Just bought (New 2 me) 2001 Prius, 142k

Congratulations on your purchase. The mpg looks good, your drivetrain must be operating pretty well.

While you are doing the maintenance I suggest you consider the following unless you have service history showing the items are current:

1. Replace iridium spark plugs every 60K miles, using the correct NGK or Denso plugs
2. Replace engine oil and oil filter, using 5W-30 weight
3. Replace brake fluid; however if you plan to DIY make sure you don't let any air into the system upstream of the wheel cylinders. If air gets in it will be almost impossible for you to get the air out without having the correct Toyota diagnostic tool.
4. Check the struts/shocks and replace if needed
5. Check tire condition and replace as needed
6. Inspect throttle body interior and throttle plate and clean if you see black deposits

 

I thought Iridum spark plugs last 120k miles.

 

This is true for 2G.

The Classic service interval is 60K miles. Some Classic owners have had DTC P3191 "engine does not start" especially if their vehicle does not have the latest revision engine ECU. In that case fresh spark plugs might help.

 

fresh transmission fluid? i'd also pull the transaxle pan and wipe it clean

 

I would recommend cleaning the throttle plate.

You might also consider visiting the Yahoo Groups that deal with the Prius because their message logs have a lot of 'lessons learned' about the NHW11, 2001-03 Prius. I'm fond of "toyota-prius" and "Prius_Techincal_Stuff," which started from the earliest days of the Prius.

Bob Wilson

 

It comes from early oil testing and isn't that hard to do. I've tried to assemble some stuff over time.

Bob Wilson

 

Three suggestions not mentioned above. Sorry I arrived late to the party.

Learn how you quickly assess the correct function of the electricals coolant loop pump. Posted at PC and elsewhere.

Open up the 12 volt battery compartment in trunk. Make sure the connections are tight and free of corrosion.

Increase tire inflation to what the tire sidewall says in front; 2 psi less in rear. If this feels harsh to you on the road, decrease in small increments until comfy.

I don't agree with Patrick about immediately changing the brake flouid. Get it tested at a brake shop for water or copper content. They have test strips. However, if the fluid in the reservoir looks other than the original 'light straw' color, it needs changing for sure.