2005 Toyota Prius

2005 Toyota Prius questions and answers

Find a great deal on a 2005 Toyota Prius at LemonFree.com Cars For Sale

Q: Connecting iPod classic to my 2005 Toyota Prius?
I am looking for an inexpensive solution to connect my iPod Classic to my 2005 Toyota Prius. The Prius is a Canadian model and does not have the built in Navigation screen that American models seem to have. It has a cassete slot which we never use, a 6 CD changer and we live in a busy city with crowded FM airwaves.

A: Since you have a cassette player, buy a cassette adapter like ( http://www.amazon.com/iDeck-Integrated-Cassette-Adapter-Certified/dp/B002QG4P7U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=mp3&qid=1261501797&sr=1-3 ) or ( http://www.amazon.com/Bargaincell-Cassette-Player-Adapter-Players/dp/B001IJYLL6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=mp3&qid=1261501797&sr=1-2 )

Q: Do I need to take my recently purchased 2005 Toyota Prius to the dealership for an oil change?
I bought my car in Los Angeles and later, drove it to Austin, TX. I had to get an oil change in Tucson and did not go to a Toyota dealer. The service engine light is still on, despite having reset my oil change maintenance icon. Are they the only people with the ability to turn off that light? (I purchased the car used and it did not come with an owner's manual.) I have to get my car inspected and am afraid it will not pass as long as that light is on.

A: no i use to work at a side garage and had the same car come in there. its simple to reset it 1. Turn the power switch IG-ON and make sure that the ODO/TRIP meter is displaying the odometer. 2. Turn the power switch OFF. 3. While pushing the ODO button, turn the power switch IG-ON. 4. The reminder light will flash until the reset is completed. 5. The reset is complete when the reminder light turns OFF. Release the ODO button. 6. After the reset, the ODO/TRIP meter displays as a set of zeros for 1 second, then displays your normal odometer mileage.

Q: I have a 2005 Toyota Prius and the pipe that connects the catalyatic converter 2 the manifold is gone~?
I called toyota & they quoted me $1200 for the catalytic converter but the converter is fine i'm just missing the pipe~ I really can't afford the $1200 plus labor charges anyone have any suggestions???

A: Unfortunately, this sounds like it may have been a road hazard (you drove over something that broke it/knocked it off), rather than something that would be covered by the emissions warranty. Are road hazards covered by your auto insurance policy? If you really are missing a pipe that connects to the catalytic converter, you'd probably have a check engine light (malfunction indicator lamp) on. You may want to ask the more technically-minded Toyota Prius owners over at: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Prius_Technical_Stuff/ about how to go about the repair yourself. Pricing may be cheaper if you find a used part from a junk/wreck/scrapyard. Check your dealer's web site - perhaps they have a discount coupon available for parts and/or labor. Also, compare prices with some of your area dealerships. Some may offer a lower discount on parts (less markup) or have a lower labor rate. There are also some dealerships that are known to offer some discount pricing and can ship the parts to you or your dealer, and often even after shipping their prices are cheaper than local. You may want to try some of those suggested dealerships. (Personally, I like http://www.metrotpn.com/ , though I hear that http://www.brandsport.com/ is good too.) There's a dealer list for parts on the more general Toyota Prius owner's group, in the Links section: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-prius/ Good luck!

Q: What would a salvage title do to the value of 2005 Toyota Prius?
It has been repaired- we bought it with a salvage title, but now the paint where the repair was done is bubbling and peeling. We need to know what an outside appraiser may put the value at. 38k miles, no navigation.

A: It would cut the price in half. You cannot get bank financing with a salvage title vehicle. It also voids any warranty and you cannot purchase an extended warranty for it either.

Q: If I were to go to a toyota dealership to replace a rear bumper on a 2005 toyota prius?
How much should I expect to pay approximately with labor?

A: I'm not sure, but I think you could get a much better idea by calling a Toyota dealer rather than asking here. Call Toyota and get their estimate, then one or 2 local unafiliated body shops, and get estimates from them, too. Remember that the body shops will probably be quoting with aftermarket parts rather than genuine Toyota parts, so their estimates will probably be lower.

