Hello! I am brand new here so my sincere apologies if I am posting in the wrong section or anything like that. I own a first generation, a 2001 prius. I am the second owner and have owned it for about 3 years. I've had 2 minor problems. I had to replace the battery in the trunk and I had my check engine light come on in May and had to have some $80 fuse replaced. Since then - no issues. Today, I got in my car and drove less than half a mile to the grocery store. My car engine was making a "shuddering" type noise about halfway there. I thought it was a bit weird but then it did it 3 more times and my check engine light came on, the PS light and the car with the ! and the triangle with the ! inside. I turned my car off, let it sit for approx. 10 mins, started it again (all the same warning lights were still on) and proceeded to drive back home and hope for the best. It was no longer making the shuddering noise and feeling, but it felt like when only your electric motor is working (ie - no noise, no sound, feels like the car is off). I looked at my energy/consumption display on the dash and it is ONLY using my electric engine, the regular engine or motor or whatever isn't being used. And it looks like I have about 5% left of the electric engine left. Anyone have any thoughts on what this could be or what it's going to cost me? Thanks so much - ANXIOUSLY awaiting replies!!! :cheer2: edit: also should add that when I restarted it at home a few hours later it was making the shuddering noise again, then stopped, and went totally silent, basically repeating the same course of events from earlier in the day.
I had one mechanic (a mechanic who's done a lot of work on my family members cars and fixed the a/c in my prius last year) come look at it and he said it's my alternator. I called another mechanics office to get a price quote on the alternator and they said my '01 prius doesn't HAVE an alternator and I need to bring it in and have them look at it? I'm not sure what to do? Any advice? PLEASE!
Prii don't have alternators. I've sent a message to the moderators to move this over to the Gen I forum where you might get better responses. Welcome to Priuschat :welcome:
Are you anywhere near Melbourne, FL? Mellor's Automotive is a hybrid specialist. mellor's automotive You should at least try to find a mechanic that knows the car does not have an alternator.
