Check Engine Light on Newly Purchased 2012! Should I keep car?

congrats and welcome!

return it

 

It could be a bad spark plug or it could be a bad head gasket. My bet is the head gasket, the reason why the previous owner abandoned this car.

Either way, if you can return it, that's the best thing to do if you have a short timeframe. Head gaskets are a real pain and many replace the entire engine to fix it.

 

Take it back if that’s an option. Make them rebuild/replace the engine if taking it back isn’t an option.

 

then read up here on gen 3 before buying another

 

I bought into a 2011 prius with 158,000 km and a bad HV battery. Took it apart and deep cycled it and has managed to postpone doomsday.
Its a beautiful car and will start to grow on you.
I keep discovering more features everyday

Shouldnt the engine problem be the least serious?
It could be as simple as a bad spark plug or high tension wire problem.

More possibilities from the net are as under:

• Bad Spark Plugs– Spark plugs are one of the most common causes of P0301. Take a look at the electrodes and see if they are in good shape. Most vehicles now come with iridium plugs that need changed very infrequently. That being said, the plugs are a great place to start.
• Spark Plug Wires– On most modern engines, the plug wires are not nearly as long as they once were, but they can still go bad.
• Coil Packs– Coil packs rarely go bad, but when they do, they can certainly cause p0301 in your Toyota Prius. Replacing a set can be very expensive.
• Bad Fuel Injector– I you have a fuel injector that has gone bad, it won’t be able to properly atomize the fuel and you’ll get the P0301.
• Vacuum leak– If your Prius has a vacuum leak, it can be very difficult for it to get the right air/fuel mixture. This will cause the cylinders to misfire and it’ll throw the P0301 if the leak is around that specific cylinder on the intake manifold. It’s easy (and kind of fun) to chase one down.
• Cam or Crank Sensors– This one is very unlikely, but it does happen. If the ECU is not getting the right signal from these sensors, the vehicles timing is not going to sync up and it’ll misfire.
• Low Compression– If you have a leaking head gasket, bent valve, cracked head, etc.. that would cause compression to not be as high as it should, you’re going to get P0301. You should also feel the vehicle is down on power as well.

Either way good luck.

 

Agreed on taking it back. Most likely, previous owner abandoned due to a failed HG.

 

These are all good possibilities if you were to risk your own money. An engine failure is not the easiest/cheapest problem to fix. You will end up with this issue as well with your 2011, it's just a matter of "when"

The head gasket issue is a big common problem these gen3 cars, one you cannot ignore and assume it's a small issue when a misfire develops

 

The check engine light is easily cleared with a cheap scanner. But if there's a problem, it will keep coming back on. Maybe I'm just a cynic, but I bet the seller cleared the CEL, happily took your cash, and now you are on the hook to him. If so, its sleazy but I bet your contract says "as is" which means no recourse.

Sorry that you are going through this.

 

You just bought a car and it's having issues after 1 day. Do you really have to spend money and get a 2nd opinion before taking it back? What is this world coming to?

If you know nothing about this car, take the damn thing back while the option is available.

 

How much did you pay for it? Is this legit new car dealer? Or was it from one of those dealer specializing in used cars only with financing for anyone who can sign?

 

Off-topic, but what's gonna happen, with the current generation working through the school system, that never learned handwriting? Fingerprints, retinal scans, I guess.

 

Well, according to the OP, it is not as easy as that. He's not entitled to his money back, but rather a credit towards another car on the lot. And the seller will be holding all the cards for negotiating the next car's price, since he already has the OP's money in his pocket. In fact, the seller could decline to negotiate at all. Finally, there may only be POS cars on this seller's lot.

With the CEL coming on in less than 24 hours, I would bet money that the seller cleared the code, meaning that he's gonna do everything possible to get the OP to keep the car because the seller knows this car has a serious head gasket problem.

I also bet that this is a "used car lot" and not a dealership. OP -- please post the name/address. In the future, people who Google the business would find this thread.

 

Adobe E-signature. My last refinancing on my mortgage, I never had to hold a pen and paper.

 

Tough position if that's the case. I would still demand money back, no reason to have a newly purchased car with an issue after 1 day.

 

Take It Back.Give Me My Money.Buy Another Prius.Tell the Dealer to Find Another Prius.Throw a Temper tantrum!!!!!!@$$:-#&%/::/&

 

Yeah just act all crazy and @%(&!. Scare them into giving you back your money or you'll go even more !#%^@

 

Cursive and the shift keys also.

 

Punctuation, proper use of apostrophe, spelling, proper use of words....to too there their they're your you're...and so on