Toyota Prius: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

711 messages, Last post on Oct 27, 2006 at 3:23 AM

You are in the Hybrid Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Hybrids Host for directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Prius, Hybrid Cars, Hatchback

Outline

Messages Page 9 of 72: 1; ...; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; ...; 72; Prev; Next; Last

#79 of 711 Re: odd event [aptosbill] by bonster Oct 14, 2004 (7:16 am)
Replying to: aptosbill (Jun 30, 2004 7:52 am) I just purchased a 2005 Prius. My husband drove it for less than 200 miles in less than 24 hours after driving off the lot. After work the following day, he attempted to start the car, and got nothing. I also attempted to start the car with my fob; also nothing - dead, dead, dead. We had it towed to the nearest dealer, who has had our car for several days. Latest news is that four of eleven engine computers are not talking to a scanner - three associated with starting the engine and one associated with a fuel pump. Could anyone tell me how much of this is BS and if these guys know what they're talking about? I see that this is not news to many of you. Thanks! Bonster
#80 of 711 Prius will not start by little_pogi Oct 14, 2004 (3:33 pm)
This is quite interesting. Can you be more specific on your problem. There are questions I have that I'd like to ask you. 1. Do you have the Smart Entry Function? Are able to open the doors to let you in? If you have one and are able to unlock the door, then someway the key fob is communicating with with car. 2. You mentioned about atempting to start the car with your fob. Do you mean inseting the key fob into the slot and pressing the start button? Did any of the indicator lights on the display panel lit up? If the power mode does not change to "ON", then there could be a number of suspected areas. It could be just a power wiring harness, a fuse, the power switch itself, or the Power Source Control ECU. Answer these questions first before we could go further down thru the diagnostic process. The dealer's technicians telling you about 4 ECU not talking to the scanner may be somewhat extreme and exagerated. It they have no idea yet of what's going on, then maybe they may have it escalated to the district Toyota Prius service tech.
#81 of 711 Early owners? by kirstie_h HOST Nov 04, 2004 (8:39 am)
A reporter is wondering if anyone has had trouble getting parts for cars and trucks from the 1985-1997 model year. If you have a story to share, please send it to jfallonedmunds.com by Friday, November 19, 2004. Thanks!
#82 of 711 Question about Prius by motownusa Nov 05, 2004 (6:48 am)
My father ordered an 05 Prius that should be arriving sometime in late February or early March? He is going overseas for six weeks at the end of March to visit relatives. In the meantime the Prius will be sitting in the garage and no one will be driving it. Is there any special precaution that needs to taken so that the car will start when he comes back? Replies to this message: mcr1 (Feb 21, 2005 4:12 am) rick61 (May 02, 2005 5:42 pm) kelcol (May 19, 2005 1:40 pm)
#83 of 711 Fuel Problem by keystone01 Nov 13, 2004 (3:55 pm)
I have an 04 (Aug 04)and have never been able to put more than 7 gallons in the tank. Last tank with low fuel light flashing only took 5 gallons. Dealer told me to bring it in for three days to order and install parts. He then called me to say my car was built after the problem and has new parts so he would not do anything. He wants me to bring it back when the low fuel light is flashing so he can evaluate. Can anyone help me solve this problem?
#84 of 711 Re: Prius mileage dropping could be from what? [larsb] by bjrich Nov 14, 2004 (5:57 am)
Replying to: larsb (Oct 07, 2004 7:55 am) you have become accustomed to your Pruis, and are indeed driving it as you did the old car...you have taken the edge off of the mileage way of driving. So, do this; return to the way you drove it when you first got it...and . wash and wax it, and it will have less drag as the air passes over it...and air up the tires...I am very sure if you do these little things, your mileage will increase.. In the early 80's I bought a Nissan Maxima diesel wagon to get off the the poor mileage of my Ford Squire wagon..the Maxima gave me 33 miles per gallon but I was soon pushing it over 80 on the highwawy..the mieage dropped. After every oil change, washing and checking the tires it incrseased the mileage back up dto the 33.... If you =___________make the effort to improve the mileage, I am sure it will increase
#85 of 711 Re: Toyota Prius Owners: Problems & Solutions [KarenS] by paulette1 Nov 17, 2004 (7:59 pm)
Replying to: KarenS (May 13, 2004 5:03 am) My 2001 Prius wouldn't start, and the lack of any lights coming on indicated a dead starter battery. The Toyota dealer said not to try jumping it, but to have it towed in to them. I did so and now am told I need a new battery, to the tune of almost $300.00! This (plus the towing charge) is shocking. The car has 48,000 miles on it. Could someone tell me if this is likely - the requirement of a new battery at this point and the exorbitant price? This is the third time I've had to have a tow in the last 6 months. (The other things related to the still under warantee hybrid system, fortunately. But this is still a bit scary, as I get closer to the warantee being up.) Thanks! Replies to this message: rfruth (Nov 19, 2004 2:42 pm) gagrice (Nov 19, 2004 3:33 pm) pmichaels1 (Dec 24, 2004 10:06 am)
#86 of 711 Re: Toyota Prius Owners: Problems & Solutions [paulette1] by rfruth Nov 19, 2004 (2:42 pm)
Replying to: paulette1 (Nov 17, 2004 7:59 pm) I would have thought people would be all over this, seen on The Car Connection, daily edition: Nov. 19, 2004 then scroll down - snip - Toyota will recall twelve vehicle lines and a total of 544,172 cars worldwide, according to a late report from Reuters. Among the vehicles included in the recall is the hybrid Prius. The vehicles have brake lights that could fail as a result of faulty switches. The vehicles affected by the recall include those manufactured from January 1999 to August of 2004. http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=173&sid=173&a- - rticle=7756
#87 of 711 dead battery [paulette1] by gagrice Nov 19, 2004 (3:33 pm)
Replying to: paulette1 (Nov 17, 2004 7:59 pm) Welcome to the forum. I would say 3 years and 48k miles is about the life of a standard OEM lead acid car battery. $300 seems like a very big ripoff. You can get the best car battery going for under $100 with a 6 year unlimited mileage warranty. Unless Toyota has put in some oddball battery I would go to Sears to have it replaced. I have not had a vehicle towed for over 15 years. I have only had Chevy Trucks which are very reliable. Three times in 6 months and I would be looking for the lemon law lawyer.
#88 of 711 Prius on a uphill driving by aropc Nov 20, 2004 (1:45 pm)
This question is regarding 2002 Prius, which has about 30000 miles. What happens is, when I drive the car on a slight uphill (which Corolla or Camry climbs easily at around 50 miles per hour), Prius makes noticeable noise and seems to struggle to climb..the speed limit in that segment of the road is 45 mph, and Prius seems to have great difficulty climbing at that speed. Does any one have similar experience? Is this a normal behavior, or should I take this to the dealer and try to get something fixed? Any insight would be very much appreciated. Replies to this message: rfruth (Nov 20, 2004 2:53 pm)