Things to Check When Buying a Used Toyota Prius
Without a doubt, electric vehicles are here to stay. If it’s any indication, there will be even more options for electric vehicles in the future, as manufacturers like Toyota have announced a plug-in all-electric vehicle that will be a zero-emissions car, in addition to its Prius model. For now, however, the Toyota Prius is the commercial and technological success of the Japanese manufacturer in the category of ecological vehicles.
The Prius is already in its third generation at this point, which means there will be millions of these successful hybrids on the road wherever they’re sold. Prii with 100,000 miles on it sell for around $8,000 these days, making them an interesting alternative for people who are conscious of low cost, fuel efficiency, and green living. But let’s face it, the Prius, while attractive as a car for people with alternative lifestyles, is a complex car with little knowledge diffused outside of Toyota-trained technicians. Unless you or a mechanic friend has a thorough understanding of Prius operation, it’s best to buy a used Toyota Prius only after it has been inspected by a reputable Toyota dealer.
A Prius that has not been properly maintained will be a candidate for inverter or transaxle failure, both of which are major components of the car and both are expensive to replace or even repair. Since a Prius transmission is basically a CVT, don’t buy a used Toyota Prius if you feel any jolt coming from the transmission. A new transaxle assembly for the Prius can reportedly cost up to $10,000. Which is an absurd repair bill if you buy a used Toyota Prius for anything close to that amount.
Other things that need inspection before buying a used Toyota Prius include front struts and rear shocks, HID headlights, 12V battery (not drive unit), rear brake lights, inverter cooling pump and transaxle fluid. Look for maintenance records showing that the inverter cooling pump has been removed and that the transaxle fluid has been changed at the recommended intervals.
Even before asking the salesperson if the car can be checked at a dealer, quick checks you can do include turning on the HID headlamps and making sure they are still on after ten minutes. At the same time, also turn on the air conditioner and monitor the air coming out of the vents. After the 10 minute period, is the air still cold? Check for leaks also under the engine water pump. The original 12-volt battery is known to be defective, so a used Prius should have an aftermarket replacement battery installed. And while it may seem like a minor issue to replace a brake light switch on a Prius, the fact remains that it will require replacing the pedal assembly. As you can see, the complexity of the Prius extends to even the little things that would be easy to fix in a more conventional car. If there is a combination of these minor flaws in a Prius you are considering, then it would be better to have another unit inspected rather than buying a used Toyota Prius which may end up costing you more than the purchase price of the car.