100,000 Mile Club

Just reached 100,000 about a week or so ago. No major problems except for the replacement of the left headlamp assembly (not cheap) and a warranty replacement of the main computer.

Averaging 45 -50 MPG from winter through summer, mostly highway driving!!

Starting to mull over selling it and getting ready to purchase next generation - can't wait!!

 

Just reached 100000 miles (160000 kms) this weekend, though since I bought it with 98000 miles, that's not saying much. However, I'll be in a good position to document any problems that crop up from this point forward (hopefully none).

 

I bought my 2001 prius back in Oct 2000
Currently have 171500 Miles (276000km).
It currenly on its 3rd set of summer tire and 2nd set of winter tire.
Other major parts had been replace are:

• 12V battery,
• traction battery (@151000mi / 243000km),
• a inverter/converterunit unit,
• engine ecu has been changed to an updated one,
• currently the steering rack act funny and it need to be replace (just receive the new rack today, now just need to find time to put it on my prius).

I also retrofit the oem GPS and the genuine toyota fog light in my prius.

 

Hey,

I made it a month ago. Isn't this a great picture to enter the club? PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT! I AM A PROFESSIONAL...LOL...I was very careful. Anyways, I made it with no problems. I did all the maintenance, except for the coolant, used Mobile 1 (extended version) fully synthetic oil. BTW, is anyone concern with the chain tensioner, if there is one, which I am pretty sure? I am not concern with the timing chain breaking--that thing will probably last forever. I had a bad experience with my Saturn. The chain itself didn't break/crack, but the chain tensioner crack/broke and destroyed the top part of the engine. Sorry to post this here, but I think it would raise more eyebrows here than on the "timing chain" thread.

 

I just bought a 2005 with 107000 miles on it. I'm already liking it. The savings in gas will actually pay for the car payment, so it's like a free car! Brakes seem a little squishy when approaching a stop - I think it's after the regen braking kicks off. I'll have it looked at soon.

 

the battery replacement was not under warrenty because it my warrenty was end at 160000km and the battery was dead @ 243000km.

I was replace it with a new one and it cost just under CAD$4000 with labour and tax.

In canada, i can't locate any 2nd hand battery. For the new battery, I think Toyota is the only supplier (at least in Canada), but in USA, you can get a 2nd hand easy or a new one way cheaper than in canada (CAD$1300 cheaper).

One thing I want to point out is, even though the battery is dead at that time, but the my prius is still drivable (because I still drove my prius with it's maufunction battery for several days). But I just don't want to take the risk since I need to travel between Toronto and Windsor every week (400km one way) so that's why I just go ahead and change the battery.

 

Did you get $200 back for the old battery pack? Toyota should give you back as a bounty fee to recycle it since the nickel in the battery pack is worth a lot more.

It seems you decided to change the whole pack. Was it due to the advice from Toyota based on analyzing of all the cells? I would think only a few cells would go bad.

 

Uh-oh, some depressing thoughts on hi-cost trac-batt replacement ...

Based on the initial higher cost of Prius, compared to another car w/ similar attributes (but w/o HSD); followed by the high cost of traction-battery replacement (many years later) --

• Is a Prius truly worthwhile, if one plans on long-term ownership? (i.e., would minimal gas costs be overtaken by high initial cost, then high batt-replacement costs)
• Ok, if by the time the battery needs replacement, one might as well get a new car -- doesn't that contribute to increased metalic trash, etc ? ...
• On the other hand, yes, one will have used less oil & released fewer pollutants -- and, of course, who can imagine oil prices 7-10 yrs from now (the time I'd take to reach 150,000 mi.)

Pass that crystal ball over here please !

 

I didn't get the $200 back since the dealer said they didn't have that in Canada.

Yes, they advice me to change the whole pack (maybe because they do not know how to rebuild the battery pack??? beside that, I can't see I can order individual cell from my factory part list).

1. Hum, for my opinion I think a Prius truly worthwhile, if one plans on long-term ownership. That what I'm plan to own my prius as long as I can.

2. Yes, you can say that. But it also benifit some other owner since it will have more second hand parts floating around (When my invertor was gone two years ago, even my dealer suggest me to find a second hand to put it on since they think it's not worth CAD$6000 for buy a new unit).

3. Yeah, in Windsor Ont right now the gas is CAD$4.56 per gal. I am glad that I still have my prius (I still happy that I did picked a right decision for changing the battery pack instead of getting a new car).

