Do I Regret Buying a 2002 Toyota Prius? 5 Year Update

Gen 1 Prius Videos

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[thecollegepicker]

Just calculated 43 mpg with cargo topper.
Summer 2023 we got p3006 again, and Dr. Prius showed a bad module and overheating pack (all 3 sensors reading over 125 degrees F) after a short drive. I will be attempting to whack a mole the module out and put a working one in, its on the side so it should be easier to fix without removing everything. This fix should give some months or maybe a year. Stay tuned.

[eshaansharma]

This car was way ahead of its time ! It’s good to see that it isn’t causing major problems

[taxiridefun]

I have a 2002. the inverter pump went out .they're easy to change, they don't cost a lot of money, but after I had changed it and remove the air and all of that, i still had no movement in the inverter Reservoir .I just couldn't figure it out ?nothing I did worked. so I said a prayer to the angels. my car has been sitting in the garage and I was just able to start it everyday, but I couldn't run it very long cuz there was no movement in the inverter coolant. so I told the angels look I can't figure this out. I've done everything I know to do, I need you to help me out here. the next morning, when I went to start the car the auxiliary battery was dead! That was the angels helping me. once I disconnected the auxiliary battery to charge it up on a charger and then hooked it back up, I had movement in the inverter Reservoir !because it reset the ECM or whatever it needed to reset. when I disconnected the auxiliary battery and I haven't had any more problems so far.

[junkkitty]

At least one person will use a vid on replacing the lock actuators. The passenger side on my 2002 has been out for the past few years, which was fine, but now the driver's side works intermittently. I checked out your earlier 2002 vids and am glad to see you're still happy with it! Youtube has become one of the best places to find DIY for my old car, so thank you!

[michaellamb]

Hey Eric! I just remembered you made this. My bad! Awesome update. My Gen1 is still doing like it always did. 42MPG pretty consistently. Nice to know the roof rack did not effect your MPG much! I may try that some time myself.
A few comments to ad about your issues:
Get a headlight cleaning kit. Easy to clean up fogged headlights yourself! In your climate you will need to do this every couple years. Lots of sunlight there.
PS error codes: Even though the screen told you PS, this is a generic Toyota system error too. If the code in the computer doesnt tell you anything specific then just reset the computer and carry on as usual since the early Prius develops little ghosts. LoL
Hood paint chips. Repaint the hood at a reputable paint shop. Same for the nicks in the bumper. Pearl Opalescent is the color you have I think. One of my Gen1's (I have 2 of them) has the same color. My other Gen1 is metallic grey.
Battery spillage in rear seat floormat. Kick your brother in law in the ass, hard. Make him pay you for the new mat too.
Seatbelt stickers on visor: I think you can order a sticker from Toyota and just cover up what is left of the old sticker.
Techstream software: I have honestly never needed techstream to work on my car. Maybe I am just lucky, who knows. But if you dont have a real need for techstream dont bother. It is a pain to use unless you are also a automotive technician...it is a pain then too. LoL
Inverter pump. The thing you took the cap off under the hood is NOT the inverter pump. The pump is behind the left headlight, mounted to the car frame. Not fun to get at but if it has not failed there is no need to do anything with it anyway. Make sure the pink fluid is high enough in the reservoir (which is the thing you took the cap off of in the video.)
I am sure more than 3 people watch your Prius videos! Maybe even 80. ;-)

[cottagekeeper]

The great Toyota Car Guru Scotty Kilmer who loves Toyota says unplugging the battery and turning on the radio to drain all the power off. Let it sit for a couple hours and then plug the battery back up. Drive it around for 25 to get the software to reset its programming will fix a ton of Toyota issues. Check out his channel.

[babiecaro]

A video on how to replace the lock actuators would be superrr useful can't seem to find any tutorials online :/ love the channel!