Q: How do you release the rear windshield wiper on the 2005 Toyota Prius?
It only lifts about an inch and is impossible to clean the window underneath it. Supposedly there's some "release button" on it that will allow it to swivel or fold up so that you can clean under it. But I can't find any button or any way to make this happen. Nothing in the user manual. Thanks in advance.

A: at the base of the rear window wiper, there is a plastic cover. Pull up and remove the cover. the rear wiper arm will now flip up (not at a right angle like the front wipers, though, but enough to clean around it.) See: http://john1701a.com/prius/documents/Prius_Maintenance_Wiper-Blades.pdf for photos, starting on page 2.

Q: My 2005 Toyota Prius battery lasted 58,000 miles before it died. When did your Prius battery die?
Toyota is replacing the battery at no cost but they won't install it for 5-7 days. I should have bought a frekin Hyundai regular gasoline model.

A: Not yet, at 126K and 109K miles for the two 2002s in our family. We have gen 1 models so I expect to replace the batteries in each sometime in the next couple of years. I wouldn't trade either one of them for any car on the road - not even to get my old Lotus back. There have been occasional reports of low mileage failures of the hybrid batteries, although there were more with the first generation than with the second generation. That's what the warranty is for, to catch those that had defects. You can reasonably expect that replacement battery to last the rest of the car's life. But consider the overall reliability of the car - in the combined 235k miles and about 15 years of our two gen 1 Prius each has needed tires, one new windshield apiece, and routine maintenance... that's all. They have been the most reliable cars we have ever owned, by an enormous margin.

Q: I have a 2005 toyota prius. When I leave my dogs in the car, I leave the air on but cannot lock the doors.?
I cannot lock the doors with the car running and the keys in my posession.

A: Nope this is a safety measure most manufacturers have taken to prevent people from leaving their Keys inside while the engine is running and locking themselves out. The way they see it, is there's no reason to have to lock the doors while the Engine is running. As long as the Engine is running you can't lock the Doors and as far as I know there's no way around this fix. Unless you can find the safety switch that controls this and remove it. You won't be able too. Sadly you'll have to leave the Dogs at home because leaving them inside a car on a sunny day can be a death sentence. Even if it's only for a few minutes. Sorry! :(

Q: I have a 2005 toyota prius and the check engine light is on and it's making a loud dragging/roaring sound?
Someone please tell me what you think that could be~ I just had the oil changed about 2 weeks ago also~ Thanks in advance

A: If you have a check engine light on, and the car is acting/sounding wierd, then you really should have it checked out by a mechanic ASAP. If the problems seem to have started at the time of the oil change, you might want to go back to where the oil was changed to have them fix their screw-up (but then again, if they screwed it up the first time, do you really want them touching your car again?) Are you sure that it is the malfunction indicator lamp (check engine light - engine icon), or is it the MAINT REQD light? If it is the MAINT REQD light, then whomever changed your oil forgot to reset this reminder by miles gone light. If it is the malfunction indicator lamp, then a diagnostic trouble code will be stored in the car's computers, which can be read by a CAN-bus OBD-II reader. Some auto parts stores may have this reader and will read the codes for free for you (in the hopes that you'll buy the replacement parts from them), but you may be better off going to a Toyota dealer who has the appropriate scantool to read the codes and get more subcodes and information from the Prius' computers. A dealer may or may not charge you a diagnostic fee (usually equal to about an hour's labor). Do remember that you are covered in the US by: basic new vehicle warranty (bumper to bumper) for 3 years/36,000 miles (so unless you are over by mileage you should probably still be covered by years) powertrain warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles hybrid vehicle system warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles and other components may be covered longer under various emission warranties...

Q: 2005 Toyota Prius Owner Manual?
Hi, I recently brought 2005 Toyota Prius and I'm looking for some website where I can download the owners manual. Please let me know. If any one is have the same prius model has the manual would you like so share the owners manual with me. Thanks

A: Most of the American auto manufacturers have an on-line "Owner Resource Center" that you can download owners manuals & get other useful information from. The Toyota owner site may also offer the same but you will have to register yourself & the vehicle there. Here is the link to the site: http://www.toyotaownersonline.com/ If they don't offer a complete digital manual, I KNOW they have a free (pdf) pocket guide available. If neither of those things help, you can contact: Toyota Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-331-4331. I hope this helps EDIT:: This is the link for the pocket Guide: http://prg.toyotapartsandservice.com/ BONUS EDIT:: I know that you didn't ask for this, but I think you will find it very useful. It is a link to a page (from hybridcars.com) which gives tips on maximizing fuel economy...specifically on the Toyota Prius: http://www.hybridcars.com/gas-saving-tips/maximizing-mileage-toyota-prius.html

Q: Can my 2005 Toyota Prius operate on E85 fuel without damage to the engine?


