2011 Prius... Help Needed!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by IDouglas, Aug 2, 2021.

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  1. IDouglas

    IDouglas New Member

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    Location:
    Central Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yesterday I went to pick up a 2011 Toyota Prius that I recently inherited. Upon turning the car on I noticed the Check engine light was on. I attempted to drive it a short distance home, when a mile up the road almost every warning indicator light (master, skid, vsc, emergency brake, etc.) came on simultaneously. The gas pedal froze up and I coasted to the side of the road where after a few minutes I restarted the car and managed to make it back to my starting destination.

    This morning I got the car towed to a local Toyota dealership where they told me the water pump (not hybrid) had failed and needed replacing to the tune of $1100. They also said that the engine had gotten to a temp of 221 degrees but couldn't give me a specific time that this had occurred. In addition, they said they could not diagnose the engine until the water pump issue had been resolved.

    Does anyone have any insights, experience, or advice?
     
    #1 IDouglas, Aug 2, 2021
  2. Stangar

    Stangar Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
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    Three
    Pricing seems to be outrageously high. Water pump is less than 300 on the internet and could be installed in less than 1.5 hours. Also, might as well replace the thermostat and housing while you're in there and replace the engine coolant with new.

    If you have basic tools and a little mechanical ability this is an easy task.

    Maybe some local Floridians could help you with this. Where are you located?
     
    #2 Stangar, Aug 2, 2021
  3. Zeppo Shanski

    Zeppo Shanski Active Member

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    #3 Zeppo Shanski, Aug 3, 2021
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The issue is overheating is bad on a 2011 gen3 Prius with an aluminum engine. So they are warning you the costs could escalate to a replaceent engine. If you are sure it was not run hot prior to your one drive and you shut it down quickly, it might be a good gamble. But with the check engine already on, it could have been damaged before you picked it up. I would certainly have it towed to an independent and trusted hybrid shop for the water pump and subsequent engine evaluations.

    Unfortunately, we don't know the mileage, location or repair history. I know people in Florida are like Texans, they are independent and somewhat close to the vest. These cars can have many expensive problems in their senior years. $1100 could look cheap a year or two from now.
     
    #4 rjparker, Aug 3, 2021
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2021
  5. IDouglas

    IDouglas New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'm in central florida, near Lakeland/Winter Haven.

    The car has 108,000 miles on it, located in central Florida (polk county), there has been no major repairs to my knowledge. My ma and I got a kick out of "Floridians are like Texans".
     
    #5 IDouglas, Aug 3, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 3, 2021
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    $1,100. is very high to replace the water pump, are there any local indy mechs?
     
    #6 bisco, Aug 3, 2021
  7. Daniel Richard

    Daniel Richard Member

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    $1100 is outrageous!!!

    I would fly down from Minnesota and do it for $1100.

    I wouldn’t worry about the temp, 221 isn’t bad.
     
    #7 Daniel Richard, Aug 3, 2021
  8. Stangar

    Stangar Active Member

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    C'mon you Floridians. Help this guy in person or provide the name of a local independent that you deem reliable/competent! There's got to be a few in that area, right?

    This is not an $1100 job. That dealer is looking to gas up his Cigarette boat for the weekend.
     
    #8 Stangar, Aug 4, 2021
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Try another dealership too (or canvas a bunch), who knows.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Aug 4, 2021
  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    If northern Tampa isn't too far, check with Todd at Home - Tampa Hybrids Inc.

    His prices are excellent, especially if he has a used part for you. But even with new OEM parts he doesn't mark them up nearly as much as the Toyota dealers do. I like enough to have bought six cars from him so far.

    Edit to add: I'd help you but I'm about to have some major surgery in a couple weeks and have a ton of stuff to do before I launch into 2-3 months of physical therapy afterwards.
     
    #10 jerrymildred, Aug 4, 2021
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