t know anybody (corporate relo) and the one shop that does do minor stuff for me wouldn’t do this or recommend an engine shop. Now that some time has past and some anxiety levels have gone down- I do wish I would have just taken in to a dealer and gotten an estimate. I did go to the same dealer that had serviced this for 4.5 years around 4:30 this week - and I couldn’t get anyone to acknowledge me in sales or service, and I hung around until near 6. Did get a salesman to work with me and I told him I was going to fix or trade the car in. Heck he couldn’t even find his inventory lol. I would call that experience “a sign”. Not sure if any of you rely on your faith or the tea leaves, or tarot, to help you make decisions… but sometimes when you just can’t get the desired effect in a process that normally works for anyone at anytime- it was probably not meant to be. Ya know? A sunny afternoon at a Toyota dealership, and I thought I might have a different outcome. I also have two people from sales I was texting from back when I was Tacoma shopping. No response. Can we do another side bar topic here. I’m driving a 2007 “Touring Edition” with about 165k miles and this is a sweet ride. Is there something different in the suspension of this one and my 2014 Prius 4? If I were going to buy 2 Prius for my twin 17 year olds- the second gen has turned out to be pretty reliable hasn’t it?
Too true. AFAIK second and third gen are same suspension, at least in principle, both have independent front suspension and solid beam rear axle.
Any luck on repairing head gasket issue, or still interested in selling? Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I had this repaired at Cincinnati Hybrid for a pretty price, but they did a great job. I was looking at cars and just couldn’t really find anything, and I love my Prius. I hope to get another 250 K out of her..
I'm glad you have it taken care of it, and really couldn't believe the price shop charge for repairs now days.. I'm getting ready to do one for a 2012, and will be my 3rd. Learned a lot each and every time! Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
