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Advice / Reassurance

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Will Falls, Feb 22, 2024.

  1. Will Falls

    Will Falls Junior Member

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    Hello. I purchased a 2022 Prime last February. On my way to the dealer Tuesday to get a NY State inspection and tire rotation a "hybrid system malfunction" message came up, also the triangle exclamation point. When at the dealer I told them about the message, which they did not want to address because my appointment was not for that issue. I did speak to a manager and he did agree to see what the code was about. I was told two things as a result: The car would not pass inspection because of code so they did not do the inspection and the code came back indicating something was wrong with traction battery cooling system.

    I went back today in hopes to fix the problem and was told that they will need to replace the hybrid oil pump to address the hybrid system malfunction and will have to machine the rotors for it to pass inspection. They have to order the part so I now need to go back Wednesday of next week.

    A couple things: Should I be worried about the hybrid malfunction warning on a one year old vehicle or is it just random bad luck and should be okay once replaced?

    I have just read on this site about putting the vehicle into neutral for a few stops to clear rotors which I will do in the future. Is having them machined so soon a problem? Have about 7,300 miles on it.

    Thank you in advance if anyone responds. Guess I am a little upset. I have always owned older used cars (coming off a 2007 Ford Ranger) and this being my first new car make these problems feel a bit disheartening.
    Be well.
     
  2. schja01

    schja01 One of very few in Chicagoland

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    Find a different dealer.
    The rotors are probably rusty. They get used much less than rotors on a conventional vehicle due to regenerative braking doing 90% of your day to day braking.
    Anything Hybrid System and Emissions related has a LONG warranty unless you put a zillion miles on it in 2 years. Again find a dealer that has trained mechanics. If still no satisfaction call Toyota Customer Experience and explain your issues. The number is in your manual.
     
    Chodronish and bisco like this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    How many miles on her?

    hybrid oil pump sounds like a misnomer.
    Ask for the part number, maybe a coolant pump?
    Unusual, depending on the miles
     
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Can you post the exact words they put on the invoice? There's no such thing as a hybrid oil pump... Maybe you're referring to the brake booster pump?

    And this is really confusing because first they said your almost brand new car still under warranty needs a new hybrid battery, which is nearly impossible.

    And now they're saying that it's not the battery but the brake rotors? This makes no sense? The only reason you have ugly brake rotors is because the hybrid motor-generator does most of your braking and as you said they'll be cleaned up braking off the freeway when in neutral. The rusty brake rotor routine is what scammer mechanics say to make money doing work that doesn't need to be done. Usually a Toyota Stealership has better scams than that one?

    And what happened to the new battery pack diagnosis? Did that magically go away?

    Regardless, all of this work is covered under warranty and refuse to pay a single penny and demand they fix your car. If you don't get results get on the phone with Toyota corporate after you study up on your state's lemon laws.
     
  5. Will Falls

    Will Falls Junior Member

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    Thanks for responding. I actually do not have any paperwork yet, but will post a diagnostic link they sent me. To make some clarifications, maybe I wrote things confusingly.:
    -car has a bit over 7,000 miles
    -Tuesday I was told code came up related to traction battery cooling system/ fan, verbally.
    - Today I was told what was in the video.

    The Hybrid malfunction message was still on when I brought it in today. It is off now.

    Regarding the rotors, is it unnecessary to have rotors turned, just taking life off them?

    Please excuse my ignorance, not very mechanically inclined.

    Edit: Can not post a link in this forum yet. Anyway it contains names that may not be cool to post.

    Summary of video:
    He says "diagnosing Hybrid Coolant Code"
    He has a voltage reader hooked up that he shows as he states "it reads11.7 until he starts the active test which drops it to 5-7"
    There is then a screen that he says confirms integrity of wiring.
    Then at bottom of screen it says "replace oil pump with motor assembly"
    I think when he told me face to face I heard the word hybrid with oil pump, but maybe my mistake.
    That supposedly will take care of the "hybrid system malfunction" message.

    Sorry if this seems naive.
    Thank you again.
     
  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Once you comment 5 times on PriusChat you can post a link...

    How come you aren't talking about the warranty?

    Have you paid them any money? Refuse to pay! This is under warranty!

    What state are you in?

    In general you've now pointed out five problems:

    -- Failed hybrid battery
    -- Bad 12v battery
    -- Brake problems
    -- Failed engine
    -- Failed engine oil pump

    For legal reasons, you need to call them up and get their diagnosis in writing on a legally valid invoice that you sign once you understand it. But refuse to sign unless it specifically says it is warranty work and there's no charge.

    This whole video report about your car is not only-confusing, it sets you up for not having the proper legal documentation for defending yourself from whatever type of scam they're trying to do to you. Seems like they keep thinking up new ones before they document the old ones.

    This is nearly a brand-new car and it should of already been fixed under warranty by now but story keeps changing. It doesn't make any sense...
     
    #6 PriusCamper, Feb 22, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2024
  7. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    They want to fleece you a few bucks to turn your rotors. A few hard stops would clear the rust just as effectively.

    An inspection station that didn't own a brake lathe would just pass the car.

