When to retire the car?

I don't doubt you, but can you tell me which shop?

 

It is in Roseville, MI near 12 Mile and Groesbeck Highway....It doesn't come up on a google search and my text/call history with the technician/owners number has disappeared because I got a new phone....Last I used them was very beginning of the year.

My brother was the one who initially found them on craigslist...

Long story short don't have number but if you are interested in speaking with them let me know ---- because I will make the drive and get number...

 

Appreciate it - I know someone in the area who might need a new pack or a rebuild in the near future. I'll PM if we need the info.

 

I have an 06 prius that’s bought new and has 142,000 on the odo. Last summer I replaced the hybrid battery myself. It took a day and the cost was about 3000$ for a brand new Toyota second gen battery. Total repair time about 3 hours to remove all the rear interior stuff and remove battery. 1 hour too put new battery next to the old battery and transfer all stuff over from old battery to new battery. I hour to reinstall new battery only to find that I forgot that the old battery vents need to be transferred too. So, 1 hour to remove new battery and 1 hour to transfer over the vent system and 45 minutes to reinstall. I’m getting faster, and about 3 hours to put the whole interior back together. I also added led light strips across the top of the rear headliner to better light behind the rear seat when the hatch is open. Now fast forward a year. Now, a P0420 code. Which is a failed cat converter. I read that sometimes a rear O2 sensor will cause this and replaced it for 70$. Code is back. This car is registered in California and the only carb certified replacement catalytic converter is dealer only at 2700$ + labor. I called Toyota corporate and they said that convertor in California is warranted for 15 years or 150,000 miles Under the California emissions warranty. The dealer said no and the cat is on me.

I’m going to fight, but if you live in California and the only California Air Resources board certified cat is 2700$, that’s another 3000 dollar hit you must consider but only in California. All other states except perhaps New York have aftermarket cats that work fine for under 300$.

 

I hate to say this, but i think that the dealer is right.
I'm thinking that the CARB warranty is 10/150,000.

Expecting dealers to cover an emissions component for 15 years seems a little too onerous, even for Toyota dealerships.

I would explore 2 workarounds.
1. How long did the code clear after you replaced the O2 sensor? Long enough to clear the smog check?

b. I think that it's time to practice a little civil disobedience. It may be illegal to replace a cat with a used OEM unit in Caly but it's probably not easily detectable down at the vet judging from the number of cat thefts there are there. Oregon and Washington are nice this time of year....

If you really cannot do anything else but put another $3000 into your car you're still better off than those who buy new cars every 4-5 years.
Fix the car and drive it long enough for the repairs to pay for themselves.
The average car payment in the US is $550.
Probably more in California, but I'm not an activist or a politician, so I don't need to bend numbers or exaggerate to prove a very obvious point.

Just ONE year of not paying $500 car payments will save you over $6000.

Done.

 

I would try another dealer if I were you. I have heard Walnut Creek Toyota is rather expensive. You can get a brand new cat from Tracy Toyota for 1603 and I think it bolts in. Any shop can do that.

Exhaust Pipe - 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (17410-21500) | Tracy Toyota Parts

 

+1 !!