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We've put together this classic Toyota Prius Buyers Guide to help you with the ins and outs of one of the most popular hybrid vehicles ever made. Toyota's stellar design and engineering created a fuel-sipping hybrid-electric vehicle that has a reputation for years and now decades of trouble-free driving.Before you buy a gen-2 Prius, be sure to check these parts: instrument cluster, main battery pack, multi-function display, and the inverter cooling pump.
First, a Little Hybrid History
It's hard to believe that the first Toyota Prius first went on sale in the last century - 1997 to be exact. At 26 years old, those first Prius models would officially be considered antique vehicles in many US states -- if you want to import one. Almost all first-gen Prii are sold in Japan. (...and yes, Toyota officially refers to multiple "Priuses" as "Prii", if you were wondering). In 2000, the first batch of Prius models hit the American market. Its only competition at the time was the Honda Insight hybrid. Honda or Toyota, you almost never see one of these early cars on the road. Toyota saw potential in the Prius hybrid platform and moved forward with the second-generation chassis dubbed "NHW20" in 2004. That's when hybrid cars and the Prius marque really started moving. Toyota was rewarded with sales doubling over the previous year. As we approach 2024, the second-gen cars are likewise approaching that magic 20-year-old "classic" status. Compared to the latest Prius iteration -- or any EV car, for that matter -- the 2004-2009 Prius design even looks old. Let's take a close-up look at the second-generation Prius and the four components that are most likely to give you trouble.
Avoid a Bad Surprise by Getting a PPI
Like any used car it is important to get a pre-purchase inspection. If you are confident in your mechanical prowess, you can do the inspection yourself, or you can have your local trusted shop look it over. The important part is to look into every nook and cranny for signs of water damage, rust, or collision. Run a vehicle background check using CARFAX or AutoCheck. Ask for maintenance records, but also check all fluids, test all switches, push all the buttons, and drive it far enough to reach highway speeds. Anything that doesn’t act or feel right needs to be inspected before any money changes hands.
Common Second-Gen Prius Problems
While our classic Prius buyer’s guide is not an exhaustive list, here are a few of the top problems we think deserve your attention when shopping for a 2004-2009 Prius. First up is the main battery pack. If it has not yet been replaced, then plan on replacing it.
There is no such thing as a battery pack that lasts forever. These units age out and are affected by heat, load, and other variables. Sooner or later, it will need to be replaced so plan it into your Prius purchase.
Failed Hybrid Battery Pack
Just like any battery, the Prius main hybrid battery pack has a lifespan. When you consider that gen-two Prius models are nearing almost two decades old, replacing the battery pack isn’t exactly unexpected. Once one of these vehicles crosses the 100,000-mile mark expect to replace the battery. Thanks to the popularity of the Prius replacing the main battery pack is fairly easy, either DIY or at a local shop. If the check engine light is on and code P0A80 is stored, it is time for a new battery pack. Depending on your perspective, you can use an aging or faulty battery pack as a negotiating point, or you can run away as fast as possible. If the seller is representing that the battery pack has been replaced, be sure to demand a receipt and also check the source of the battery pack. Personally, we would negotiate based on the condition of the battery pack and replace it. That way we know the unit is as fresh as possible. Do yourself a favor and get a high-quality replacement like this one from HyBrid Restoration. They have a range of warranty options and A LOT of 5-star reviews.
This is what your Prius MFD looks like disassembled. It's pretty complex -- and we're not even showing the display itself here. Proper repair involves replacing key components, reflowing the main processor, and replacing the touchscreen.
Failed Multifunctional Touchscreen
Having a high-tech touchscreen is awesome … until it breaks. Maybe some parts of the screen no longer respond to your touch. Sometimes the screen gets dim or goes completely dark. We've seen units take on a strange sunburst effect that looks like a bad TV set from the 1970s. This fault requires an additional repair step in the form of LCD replacement. Even if the MFD looks okay, make sure to check all touchscreen functions as part of your pre-purchase inspection. If things are not working as they should, a simple call to UpFix can solve the problem. UpFix offers a multifunctional LCD touchscreen display repair service that can have things working again in just a few days.
Removing a second-gen Prius Multi-Function-Display is super easy. Toyota did a great job of designing the dashboard with minimal hardware and connectors. If your 2004-2009 Prius MFD is faulty, do NOT throw it out. Once you have the unit removed, ship it off to UpFix for service. It's always better to repair your existing MFD than to replace it. We've seen dealer repair estimates of $2000 to $5000. That's bonkers. We'll UpFix it for a few hundred dollars. Once you get your unit back and installed, you will be thrilled with how bright and crisp your MFD looks. You're also reducing e-waste by repairing your MFD instead of replacing it.
This Inverter Cooler Water Pump (shown above) needs to be replaced as soon as the check engine light appears. Otherwise, a more expensive inverter replacement may result.
Failed Inverter Cooler Water Pump
Like the flux capacitor on Marty McFly's DeLorean, Prius's electric driveline components can generate a lot of heat. Keeping the inverter cool is a separate cooler water pump that was originally recalled by Toyota years ago. But now even the replacement inverter cooling pumps are aging out. On the Prius, an OBD code P0A93 signals an inverter cooling pump needs to be changed. PartsGeek sells brand-new Aisin OE replacements sell for a bit more than $100. This is the closest thing to a traditional mechanical repair on our list of faults. Prices for these pumps seem to be going up, but replacing this pump will prevent more costly failures. If the pump appears to have been neglected, be sure to check the inverter unit itself for damage.
Here's a Prius Instrument Cluster. It looks a little out of place without its impossibly wide dashboard surround. Rather than buying a replacement, it's important to repair this part to maintain your odometer reading or you will incur the additional cost of a mileage correction.
Failed Instrument Panel
The last component in our classic Prius Buyers Guide is Instrument Cluster Panel (ICP) failure. This is a common problem on all 2004-2009 Prius cars. If the LCD on top of the dashboard is no longer working, it likely is a sign that one or more capacitors on the combination meter board have gone bad. Signs of a bad ICP include a dim or completely dark display, blank displays, no speedometer or odometer, and errors with the display screen. Luckily, UpFix can repair a faulty Prius ICP in just a few days.Once again it is far better to repair your existing Prius Instrument Cluster than to replace it. This is because your ICP contains your odometer. If you install a replacement unit, it will need a mileage correction and VIN encoding.
Savvy Shopping
Depending on how you like to car-shop, you may be able to scoop up a used Prius with one or more of the issues listed in this classic Prius Buyers Guide for a reduced price knowing that repairs are easy and shops like UpFix are here to help with repairs. If you have a faulty instrument cluster and/or MFD unit, UpFix is here to help. Remove the affected part or parts and ship them to UpFix following these instructions. The expert technicians at UpFix diagnose and repair each unit, then quickly ship your parts back to you. Since UpFix is repairing your original parts, they are already reprogrammed to your vehicle. Just reinstall and go! There's no reason to replace a part when it can be UpFixed!
Links:
UpFix Prius Electronics Repair Service
