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Rokeby · 08-21-2009, 10:35 PM

RH77,

I've been driving my '08 Prius Touring for some 21 months, 30k miles. I'm
also a poster at PRIUSchat.com where I read virtually every thread on the
problems that are reported on Gen II Prii no matter their mileage...

As in any used car purchase, the watch words are "Buyer Beware," with a
few extra twists. In addition to all the typical cautions for buying a used car
-- like careful inspection for body/frame damage/repairs -- here are a few
Prius specific items:

* Inspect the actual title to ensure the car does not have a "salvage" title.
* Ask to see all the service records; 5k routine services done by dealer or
owner?
* Have a Prius tech go over the car, and get an "official" printout from the
dealer of the car's service record.
* How the car was treated for the first 100k miles will determine whether it
goes another 100k. Most folks don't know it, but it's not the High Voltage
battery that is likely to give trouble.

At ~100k miles there are a number of other things that are more likely to
cause trouble:
* the inverter cooling pump is somewhat of a weak link, and some Prius
gurus recommend replacing it and the special coolant at 100k as a
preventative measure before it leaves you stranded.
* The "transmission" fluid is due for renewal. Again the maintenence gurus
recommend that it be changed a least once, and better yet twice, before
100k miles for logevity purposes.
* The service life on the small 12v battery is ~ 4 years. Extended high or
low ambient temps lower that figure. The car cannot be started if the 12v
battery dies as it "boots" the computer that brings the big HV battery on line
for starting, etc.
* If the alignment, including the rear wheels is off, even slightly, this car
can really chew up tires -- like to the tune of only 25-30k miles a set. No
way to know what the history is here but unevenly worn tires would be a
give away.

None of the above is a reason not to be buying a used Prius. It is meant only
to help you identify a good used Prius to buy -- if you get a good
one, I'm sure you'll love it.

Lastly, even though you may only be just looking now, you should at least
go lurk on the Gen II maintenance forum at PRIUSchat.com and use the
search function to dig into the many older threads. Here's a good one to get
you started:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-p...you-don-t.html

[EDIT: A note on PRIUSchat; it is a wholly different kind of forum than here.
There's a whole lot of ChattyCathy stuff. Don't be put off. There are also some extremely competent posters in the maintenance threads.]

08-21-2009, 10:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rokeby Gen II Prianista Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ballamer, Merlin Posts: 453 Thanks: 201 Thanked 146 Times in 89 Posts	RH77, I've been driving my '08 Prius Touring for some 21 months, 30k miles. I'm also a poster at PRIUSchat.com where I read virtually every thread on the problems that are reported on Gen II Prii no matter their mileage... As in any used car purchase, the watch words are "Buyer Beware," with a few extra twists. In addition to all the typical cautions for buying a used car -- like careful inspection for body/frame damage/repairs -- here are a few Prius specific items: * Inspect the actual title to ensure the car does not have a "salvage" title. * Ask to see all the service records; 5k routine services done by dealer or owner? * Have a Prius tech go over the car, and get an "official" printout from the dealer of the car's service record. * How the car was treated for the first 100k miles will determine whether it goes another 100k. Most folks don't know it, but it's not the High Voltage battery that is likely to give trouble. At ~100k miles there are a number of other things that are more likely to cause trouble: * the inverter cooling pump is somewhat of a weak link, and some Prius gurus recommend replacing it and the special coolant at 100k as a preventative measure before it leaves you stranded. * The "transmission" fluid is due for renewal. Again the maintenence gurus recommend that it be changed a least once, and better yet twice, before 100k miles for logevity purposes. * The service life on the small 12v battery is ~ 4 years. Extended high or low ambient temps lower that figure. The car cannot be started if the 12v battery dies as it "boots" the computer that brings the big HV battery on line for starting, etc. * If the alignment, including the rear wheels is off, even slightly, this car can really chew up tires -- like to the tune of only 25-30k miles a set. No way to know what the history is here but unevenly worn tires would be a give away. None of the above is a reason not to be buying a used Prius. It is meant only to help you identify a good used Prius to buy -- if you get a good one, I'm sure you'll love it. Lastly, even though you may only be just looking now, you should at least go lurk on the Gen II maintenance forum at PRIUSchat.com and use the search function to dig into the many older threads. Here's a good one to get you started: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-p...you-don-t.html [EDIT: A note on PRIUSchat; it is a wholly different kind of forum than here. There's a whole lot of ChattyCathy stuff. Don't be put off. There are also some extremely competent posters in the maintenance threads.] Last edited by Rokeby; 08-21-2009 at 11:21 PM..