A: No regular unleaded only - This is not flex fuel compatible.

Q: 2007 Toyota Yaris or 2005 Toyota Prius?
I am looking to buy a car and I am torn! I have the option to buy a 2007 Toyota Yaris with 30,000 miles on it or a 2005 Toyota Prius with 90,000 miles on it. The thing that I like about the Prius is that it's a hybrid and it gets better gas mileage. I also like the power windows and locks, yadda yadda ya. I just don't know if it would be unwise for me to buy the Prius over the Yaris on those preferences alone. I just thought that maybe I could save more money on gas. What do you guys think?!

A: Both would be fine if they were well maintained. Don't believe that horrible rumor about the batteries needing replacing every 5 years, I have been working on them seance they came out and have not seen one wear out, I have worked on Prius with over 150,000 miles with the Original HV batteries. There are Taxies in NEw York with over 300,000 miles on the original batteries you can find in on the web. If the maintenance was not done both would have problems.

Q: First Car: 2005 Toyota Prius or 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
I'm a 16 year old, turning 17 in 6 weeks. Then, I will have my license and am going to get a car. My options: Dad's old 2005 Toyota Prius -42 mpg -squish-able Traded in for 2004 Jeep GC -17 mpg :( -SUV's are safer in crashes (by no means am I reckless, but I can't sit here and claim that $h** doesn't happen..) -winter driving (I'm in the northeast and school is 15 miles away through Dec., Jan., and Feb.) I'm paying for gas so that's where the Prius has an obvious advantage! On the other hand, I do feel much safer in a truck like the Grand Cherokee. I was considering like picking up the Jeep then going through the winter for a year or so and if the gas REALLY catches up to me I could swap it back out for the used Prius then. What do you guys think?

A: Fuel economy of the Prius is a big plus, as you won't have to visit a gas station as often, so gas money will be cheaper. You know the service history of the Prius, since it was your Dad's car. According to Consumer Reports, the Toyota Prius ranks in their best of the best list for reliability, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks in the worst of the worst. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/used-cars/cr-recommended/best-and-worst-used-cars/overview/best-and-worst-used-cars.htm You don't want to be paying for lots of maintenance, and have your car in the shop all that often. SUVs in general are NOT safer. (Living in the northeast myself, most of the vehicles on the side of the road in the winter are actually the big SUVs - heavier, so harder to stop or steer once sliding, and a higher center of gravity so more likely to roll over.) (If you are really concerned about vehicle safety in the winter, take the school bus! You are guaranteed to get there and back, less stress on you to drive there, and your car is safe at home.) See http://safercar.gov/ for crash test ratings by the US Dept. of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. vehicle, frontal driver rating, frontal passenger rating, side driver rating, side rear passenger rating, rollover rating 2005 Toyota Prius, 5 star, 4 star, 4 star, 4 star, 4 star, (rates better if you have the VSC or side air bag options) http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 3 star, 3 star, 4 star, 5 star, not tested http://www.safercar.gov/portal/site/safercar/menuitem.db847bd57e3dc1f885dfc38c35a67789/?vgnextoid=c95df2905bf54110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD See http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx for crash test ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Toyota Prius: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=566 The 2005 model rates overall overall good for the frontal offset test. Also, it rates poor if base, good if with optional side air bags, for the side impact test. Overall rates marginal for rear crash test. Jeep Grand Cherokee: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/ratingsbyseries.aspx?id=341 The 2004 model rates marginal overall for frontal offset test. (Side impact test and rear crash test not performed on that model year.) Get rid of the Goodyear Integrity tires that came stock on your Dad's Prius, swap them out for a better "all-season" M&S tire (or just get a dedicated set of snow tires for the winter), and as long as you drive appropriate for the conditions (slow down! watch for other drivers), you will be fine in the Prius. Besides, you are probably already familiar with the vehicle, which will make it that much easier on you. You'll probably lose out monetarily on the constant trade-ins. Why not go the other route, try the Prius for a year then decide if you really need to trade for a Jeep? There are currently long waiting lists and dealer markups over MSRP for new Prius, as has seen in the past for a new redesign, and also during the summer gasoline price hikes. Used Prius usually see higher prices at the same time, for demand/availability reasons. So, you may get a better trade now than you will next year, but you never know where gas prices will be in the future... Are you also paying for your insurance? You may want to call your auto insurance agent to find out what the difference would be for the two vehicles.

