2012 Toyota Prius V - Water Pump Issue & Seeking Advice I'm seeking input from fellow Prius owners and mechanics. My 2012 Toyota Prius V broke down on the road, and after a brief wait, it started again. I drove it to AutoZone, where the code reader suggested a water pump issue. The car was towed to a mechanic shop in Lake Havasu, where they confirmed the diagnosis. They've ordered parts from Phoenix, expected to arrive on Friday. However, I'm having second thoughts about proceeding with the repair. Background Information Approximately 50,000 miles ago, I inadvertently ran the car 5,000 miles past the recommended oil change interval. Fortunately, after an oil change, the vehicle was running smoothly again, even at high speeds. Since then, I've been more diligent about oil changes. While I'm not burning through as much oil as before, my fuel efficiency has decreased. I'm now getting around 28 MPG and needing to fill up every 3-4,000 miles, down from 5-10,000 miles previously. Recently, the check engine light, oil warning light, and several dashboard lights have been illuminated. My wife and I are considering fixing the water pump, driving it for a short while, and then selling it soon, possibly around tax season. Repair Estimates Water pump for engine: $594 (parts) Thermostat w/housing: $115.23 (parts) Labor: $605.00 Total parts and labor: $1,604 Coolant system flush: $60.26 (parts) + $129.99 (labor) Diagnostic fee: $150 (not applicable to repairs) Current Situation The car is currently at the mechanic shop. They won't reopen until Monday at 7 am, and parts may have already been ordered. We're currently homeless, living out of the vehicle, and staying in hotel rooms due to limited savings. Seeking Advice Considering our situation, we're unsure whether to: Proceed with the repair Have the mechanic hold off on repairs and tow it to Toyota Lake Havasu for trade-in as-is Sell the car privately We're looking to acquire a cheap, reliable vehicle that's good on gas and suitable for camping. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
The only good thing in today’s update is you did not move to Florida. Based on your earlier posts, you ran the car for a week without oil (oil light on) followed by a mechanic telling you there was no oil in the engine. Then you reported it was burning a quart in less than 1000 miles. Now it has gotten worse and had to be towed to a shop where it is waiting for a water pump. Odds are good the engine is ruined, first by excessive oil burning (common on gen3), then running a week with no oil (strike 1), mpg of 28 (strike 2) and now stalled due to a water pump (strike 3). I would not spend a dime without informing the shop of the engine’s history and ask if replacing the water pump guarantees a running car. We know that answer will be no. But they have the car and a water pump is probably already there. Between the $13k lost in a week on the Silverado and another big chunk going soon on your $17k Prius v bought last year, your options seem limited to say the least. Find out the extent of your risks, consider a replacement engine and “go west young man” for the repair in LA. My overall advice remains the same.
^+1 You trashed the engine by running out of oil. It is not worth putting any money into the car. Get rid of it. You sure do not know how to take care of an automobile.
What do you think your going to get for a trade-in value for dragging that hunk of metal onto the dealership lot? You'll be lucky if they don't bill you or phone it in as an abandoned vehicle, and have it towed off the lot. You can try selling it privately; but anyone who's here or read this post - isn't going to bite. Good Luck..... PS; The shop already ordered the part for you, so you must've gave them the go ahead to proceed. Now your thinking about "ripping the rug out from under him', and spending more money to tow the car to a Toyota Dealership??
