Prius Prob - Toyota Canada complaint

I am sympathetic to the problem that you have had dealing with Toyota Canada and the extended warranty. Nevertheless, if you are convinced that the car has a problem then I think you should agree to pay the $117 and see what the dealer tech comes up with.

If it turns out your car has a problem, then read the terms of your extended warranty and see what is covered and what is not, regarding diagnosis and repair.

If there is no problem found, then you will be out $117. This is because the dealer does not want to have service dept time taken up with no-trouble-found complaints. The price is a way to make sure that the customer has "skin in the game".

So, make sure that the car has a verifiable problem before you agree to this. Good luck.

 

And by the way, you car probably need a new 12V battery. Big drops in the fuel economy with no other errors is the first sign of a failing 12V battery AND you car is starting to reach the age were it can start to wear out.

 

Brook Side, use the Maintenance Mode available through the MFD to check the 12v battery's voltage. If the readings are low that may be youyr problem. Not sure if the 12v is going to be covered under your warranty.

Good luck & welcome.

 

You have probably already checked your tires - but, just in case you have not, I had a nail with no head get lodged in one tire that caused a very very slow leak. I immediately noticed a drop in my mileage - but a visual inspection of the tires I did not notice a problem. When the tire started to show a loss of air I took a pressure reading and took the car to my dealer and they could not find a leak even tough it was down 5 lbs. They added air. I was back a week later and told them there was a leak somewhere because it was low again. They finally found the headless nail and removed it.

Loss in mileage was the first indication that there was a slow leak in one tire.

Springtime

 

Is it just me or is there a sudden influx of people with 2007 Prius who are complaining of a drop in MPG?

 

Actually that's not too unusual Brookside. It happens firstly when the engine is cold and when it needs heat for cabin air. It also happens even when you're at full operating temperature if you start the "glide" from under 56 km/h, unless you're in hybrid "stage 4". To get into "stage 4" you've got to have the car fully up to normal operating temperature and then completely stop the car (with the engine running) for 5 to 10 seconds (until the engine cuts out) and then it changes to full hybrid "stage 4" mode and you get better FE. Pretty crazy I know, but it's true.

 

As the above posters indicated, if there is no code in the system there isn't a problem Toyota can address. When I had Pearl in for the coolant transfer pump squealing there was no charge for diagnostics. That person at Toyota Canada should be "re-educated" or fired. That's bad business practice.

Most common reasons for poor fuel economy:
Short trips (less than 5 km) when the engine is cold.
E10 fuel (Mohawk or Husky in Canada).
Low tire pressure - I use 40 PSI front and 38 PSI in rear.
Oil not 5W30. If you put in 10W30 it WILL drop your mileage. I use 5W30 Mobil 1.
Do have the 12V battery voltage checked after the car sits overnight. You can do this yourself with a voltmeter under the hood on the "boost terminal". You should see close to 12V or slightly above, car not put in "ready" for at least 8 hours.

Pearl is a 2007 and is showing the best mileage since purchase now. She averages in the mid to low 4 l/100 km. In winter, of course, it's much worse.

 

Pull the engine air filter out and inspect it. While it's open (the airbox), have a look at the throttle body/plate. They are known to get dirty. That -might- effect mileage.

But again, without a code to deal with, most mechanics won't know where to look. It's a sad state, but it's the way it is.

 

i wonder if there was a bad batch of batteries?

 

It is just the time for 07's to start needing new 12v batteries. Next year we will have 2008 drops.

I would go with what is suggested and replace the 12v and pump up your tires.

As for the diagnostic fee, it is normal. Even at the Lexus dealerships and Honda dealerships we deal with, if anything is wrong and the dealer's quote is too high so you refuse it, they charge you diagnostics. $79 at the Honda dealership, $149 at the Lexus dealership. This is with a warranty. This is why I try to diagnose it first, then take it where it can be fixed.

Something else I would try is to fill up somewhere else. Most of us have that gas station we fill up at every time unless we need to do something. Perhaps your station changed its mixture or added ethanol? Try a new station at a different brand.

 

I did read, just going with the norms...

The reason I suggest a new fuel is the station may have changed the formula and that could make it worse. So try a new station, it's not too hard.

The battery could be a drain on resources, but the drop you are mentioning I doubt it is the only reason. Definitely a contender for a contribution to the problem though.

Could just be traffic patterns have increased slowly so you dont notice it is different. Perhaps drive up and down the 401 at a constant speed (if even possible now adays, may need to go at 3am or something!) just to see if constant speed driving gets the same hit.

It is easy to disregard advice that you have already internalized as useless. It is human nature. However there could be things that you have not processed, but that could effect the outcomes.

 

Why waste money? Don't blindly replace the 12V battery, test and measure it first. No tools are required:
http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html