2007 prius in shop --- fix or get rid of it?

That's actually good for a Prius, helps keep the battery healthy.

Let us know what the dealer says.

 

I understand your concerns, not having the tools and skills to address this stuff scares a lot of gen 2 owners away. The group consensus is good though, find an independent shop near you and the daughter's college and keep it. If you want to be proactive, there are things you can have done before they break or wear out. The car is low mileage but old and we all can list what should be looked at. Having 3 in the family when something breaks in one car I consider buying 2 more. There are times the dealer is a necessary evil, but so much of the repairs can be done for less by an independent.
Last thing, if you do decide to sell PLEASE SELL ON PRIUSCHAT!!! Your car is something we all look for and you will get a good price. Start high(per NADA and KBB) then drop by a hundred a week.

 

How far? At least 5 miles each way? I ask because often students live quite close to campus and being driven 2 or 3 miles each way, every day, isn't going to be great. It might be enough to keep the pack happy but it isn't enough for the 12V battery. If the car is going to be used only for short trips it should be on a battery minder pretty frequently, which will keep the 12V from self destructing. It might not be so easy to do if she lives in an apartment building. Nothing but short trips is bad for any car, it might never get past running open loop, and the oil should be changed more frequently. But the Prius is particularly bad at it because it doesn't charge the 12V battery as fast as most cars do, and you can't force it to charge any faster by increasing the RPM, so the end result will be that the 12V battery voltage gets lower and lower, and that eventually damages the battery and it loses capacity.

 

I live in your area. I use and recommend K-B Automotive in Manchester. I’ve also used the Lynch Toyota dealership in Manchester, which has been quite fair to me. I’ve also heard very good things about D’addario’s in East Hartford.

 

Can you posts the OBD2 codes in this thread?

If it is a failed inverter pump, it may've been replaced for free via a dealer campaign that has since expired. If not replaced prior to today, then 112k on an OEM pump is a pretty decent ride, and replacing it may get some level of trust back. A failed pump can also cause the AC and cruise to not work, among other things.

 

Yes. It’s a good family owned garage. Steve and his son Dan are in charge. My parents and I have been going there for 15+ years. They should be able to give you an honest assessment.

 

Get a price over the phone for a genuine oem pump installed and then negotiate with the dealer.

Depending on the independent's location you want to start using them for all future maintenance. This is important. Then you have a mechanic for the next big expense, usually the hybrid battery or brake booster.

By the way, there are counterfeit "oem" pumps that fail quickly.

 

yeah this would be the perfect job with which to validate your new favorite local mechanic.

Any towing insurance/AAA?

 

Does the sign outside that dealership say "Toyota, Lexus, and Highway Robbery"?

A shop should be able to change that part in under an hour, and the pump is only $140 (ish, I have not priced one in a couple of years.) $170 to "diagnose" is 95% pure profit because in this case it took about 5 minutes to plug in a reader and pull the code. Any other shops near the dealer that would be a cheaper tow? Changing that pump is not brain surgery. A large fraction of the people on this site have changed that pump themselves (myself included) and we are not all professional mechanics.

Or shop around for a reasonably priced tow. If you can get that done for $100 - $150 you'd probably still come out ahead with the local shop. (But be sure that they use a genuine OEM pump!)

 

$625 is a bit step, but within range for many dealerships. Most stealerships (all?), will waive the diagnostics fee if they do the repair work. Best to call K-B auto to see what they would charge, and if they can tow or know someone who is affordable. Be sure to let them know you prefer an OEM pump from the dealer, and can supply such if that makes it easier for them.

There is the possibility of driving it as well, disconnect the pump first (this prevents the AM2 fuse from blowing), then drive slower (under 30), and you'll be fine. Bring an extra AM2 fuse in case it is currently blown, that way you can start up the vehicle.

 

If the weather is cool a gen 2 Prius can be driven all day long at low speeds (city speeds) with a failed inverter pump. It won't even throw a code under those conditions. Conversely, it may only last a minute or two on a hot day on the highway before it lights up.

 

Other than tires, oil, and now the pump, what else have you done to the vehicle in 112k miles? (steering shaft safety recall, etc)

Is this a DIY situation, or would you be taking it into K+B for preventative maintenance?

Best to use the service schedule in the manual, but include a simple drain and fill (like an oil change) of the transaxle fluid.

Some items not in the schedule might include :

Inspect and clean the HV battery fan, assuming you're carrying around furries or hippies.
Have the AC serviced at a "hybrid AC competent" service center, which will be way less expensive that having it fixed in the future.
A top balance (or full cycle) of the HV battery by using a 'grid charger' setup is an idea, but you can also wait for the tell tale signs to show up.

 

Hybrid battery and brake booster. Both are big ticket items and common failures on a 16 year old prius.

 

You can monitor the health of your hybrid battery and check for codes with apps on your phone connected by bluetooth to an OBDII adapter that plugs into the diagnostic port under your dash.

priusapp.com

Hybrid Assistant: App

 

i replaced the 2007 Prius Touring Inverter pump in 2021 with only 88k miles. Thank God it was still under warranty!

It wasn’t pleasant to get the triangle warning while on the freeway. I heard a thud and briefly smelled burning electrical wire and lost some speed. When I pulled over and checked the hood, there wasn’t any smell in or around the car.

It was on a Sunday and the dealers were closed so I headed back home but I can’t drive more than 40+ mph. Had my emergency lights on and took the side streets. My ac didn’t work either but finally made it home.

This was something I was trying to avoid, the hassle and additional expense for an aging but low mileage car.

I was thinking of selling but have been waiting for Toyota to come out with an EV or at least a Prius Prime with at least 40 EV miles and it finally came but 2 years too late.

My experience continued and a few weeks later the traction battery died and I had to decide either to get the original Panasonic battery or some 3rd party brands with very limited warranty. I finally decided to get the OEM for some peace of mind. The car is only averaging 5k miles or less a year since I also have a 2012 Prius plug-in with 109k miles and so far it’s doing well.

I am not sure if I can get a good price for the 2007 Touring with only 96k miles, 2 year old Panasonic traction battery and inverter pump. Less than 1 year old Optima 12v battery,

 

In this market? You could get an outrageous price for it.