My friend i.wanted to clarify. The vehicle burned through all the oil in abut 1-1.5.k i.intially after I an the oil out The last 10k miles it is reversing and only going through all the oil I 3-4k miles The car was running smoothly before th wyer pump was creating vibration and slow acceleration before the eayr pump went out Until sell this or trade this I need vehicle to do mold avoidance and camp in fresh air as ihave sick building syndrome due to a rare mold hypersensitivity In in lake havasu and the vehicle is at accurate Phoenix Toyota called me and said they would tow it before accurate autocare did any work on it Though Phoenix is about 3hrs away from lake havasu There's also Anderson Toyota in lake havasu I heard it's not a good look to tow vehicle to a dealer But to even drive it temporarily in order to car camp before selling it privately or trading it in as a down-payment to a dealer I need the car running The other option is towing either to toyota Dale in lake w havasu or Phoenix and using it towards a down payment for a cheap reliable car My wife will be receiving inhertance in a.cpuple days Curious what your thoughts are ?? Thank you
These hotels I can sometimes do ok for a night or two but right now I am not in a stage of healing where I can tolerate being in buildings and actually do better I a vehicle car camped To put this vehicle at 160k miles for a down-payment I can't drive it to a dealership to even trade it for a down-payment unless it's running 11 I'm houseless due to mold illness and don't hve a home-base to park the vehicle that's in the shop Front desk guy a super 8 said he would Change the water pump and housing for 1k rather than the 1600 at the dealership and his friend who is a certified mobile mechanic would do it for 1300 Only tow it into a place and hope they have a suitable vehicle to purchase I need a vehicle Appreciate any suggestion on logistis here
You certainly need a rebuilt or JDM engine or the car will be essentially worthless as a trade. I would not change the water pump until I knew if the engine is gone or is still a runner. A good mechanic could drive the car long enough to judge without a new water pump, assuming it is really bad. All the oil in 3-4k is still way too much. A good engine would use no observable oil in that time.
UPDATE I found a Honda civic 2008 Lx for sale.at a Ford dealership at 158k miles They said they will accept my broken down toyota prius with the water pump broken down pump.and sell it for 5500 after taxes I paid a mobile mechanic to inspect it and drive 9t and he said it is in good condition and could.last another 300k miles A friend mentioned that even though i.signed i dont have to pay that amount My.wife will be receiving a lump sump inhertwnce tommorow and was wondering of I should.haggle some more? Originally they wanted 7k for it and I talked them down They said they'll take the prius for 2k but I have a feeling this is under a higher price for the Honda civic He said how much do you think is fair and I said 5900 for the civic minus 1k for the prius trade in value for a total of 4900 After this it came to around 5500 Am i being ripped off here? I know the mobile mechanic said sometimes for a good car you gotta pay a little more Part of me wants to attempt to haggle down to 3k to 4k after taxes as I'm throwing in thst 2012 prius v with 162k miles and a broken water pump got them I haven't fully developed my negotiating and assertiveness skills as I do have concerns with people pleasing at times but at the same time down want to come across as an nice person Appreciate any suggestions on this situation
Ask that mobile mechanic to pay you $2K for that Prius. $2K for a car that'll go another 300K miles is a slam-dunk in my book!!!! It's worth $7K if it was running properly; so $5K flip would be some fast cash for that mobile mechanic - just to see if he was BS-ing you.
It might be ok if you like that body style. I would hold out for a decent used car warranty the dealer would honor. At least 90 days parts and labor. Realize you are not really getting $2k for your car. A dealer will simply send the v to auction and maybe get $500. They know that but are giving you a preplanned discount. But $5500 out the door for a good Civic is ok. At least any mechanic can work on it. Get a warranty.
The mobile Mechanic is not selling the car.He was.offered to me by somone and is not.affliated with the dealership The 2008 Honda civic with 158k miles.at the Ford deslership.is 5550 out the door after tax This is what we agreed o after they intitial saizd they would give me a grand for the prius.that broke.down then aid they would add a 2k trade in value for the broken down prius
How do i get a warranty when I go there to visit tmmorow.and pay off the purhase ? What type of warranty do.i ask.for.a 2008 civic.that has 158k miles on it ? Perhaps get ai to draft a warranty Also do you think because.im.throwing in the prius V for the deal.should I try to haggle the 5500 hundred even lower to under 5k? Carfax
A Toyota used car warranty is ideal but from Ford it will probably be from the dealership. You want something that protects you from a bad car. For me it would be 90 days to a year. Protect yourself.
