New to me 2001 Prius, now what? - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

War_Wagon · 02-09-2012, 03:32 AM

Prius gurus, I need your input. The auction gods found me another hybrid, though a Toyota this time, not another first gen Insight. 2001 with 150,000 KMs (93000 miles). The dash display shows no issues with the battery, but the check engine light is on. Is there a common cause for this with these cars? I will get it to my mechanic to have a look see, but if there is something silly like the gas cap isn't in tight that will set it off I will check that first. I have never owned a Prius before, is there anything else that I should check / change or service right away? The car itself is super clean, still smells like a new car inside (no not one of those "New car smell" trees either lol, smells like a new Toyota), so I think it has probably been well looked after, though I have no service records for it. Any advice for the Prius n00b?

Daox · 02-09-2012, 08:34 AM

I'd probably change the transmission oil. To do this you really NEED to use Toyota brand fluid. I'm not sure what the 1st gen Prius uses, but I'd look it up and do it. Other than that I don't think there is anything you really need to do. Drive it and have fun.

johnunit · 02-09-2012, 04:10 PM

inverter coolant should probably changed too.

Check engine light could be all sorts of things. One common issue is over-filled oil clogging things up. Make sure the oil isn't over the "full" mark while hot.

War_Wagon · 02-10-2012, 03:18 PM

Thanks for the input, I will get my hands on it later today and see what is up with the engine light.

Daox · 02-10-2012, 03:24 PM

I believe the coolant (all the coolant in the car) is Toyota's super long lifetime coolant and probably doesn't need to be replaced.

edit: just checked apparently the change interval is 100k miles.

kurzer · 02-14-2012, 03:54 AM

i had a 2001 for 5 years. the check engine light came after some month first and after the years it was a dayly issue. the reading was some kind of "catalytic converter out of norm" and the garage says cat change.
finaly i bought a metal cat at ebay for 80 euro and had to weld it in place. everything was fine.
check the airco with UV-light. the condenser is often leak and expensive.
check the thrunk key and remote.

KrautBurner · 03-13-2014, 02:22 PM

I just picked mine up on Sunday

did you ever do any modding to this car?

Cobb · 03-13-2014, 07:49 PM

Owning a hybrid isnt all its cracked up to be.

Its like being a kid with glasses and a pocket protector with suspenders.

At least since you got one of the early ones you can cruse undetected,but still muttering those words brings out the worse in some people.

If you had purchased a honda insight Id help you, but the prius is a completely different vehicle and there are other websites for those vehicles.