Hybrid Foamie: Wild Wanderer in Foam-now with sketches

[Ned B]

aye there's the rub. Since I own not one, but two hybrids, I'm pretty well stuck going to the stealership for anything major. In the case of the Prius this is about as major as it gets of course.

I"ve got a line on an alternative, still more than I want (or can afford) right now, but hey... I can keep paying on it, and it can sit in the driveway until I can get it fixed.

[GPW]

Have you explored the alternatives, surely there has to be a Prius Owners Forum and info for “reasonable“ repairs ??? ... maybe run an ad in C List ...”Fix my Prius” .. Since it’s sitting you have nothing to lose , and may (if Lucky) find a cheaper cure... It happens ... if you can find it.

[GPW]

And it seems there are... http://www.bing.com/search?q=Prius+repa ... orm=APMCS1

[KCStudly]

What did they say is wrong with it?

[Ned B]

Timing cam gear, water pump , cat converter & main hybrid battery pack

[ghcoe]

Why I will never own a hybrid or electric car.

[Ned B]

George,
I understand that viewpoint. At the time I bought the car, my criteria were simple... maximum fuel economy because of my job, plus relatively comfortable to drive. My car is still comfortable to be in, and despite the current woes, I'll get it fixed. It may be in stages, and I'm absolutely going to find the 'used' or cheaper alternative to the stealership's prices. I am going to let them do the internal engine repairs though, the timing cam gear and the water pump (which has not failed yet, but is leaking...). I'll have to wait a couple of weeks for that to happen though. Then I'll be saving up for the hybrid battery, I can put in a reman one from a couple of different sources for under half of a replacement from toyota.

The sticking point is the cat. converter... they're evidently available online for a lot cheaper than new... most likely a take off from a wrecked vehicle. If that is the case, I have a friend who has a slew of prii as parts cars... I'm most likely going to try and get as many parts from him that I can.

[dales133]

The cat would be the last thing I'd do.
I'd get a decent mechanic to look at the timing gear and water pump.
Water pump could be as simple as gaskets but your friendly stealership might be trying it on so to speak.
Someone who repairs modern vehicles probably would have any issue changing the cam gear

[GPW]

Ned , it’s like going to the Doctor ... if he says something Bad, you get a SECOND OPINION...

Example:
We had a limb knock off the side door mirror on my Silverado ... The Dealer wanted $240 (plus tax) for the mirror and another $200 for labor ... They told me if I brought it early in the morning , I could get it back at 5:00 that evening ...

I contacted my mechanic friend .... he produced an aftermarket part that was the exact “clone” of the original part (except for the different numbers) ... The Mirror was $40.00m (including tax) and we put it on in 10 minutes with a phillips screwdriver... So much for the Dealership...
Ps. the really cheap oil changes are like BAIT to get you in the door , where they find other , more expensive things wrong....

[Ned B]

oh we've got a good mechanic besides the stealership guys. The Only reason I went to the dealer was that they have the diagnostic machine to clear the codes. Toyota wants everyone to come to them for repairs of course. I went directly from the dealer yesterday to work last night, so I haven't had time or opportunity to work on the 'other options' yet today.

No way in heck I can afford the stealership prices, it will get done, in stages... the cam gear and water pump will be addressed first, then the battery, then the cat... I'm Also going to have the house battery replaced (regular 12v for the lights, heater, radio etc...) checked. If that goes, or is bad, it can cause false readings throughout the system as well.

[dales133]

I've got a 1994 80 series land crusier and I hit a tree and smashed the grill and headlight surrounds plus the bonnet (hood in americanish) it's 20 years old and it still cost 2700 for the parts.
I recon it would cost 20 times as much to make a Toyota out of spare parts

[ghcoe]

George,
I understand that viewpoint. At the time I bought the car, my criteria were simple... maximum fuel economy because of my job, plus relatively comfortable to drive.

Not to start a fight here, but just food for thought before another purchase. How much gas could you have bought with the money that is now spent on repair costs? I bet if you add it up you will have spent way more money on repairs than the money saved on gas .

Dealers love hybirds because no one else wants to work on them, can you say monopoly?

[Ned B]

Well, let's agree to disagree on this one. Even with the issues, my car in my job saved me at least $3000 this past 6 months

[GPW]

Not to mention the ecological benefits... Naturally the more people drive these alternative vehicles, the more people will be available to work on them . We are actually old enough to remember when they started putting computers in cars and the cry went out about how it would destroy all the private mechanics ... It didn’t , did it ? Repairs just got more expensive because the private mechanics had to buy the computer analyzers, which they made Ridiculously expensive for the parts contained.
I’m still waiting for a hybrid pickup truck ...

To think , just a mere hundred years ago in human history , we’d be complaining about the price of Oats and cleaning up after our transportation ... Some things never change eh ?

[Ned B]

OK back to the trailer...





I built the nose cone... I'm planning on a utility/battery compartment in the lower section, and then a shelf in the upper section... details to follow.