With the cost of fuel and everything else these days, Prius owners need a win. Take a look on one tip of how to turn a repair into a profitable situation.
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One of the best vehicles I have ever owned is a Toyota Prius. The little cars are tanks and can haul just about anything. The thing that stinks about owning them, though, is when they break and the repair bills come in.
This article will focus on one problem Prius owners may encounter and how to get the repair shop to pay your bill.
The Trouble Code
The P0420 trouble code on a Toyota Prius is a code no one likes. The description is "catalyst efficiency below threshold." This basically means the catalytic converter is not doing the job.
When this happens, the car is not broken, (well kind of), but rather the catalytic converter is worn out.
The repair for a P0420 code is to replace the faulty converter with one that can handle the exhaust gasses flowing from the engine. Once the new one is installed, your car can pass a smog test, and you will be on your merry way.
The repair can be anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars (depending on what state you live in). That repair can sometimes cripple you financially, but the good news is, it does not have to if you know this trick.
The Trick To Reducing The Repair Cost
Did you know that your OEM catalytic converter is worth a lot of money? That is right, if you have not heard about catalytic converter theft, well, it is time you learn a thing or two.
Your OEM catalytic converter is loaded with precious metals that are at an all-time high. Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium are part of the substrate that make up the internal structure of your converter.
When you visit a repair facility to have the P0420 code taken care of, guess what happens to your old converter? That is right, the shop takes it and sells it for an additional profit! The worst part is they are not giving you any kickback to offset the cost because you did not know any better.
The trick here is not even a trick, really, but a leverage tool. Suppose your scrap converter is going for hundreds of dollars. In that case, ask for the old converter in return and sell it as scrap (make sure to get all your paperwork showing your new replacement), or you can see if the shop will give you a discount.
Conclusion
Most people do not know what to do with a scrap catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius. Now that you know it is worth so much money if you need to get yours replaced, make sure you get your old part back or have the shop give you a discount for the one you are leaving behind.
That converter is your part, and that money belongs in your pocket. Now that you know about this one trick make sure you never leave an exhaust shop again without your converter or a reduced cost on your bill.
Thank you all for reading. Remember, today's adventure is tomorrow's story. I will see you all in the following article.
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Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporter.
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