The Orlando Sentinel newspaper claims there's a recall in effect for 13,000 2004 Prius. Apparently there is a situation where the engine will sip water during a carwash. Hmm. I can't find any information. How about you?

 

Hi Jason:

___The description you posted doesn’t sound like a recall but possibly a much simpler and less controversial TSB?

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Hunt Club Farms Landscaping Ltd.
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

 

Maybe just a warning, dont use automated car washes when the engine is on? Eh, hand washing is the way to go anyway..
Cheers,
Steven

 

The car has to be on because I don't believe the Prius can be in neutral otherwise.

 

The only issue I see about using an Automatic Car Wash, is the someone should be behind the wheel when it goes through, since the ICE will probably start. :huh:

Automatic Car washes have been proven to be gentler on the finish than hand washing, with the exception of old machines that still use brushes.

As for the "Recall" - this is plain rediculous - if you can drive in the rain, you certainly can go through a car wash.

 

It would now appear that his recall, at least in Japan, has to do with defective brake lights or connections. From a Dow Jones release on the matter:

"The brake lights in the vehicles, manufactured between January 1999 and August this year, could fail to work due to faulty switches, the biggest Japanese automaker said in a report to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "

Includes some 500,000 cars in 12 different models, including the Prius. Since North American Prius are made in Japan just like the others, I'd imagine this will show up in the US, and in Canada, sooner or later, but I've yet to hear anything from Toyota Canada about it.

A "throw-away" line later in the story is a source of more concern: "The vehicles could also fail to operate as a result of defective fuel pumps, Kyodo said."

It's not clear if this applies to ALL vehicles that are involved in the brake light recall, or certain models only.

Anyone else heard anything about this matter, its applicability to North American Prius, or the more troubling statement about the fuel pump?

 

I recieved this recall notice in the mail today. Apparently some sort of deposit builds up on a brake light connector and causes the brakes not to light. My dealer said they could fix it at my next oil change on Thursday. So I'll let you know.

 

Yup, I got it, too. Thought I was excluded until I got the mail. I'm at around 8500 miles, though. How soon is too soon for an oil change? I still need to get the gas gauge fixed, as well.