 

The actual battery pack costs $2,149.29 about the same as Camry transmission.

In the future, there may be li-ion replacement (enerdel) instead of staying with OEM NiMH pack. You can potentially improve the MPG along with that as well. Maybe just upgrade to Plug-in by spending extra few grands.

 

My 2002 just turned 100,000 miles Sunday May 4th.
I bought it used with 59000 on it and the only problems I've had are:
The standard "classic prius" engine did not start error. just a dirty intake.
and the steering computer went bezerk and the steering wheel started jumping all over the place. Good thing I had an extended warranty.
Now I'm due, well over due for tires. And I'm getting some rust around the right rear fender opening.
I plan on keeping this car for quite a while, and hoping the battery makes it another 100,000 miles or more.

Mike

 

Today I hit the big "100" and so now I'm officially out of warranty. Cross my fingers tightly!! LOL!! Got my car 10/27/05. So it doesn't sit too long too often. No issues, did replace a few burned out light bulbs last night. Front left parking light and RR tail light. Pretty easy DIY stuff.

Now I've got the next 100K to start working on. BTW, got almost 49mpg (350 miles today) between 55 and 65mph.

Joe

 

Sounds pretty dangerous :scared: Did this happen while you were driving? at what speed? Did you have any control over the stereing?? Did it require towing?

 

104826miles today on the May '05 Silver #3. I went through the first set of tires after 30k, then a new set at 85k. These look good still. I've had a burned out taillight and the ever popular steering recall. Overall MPG of 46, which is about 2mpg worse than the computer's calcualtions.

Anybody monkey around with the spark plugs that supposedly boost mileage? I think that's a bunch of junk, but willing to listen! Also, how about a tire report? When these go, I want the best traction with long life the priority.

 

I replaced my '04 OEMs at about 53,000 miles with Michelin Hydroedges (rated at 90,000 miles). I am now at 127,000 miles with 74,000 miles on the Michelins. They have very good traction, will easily beat the 90,000 mile rating, and are without doubt the best tires I have ever owned. I did not notice any decrease in MPGs. Unless something better comes along, I plan on replacing these with another set of Hydroedges.

 

2004 pkg 9, picked up after another couple had it a week and turned it back in Nov. 2003. closing in on 110KMiles, asround 45Mpg in hilly area, and 3-5 people in a 50 mile/day carpool. Have replaced the air conditioner compressor (bad bearings) at around 80K, and may have been caused by running air in parked car in Tucson summer.

I have reserved my hymotion battery pack res# 318, nov. install. Jeese, now I've got to make the car last 20 years to make it worth while, economically at least. Also am putting solar system on house. So, licking the oil habit and sparing the air will make it instantly worth while. Thanks-

Ron

 

I have 122,900 miles on my 2004 model. A front wheel bearing was replaced under warranty at 30K miles, and I have replaced the OEM tires with Michelin HydroEdge tires at 65K miles. I've done all the other minimal things such as oil, filters, and plugs at 100K. Brakes are original and fine.

Averaged 48.1 MPG so far (logged and calculated by total miles over total gallons). MFD average has been 49 MPG. I drive 85% or more on I-95 at 70-75 mph.

Great car so far.

 

will be passing 100,000 later on today

2004 with nothing (it was part of a rental fleet before i bought it with 16,000 miles on it in march of 2005)

haven't done anything special to maintain it: oil changes between 3 and 5 thousand miles, replaced the tires this spring, new lights here and there

a lot of trips between PA and NY, PA and CT, one drive to IL, one to FL

averaging 45 MPG

 

2001 prius. Got it in 2001 with 6000 km on it. Now at 306000km (190K miles).
Work done: new tires a few times, regular maintenance, survived one accident (destroyed two rims), two 3000+ mile road trips, and just this week replaced the real wheel bearings.

Had some issues with the HV system in early years - if it was turned on and then turned back off less than a minute later it'd throw a HV error the next time it was turned on. Fixed under warranty if memory serves correctly.

Once around 250k km it had an error with the HV battery while driving around 130km/h on the 401 - lost power, lit up with all the HV warning lights. I pulled off, turned it off, turned it back on and drove it to a dealership. Dealer said that one of the cells in the battery had read low, which triggered the warning. He said they could drain the battery fully to test it, but that could be bad for the battery. Thye said they didn't figure it'd let me down (i.e strand me). They've been right.

This car likes to be driven. I too am trying to keep this one until the 3rd coming.