Rookie question -- check engine light "inspect battery"

This thread may be too long ago but I'll try it, so if anyone from the original still gets a notice, it might be better than starting a new thread with new participants:

So . . . I finally got the car towed to the dealer, and I'm hoping it goes well with the inverter question, but there's also this question of possible EGR cleaning. I've been understanding the advice on it to be related to age and mileage. But now that it's in the hands of the dealer, I'm wondering how to proceed. It was towed in today, with the appointment being tomorrow. I'm wondering what to say when the service rep calls me to talk about things. I'm hoping that they can look into it to see if there is evidence to support a decision to get it cleaned or not get it cleaned. Am I right that an examination of it would tell us yes it definitely needs it, or no, it's not bad at all, it could go a long time without any treatment? Or would that be a waste of money on opening it up to look at it? I presume that they would be charging the usual arm and a leg per hour for the mechanic's time. And would there be the temptation for them to say yes, of course you should have it cleaned, and polished while we're at it. They have a general good reputation, but I always squirm about that stuff.

Anyway, anybody have any interest in filling me in?

Thx,
SonOfEru

 

Thanks for the reply.

Here's what I got in a voicemail today, responding to my call asking for someone to get back to me about the EGR question. I wanted to explain that I saw, on a forum, a recommendation to clean it up at about the age and mileage it's got. He said,

"EGR isn't something that we typically replace for the sake of replacing it."

So I missed the chance to say I wasn't wanting to replace it, but to talk about maybe cleaning it. It sounds like your recommendation is to clean it just about now, to keep it working well, and keep it from leading to head gasket failure. I wanted to ask him if there could be a check to see what's inside. I did look at the link to @NutzAboutBolts video #16, and it doesn't seem too much to just get in and look. I figured it was not impossible that he might say "Well, we looked inside, and it's actually pretty good, even though the age and mileage might usually show worse conditions. So I wouldn't recommend you clean it for a while longer"

So, I just wanted to start off that way. But it sounds like they might take a dim view of amateurs like you and the others. You are an amateur? That is, you haven't worked as a Prius mechanic?

Anyway, thanks for what you have said, all this is just about completely new to me. I'm not stupid, but I AM ignorant at this point.

 

Well, there's nothing like learning by doing. I already told the story of rebuilding my VW engine back when I was young and relatively fearless. At my age now, I pay others to do work for me. At least I learned enough to usually understand what service techs tell me about what's needed. Here on the Prius I'm a pretty total rookie, that's all (rookie meaning below amateur).

But can I ask some more? In reading about it, I see there's an EGR cooler and an EGR valve. So the EGR recirculates exhaust gases through tubes, and builds up carbon deposits, which get cleaned out. Does the cooler also get cleaned? And the valve? Or is there a basic level of cleaning, and then more extensive "packages" of cleaning? Would there be circumstances calling for different levels of service?

 

OK, that's enough reading for tonight. Curl up by the wood stove, with a big cup of hot cocoa and a good supply of sharp pencils.

But before I go for tonight, may I ask about your devotion to newly poured sidewalks?

Or rather, if thou art a patron saint, how are newly poured sidewalks devoted to thee? What is the history? What prophecy?

 

Greetings again.

Way back on Page 2, the topic of redundant terminology, like "ICE engine" stirred up a few comments, and then I spent a little more time and space on my own problem with being unable to recall one instance of that affliction:

"And the ICE thing. . .That one is new to me, and I can see how it's convenient in a lengthy post in a forum, but yes, I am well familiar with that kind of oddity. And I've spent 10 minutes or so trying to think up this one particular familiar instance of it, one which is utterly common, but at my age now, another utterly common thing is to go blank trying to recall something that's as common as water but I've lost the handle for it. That's the one thing (so far) that really bothers me about this aging thing. And when it does pop through the brain fog, it's just so curious - how could I have not been able to find it?"

Well, I found it - VIN number. I was watching a YouTube clip of "The Accountant", in which someone on a phone call referred to a VIN, without saying "number". It startled me, no one ever says just "VIN", and I remembered right away.

 

Good thing I memorized the last 4 of my social long ago.