[eldercoyote]

My 2002 Prius I have had for two years
Bought it with 48, 000 miles on it and a couple dents
I’m going on 70, 000 now and I’ve had no problem and we just change the oil simple enough
530 synthetic
The short wheelbase makes it a little Squirrley and I put on the biggest tires I could fit
Love the car

[aarongarcia]

Thanks for the video .
I have a 2001
I haven’t even hit 90k miles yet . 🤙🏼

[rostasi]

We have the same car - same color as yours and recently had to give up our 2001 Prius. Mileage just turned over 164, 000. Looks and drives absolutely great. Yes, actuators were a problem for me as well: definitely 3 - maybe all 4 - went out one by one beginning in 2010. In 2005, we had the main battery replaced for free because there was a recall, but, since then, this battery has stayed fully charged. Yes, because of the nature of the hybrid, you cannot let it just sit without running for months like that. I don't know what happened to your screen going out (??!!!) - very strange. Under our passenger seat we have a big chunky disc player for navigation. You can't get updated DVDs for it anymore - and nobody uses a DVD anymore to do that, so it just sits. Also, I still use both the cassette and the 6-disc built-in disc player that came with it. The speckling (mold?) must be from the coating that first owner put on it. I've never seen anything like that. One tip: when you have to get a new 12V battery, make sure that the part number is correct (if you're ordering from Toyota), because they will try to give you an old battery that's been sitting on their shelf and you will get it home and find out it is dead, so double check that part number (it isn't necessarily gonna match your current battery in the trunk). In the early days I used to get around 50 mpg., but I've learned how to properly drive to save gas and my yearly averages rose to upper 50s (about 58.4 to 59.3 mpg). Still love this car! Thanks for the vids on when you bought it and the 5-year update. Regular basic care goes a long way. Synthetic oil once a year (about 5000 miles) when I go in for my inspection. Also: Toyota does not recommend that you mess with the transmission at all, so no putting fluid in and so forth.

[fernandocornelis]

Love it. I have a 2015 & a 2022 Prius(es) and I really want a Gen1 to play with it. I love the color of yours and hope to find one in good shape like it.

[williambeals]

I still have my 2003 Gen 1 Prius--bought new! Now 20 years old with 210K miles and never pampered. Same issue with headlights and door locks. Still on the original (big) battery and brakes too, but gone through two inverter pumps. Interior still great, just a worn driver floor mat. Love the car still and still getting 40-45MPG (less during the winter in Colorado). Bet I've spent less than $2, 000 in non-scheduled maintenance in that 20 years. Working on a last hurrah with a pic of it at Key West last year (southern most US road) and hoping for a pic at the Arctic Circle in Alaska this summer. Thinking of finally retiring it for a 2023 Prius Prime, but not sure if I'll be able to. I wonder if any car could serve me as well as this one still is!

[gittarpikk]

I have one...and its in quite good shape, much better shape than my 2010 with same 280k miles
I replace 2 rear bearings, abs accum and pump and always had to rebuild the battery.
Sat 2 years with dead traction battery but bought the 3 year Greentech battery and it works perfect. Got a cat ineff alert the other day but was reset and no more
Had to replace the ac blower fan which was a bit of a bear but Im 68 with peripheral neauropathy and still did the work myself.
Oh.. replaced the ac accumulator I think years ago ...myself as well.
I changed the brake linings myself as well.Other than that its been a great car and looks really good other than a few small paint issues and drives/rides better than the 2010.
Always lived my little 'blue bug' or 'lectro-beetle'.
One more issue. Shifter park linkage grommet broke so I temp have to stomp parkbrake as park locking pin is not being actuated.

[shaneomack]

Wow I had no idea you live in Florida and so close to Tampa. I’m in zephyrhills man.. small world

[AUSTiNKiNSER]

I’ve been waiting so long for this! I no longer have my 2002, currently own my 2016 Prius I bought new, currently at 38, 000 miles still from sitting in my garage, but my daily is a Mirai. The door lock actuator’s should not be too hard to replace, I’ve even purchased the electric motors and kept the original housings. cost me $3 to replace all 4 actuators. Took a lot of time though.

[pickypants]

Soft scrub or Bar Keeper's friend will remove the fog on the headlights and look good as new!

[aspecreviews]

Still loving my 2002. TechStream does work on newer laptops, I installed mine on an old Toshiba machine that runs Windows 10. Keep it green! 🍃

[v.]

Interesting! I have a 2008 gen 2 myself.

[mofmanp]

I cleaned my nissan micra headlights with toothpaste and it got rid of the fog

[barbarahuhn]

I have a 2016 Pruis and love it. I drive like a banshee and still get 48.8 miles per gallon.