Q: Inaccurate 2005 Toyota Prius gas gauge?
I recently bought a used 2005 Toyota Prius and I've noticed that the fuel gauge will get really low, really fast. I'll usually get about 200 miles before the gauge shows less than 1/4 tank of gas left... But when I go to the gas station to fill up, the tank will only need 3-4 gallons to bring the gauge back up to full. (The manual says my tank should hold around 12 gallons.) Why does this happen and is there anything I can do about it? Has anyone else had this problem? Any input, suggestions and help is greatly appreciated :) Thanks!

A: The 11.9 gallons that the manual shows is a calculated number for the metal shell of the gas tank based on an industry formula that all car makers use. Inside the 2001-2009 Prius' tank is a bladder which holds most of the gas and an auxiliary tank which holds the fuel pump and the float (to measure the fuel left). The net effect of this is: 1. The usable capacity is much less than the calculated shell volume. 2. In cold weather the bladder stiffens up. The owners manual indicates that this can reduce the capacity by 1.5 gallons. 3. The various parts take up space. I estimate at least one gallon's worth. 4. Gas pumps with poor maintenance or improper adjustment can shut off prematurely. 5. For 2004 and early 2005 Prius there are two TSBs that should have been applied to your car. One is for the filler neck, which helps the pump shut-off problem, and the other is the gas gauge TSB, which helps the gauge accuracy. You can call the Toyota hotline to find out if these have been applied to your Prius. 1-800-331-4331 (You will need your VIN number) 6. Toyota has adjusted the blinking bar trigger point throughout the various years. In my 2004 I fill up ASAP after the last bar starts blinking and the add fuel message comes on (except in very cold weather or when I'm in an unfamiliar area--just like you would do with any car). I have yet to run out in 106,000 miles. In my 2001, I fill when there are two bars showing. Both have the same size tank, both have bladders, and both take about the same amount of fuel using their respective methods. 7. The first bar often takes 80-150 miles to go off, while every other bar takes about 30 miles. This happens because the fuel measurement takes place in the auxiliary tank. The gauge can't start moving down until the gas level is below the top of the auxiliary tank. Because it's possible to fill the main tank over the level of the auxiliary tank, the Prius often appears full for a very long time. In extreme cases it can be as much as 200 miles. 8. There is also a method you can use to reset the fuel gauge: It sometimes takes a couple of tries to get it going in the right pattern of pushes. Park on a very level surface, Ready Mode, make sure Odometer reading is showing, then power off. Hold down the Odo/Trip button while going to IGN ON (foot off brake, not in Ready Mode!). Release/press the Odo/Trip button 3 times in 5 seconds. Should be holding the button in at this point. You will see 6 numbers in a row. Release and press again and you will see a set of 5 numbers. After the 3rd digit shows "1", release the button and Odometer should be back to normal. Power down.

Q: What is the tax break if I bought a Toyota Prius 2005 before the end of September? I live in Indiana?


A: Probably zero. If you bought a 2005 "before the end of September" I presume you bought a used car. The US federal income tax break applies only if you bought the car new. And that's *bought*, not *leased*. (If you lease, the leasing company gets the tax break.) As far as any tax break that the state of Indiana might give you, I don't know. [Edit: Dear Doc. justasinner111, you'd better report your findings to Toyota's accountants. Obviously you know MUCH more about the hybrid batteries than they do! Toyota foolishly guarantees the batteries for 8 or 10 years (full, not pro-rated). Gee, that means they are replacing the batteries for free in every Prius one or two times! What knuckleheads they are!] [...or what a load of unsubstantiated B.S. you invented...]