    The right way to solve this is to let Toyota do the warranty fix on the hybrid system, then get the car inspected/stickered somewhere else.

    I know, not convenient... but nothing is anymore.
     
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  8. Will Falls

    Will Falls Junior Member

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    Stressing me out:)
    That is the thing, I am not paying anything. It is all under warranty, so...? No work has been done yet.
    I just want to get my inspection sticker, it is due in a week. It was coincidence that the malfunction message came up on my way to the dealer. Hopefully this gets resolved next week and I will look for another dealer for the rest of my free service, as I do feel confused. Today they said they needed to keep paper work to order part.

    I take what the rep told me the first time about the code as maybe not accurate. They were ready for me to leave without reading the code, until I spoke to the manager. So it was rushed if done at all.

    Today the same malfunction message was on when i brought it in, it never went off since Tuesday. So I assume that got the correct reading.
    It is strange that there is no malfunction message now.

    Videos with no names in next post.


    As for the rotors. I guess if I get there on Wednesday and it won't pass inspection unless rotors are machined then I will just have to do it. I appreciate everyone's help. If nothing else it made me realize that I do not like the way this dealership does things, so I will try another.
     
  9. Will Falls

    Will Falls Junior Member

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    To follow up and end. I got confirmation that I will not be charged for any of the work, which includes the part replacement, inspection (since purchased vehicle there) and machining rotors. Feel conflicted in some ways.

    Thanks to the forum I do small things like clean my battery fan filter, and now this neutral breaking every so often... like the car and want it to last.
     
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  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I got 288K miles on original pads and rotors thanks to hybrid system using regenerative braking, so if they want to scam Toyota corporate on unneeded warranty work milling rotors that's Toyota's problem not yours... It will in no way cause any problems with the longevity of your brakes, but get them checked just before the warranty expires to be sure.
     
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Where do you live in NY state? Rusty rotors in 7000 miles means there is salt on the roads in winter or you don't drive very much, perhaps many days or weeks at a time between drives?
     
  12. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    It's called regenerative braking on a 13.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with 44 miles of EV range... The mechanical brakes almost never get used in a configuration like that and the stealership thinks they can scam Toyota corporate for warranty repairs that aren't needed.
     
    #12 PriusCamper, Feb 23, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2024
  13. Will Falls

    Will Falls Junior Member

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    Thank you again for replies. I live in the Hudson Valley, NY. Yes, car is only driven around 4 times a week and mostly local. Since they are ordering the part I will have them do the work and look for another dealer after for the next year of warranty service. There is another dealer about the same distance(40 minutes) from me but the reviews seem not so good there also.:( It is what it is I suppose. Be well.
     
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  14. drash

    drash Senior Member

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    Rusty rotors will NOT fail inspection. You have the same generation Prius Prime I had. @Leadfoot J. McCoalroller is correct, a few hard and/or long braking sessions will clear most of the rust. Happened to me especially during COVID and when I retired when my 2017 Prime sat for a while during winter. The brake pads literally froze to the rotors and had to gun it to unfreeze the pads. Still passed inspection.

    As for the hybrid issue, you're still within the 36 month/36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty so anything and everything should be covered. If something is going to fail it usually would do so within that warranty period. Typically called infant mortality failure using the old bathtub curve in reliability statistics. Sounds like a case of serendipity failure. When they replace the part Toyota typically covers that part forever should it happen again. Keep that paperwork with your owners manual.

    As a side note I would put it in PWR mode to make the friction brakes more responsive and keep them somewhat clean.
     
  15. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Toyota Stealerships are notoriously awful... But they are warranty specialists able to replace major components with brand new at no charge to the customer, so as long as you're still under warranty you just have to put up with their BS, never to return once the warranty expires.
     
  16. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    There is no such thing as "warranty service." The recommended services shown in your owner's manual can be done at any licensed auto repair shop; have the work order state the services done and retain the paperwork. You do not need to return to a dealership except to get warranty repairs.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wouldn't worry about it. these are great cars for the most part, but things happen. you'll be fine. you might want to put a maintainer on the 12v.
     
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  18. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

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    I wouldn’t allow the rotors to be machined. Charge the 12 volt?
     
    #18 Mr.Vanvandenburg, Feb 25, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2024
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  19. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    1) Go elsewhere for the inspection.
    2) "car is only driven around 4 times a week" You do not need a battery maintainer (smart trickle charger) for your 12 volt battery.
    3) You've now learned...you cannot trust at least this service writer at the dealership. They get paid on commission for the service they sell, either to you or to the warranty system.
     
  20. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

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    The OP said 2022 Prius Prime. It makes it a Generation 4 body with 8.79kWh battery. 2023 and up models (Gen5) have 13.6 kWh capacity.
    Of course, the regenerative braking system exists work the same way in all Prius models.

    But no matter how the OP ended up, all these problems (not counting the rust on rotos. It is not a problem for me) are very unusual on a vehicle this new. Prius generally drives at least 200k miles before these components fail. I have seen goes over 300k or even 400k miles. This car is super reliable. I call what happened to the OP is a very rare incident.
     
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