Planning to buy a 3rd generation Prius but before that I need your advice

Hello PriusChat Users!

I am planning to buy a Prius 3rd generation, but there is one but: My knowledge about cars is limited.
I though about paying a local service to check the car for me, but if it will be the case that after check the car will be bad and I will be forced not to buy it, I will still have to pay for the examination and my budget doesn't allow me that, so I will have to rely on my own Judgement.

I have asked some people I know and read on the internet and gathered a list of things on what and how to check before buying. I will share the list here, and I would appreciate any comment about the list or additional details on specific parts of it. If you have something to suggest, I will be grateful if I can add something to that list:


The list:

1. When you meet up for a check, make sure you are doing a cold start and pay attention to the engine sound, because blown up head gasket gives this sound called "Death rattle" which I am familiar with (I think) I've heard it live and listened to such noise on Youtube so I have an idea on how it sounds.

2. As soon as you meet up starting the motor is the first thing you wanna do, because while you be checking the body, inside interior etc. the engine will be warming up.

3. When the engine is warmed up take it for a test drive where you will check the following:
3.1. If the engine has enough power( I think I can judge that decently, because I have experience in driving a Prius, I'm currently renting one and I'm familiar on "how a normal Prius should drive")
3.2. If the engine speed is not changing excessively/Jumping while you are driving at various speeds
3.3. Try to break and see if the steering wheel is not vibrating, if it does the braking pads or discs may be worn out and need a replacement
3.4. Try to make some turn arounds and test the steering wheel, while parking etc. to see if there's any unnecessary sound or interreference feeling.
3.5. Check if all electronics work good, such as climate control, lights, windows, etc.
3.6. Before stopping, do some excessive accelerating to warm up the coolant even more, and then after you get out instantly check the coolant pipes by trying to squeeze them and see if they are not hard as rock(you should be able to squeeze them)
3.7 be aware of the EGR problems and check for "blow by" and blocked crankcase ventilation by warming the engine up, then placing a piece of paper or beer coaster, over the oil filler hole once the filler cap it removed .... it should hold there, even with the motor revved, if it doesn't, look for another unit if you can't confirm it is just a blocked crankcase recirculation problem .....

The list ends here, so I would love if someone gave me some advice which I can add to this list.

I'll try to order a head gasket tester from Temu with changing reaction liquids do you think that will help me?


I have a Toyota Techstream v16.00.017 and I know how to do Health check (Basic check for all ECUS), although here my knowledge ends, any guidance of I can use this software to my advantage when checking the Prius would be grateful.

Battery check: Now I know that I can see the hybrid battery check and it's parameters, but really have no idea on what parameters to look at and what they mean so any advice here would be also useful,

I have checked the following thread: in this forum (I can't post link but here's the name of it:
How to test HV battery state of health on your Gen 2 (answer)"

didn't really fully understand this but I have a feeling that this is a decent way to check the battery, but this one is for a 2nd generation prius, while I am looking to buy a 3rd one, so my question is would I be able to use this specific guide to check prius 3 battery or there should be another way?

Like I said, any advice, even a small piece of advice that you may know, even for basic knowledge users would help, because my knowledge is very limited.

Thank you so much to everyone who took their time to read this.