Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Going to buy a used prius as a second car. What to look at?

redpoint5 · 02-16-2016, 11:21 AM

One last bit of info; starting with the Gen III (2010+), the Prius has no belts to maintain. The accessory belt was eliminated by using electric power steering, electric water pump, electric brake booster, electric cooling fans, electric AC, and there is no alternator. The Prius uses a timing chain, so again, there should be no maintenance required there either.

Kind of nice not having to replace a timing belt every 90k, or an accessory belt every 60k. Who knows what the long term reliability will be for all those electric accessories though. So far they seem to be holding up, as I don't read about many failures on the forum.

02-16-2016, 11:21 AM	#4 (permalink)
redpoint5 Human Environmentalist Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 12,980 Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX 90 day: 24.19 mpg (US) Lafawnda - CBR600 - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i 90 day: 47.32 mpg (US) Big Yeller - Dodge/Cummins - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base 90 day: 21.82 mpg (US) Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2 90 day: 17.14 mpg (US) Model Y - '24 Tesla Y LR AWD Pacifica Hybrid - '21 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 90 day: 38.47 mpg (US) Thanks: 4,370 Thanked 4,530 Times in 3,482 Posts	One last bit of info; starting with the Gen III (2010+), the Prius has no belts to maintain. The accessory belt was eliminated by using electric power steering, electric water pump, electric brake booster, electric cooling fans, electric AC, and there is no alternator. The Prius uses a timing chain, so again, there should be no maintenance required there either. Kind of nice not having to replace a timing belt every 90k, or an accessory belt every 60k. Who knows what the long term reliability will be for all those electric accessories though. So far they seem to be holding up, as I don't read about many failures on the forum. __________________ Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator Give me absolute safety, or give me death! Last edited by redpoint5; 02-16-2016 at 01:15 PM..