Took my Prius in to Toyota Service...Question

is this a quote? or you just paid this huge repair bill?
did they get your permission?

 

computer is cover up to 100,000 miles so you should not paid for anything !

 

they hit you for everything they could, from the sound of it.

can't really tell you any of the mechanical story behind it without the diagnostic codes that came up with your check engine light.

so from the sound of it they:
replaced catalytic converter and 2 exhaust gaskets
replaced computer (engine ecu)
replaced injectors
replaced front brakes- pads, shims and rotors
replaced spark plugs
replaced serp belt
replaced PCV
replaced engine air filter

sorry to say, it sounds like you took it hard... get us the diagnostic codes that came up for your check engine light. we can sort out the dealer's repair order-padding from the real repair.

 

the ecm is covered to 80k miles, not 100k. (or 96 months, whichever comes first.)

 

You are correct, every possible part (except the fuel tank) is being replaced if you have authorized this work to be done. I'm surprised they didn't want to replace the fuel tank while they are at it.

The current revision engine ECU's firmware allows more time for the engine to start before logging an error message, to allow for engine aging. However if your engine was tuned up (new iridium spark plugs and air filter, and engine oil/filter change using 5W-30 viscosity) and the throttle body cleaned, you might not need a new ECU - after all, the old ECU did not display warning lights for the first 94K miles and electrically there is nothing wrong with the ECU.

Alternatively, you could look for a current revision engine ECU from a salvage vehicle (part number is 89661-47054) for around $300. The ECU lives behind the glove box and can be seen when the glove box is removed, same procedure that you would use when replacing the cabin air filter.

The catalytic converter has a hydrocarbon absorption chamber and valve to minimize warmup emissions. This is an unusual design and the valve is known for sticking after it gets old.

If you already authorized all of this work then you probably do not have any recourse. If you did not authorize the work yet then I suggest you ask for the DTC logged by your car and consult with us here before proceeding.

 

Hi sdf...,

It looks like some of this is wear out iminant, lets just replace em (injectors/spark plugs/ front brakes, serp belt, PCV). So, well, it does have 94K miles on it, and the preventative maintenance nature of these replacements some people consider prudent, and some consider a rip-off. Injectors might be questionable.

The Catalytic Converter is a first generation Prius thing. It has a valve on it or something, that gets rusted up.

Only the ECM is something really unexpected at your age of car. And as that is an upgrade required for the available parts to work right (I guess that is what they are telling you), then you might write off to Toyota and see if they can help defray some of the cost....

 

P0300- random/multiple misfire
P0301- cylinder 1 misfire
P0304- cylinder 4 misfire
P1436- bypass valve malfunction

the cat replacement was justified. that's a fairly common issue with the classic prius.
the misfires should have started with plugs replacement and next diagnostic step would have been swapping coils and looking for the misfire code to follow to the new cylinders. injectors were done because they pay good money to replace on that car- repair order padding.
front brakes may or may not have been justified, without seeing them it's hard to tell. DH has seen prius with 100k miles or more with new looking brakes, but also has replaced them before 100k. depends on your braking style.
no apparent need for the new computer. that's really, really wrong. if DH's service advisor had done anything like that, he would have asked to switch to a new service team rather than work with someone like that.
belt, pcv, and air filter were things that are perfectly reasonable maintenance items for your mileage, but also repair-order padding that could have waited until you weren't socked with a giant repair bill.

 

Don't waste time asking the forum - suggest you call your service advisor now and tell him/her you don't want the engine ECU and fuel injectors to be replaced yet. Instead, have the tech perform the other work and see if the P030x codes go away.

 

sdfgsdfg,

in your last post you said:

From this I am led to believe that you are in the Chicago area, although
you don't say so in your avatar.

We have a number of members in the Chiago area. You could do them,
and any of the rest of us who might go there, a great favor by identifying
the dealer where this atrocity took place.

To be more clear, I feel you have a positive moral duty to tell us who
these criminals are so that we can avoid giving them even one red cent.

 

I am not sure which is worse - the older car and repairs. . .or the fact that my car will not register more than 38 MPG and my service folks told me this was the luck of the draw - other cars meet the posted average. . .but mine does not. There is nothing they can do about it. The car is three months old.

Am I asking too much for a 2008 Prius to meet the advertised MPG - or even break 10 mpg?

I wonder if we go to the same place for service.

Marge

 

Hi Marge,

Cold winter weather and short trips have a very significant adverse mpg impact. How many miles on the odometer, and what is your daily commute like?

What tire inflation pressure is your car at? To improve mpg you may want to try 42/40 psi if your tires are currently at lower pressure.

Had you taken a long road trip in the early fall; if so what mpg did you get then? If you can get decent mpg (mid-40s or better) on a road trip, then there's no problem with your car.

 

Hi All,

I would think the Brakes were probably needed. Its a first generation Prius, so, it does not have the voltage multiplying regeneration. Which means the mechanical brakes kick in at a higher speed. That combined with it being a city car, probably means the brakes were ready.