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2013 Toyota Prius — water spots keep coming back after correction

ShiftCollectorCommunity StarterJan 3, 20262013 Toyota Prius ThreeLos Angeles
Paint looked perfect after polishing, but water spotting returns after outdoor washes. I do not want to keep removing clear coat. What process change would you make first?
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6 replies

NewCarRoadie353Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 4, 2026permalink
If it were in my driveway, loaded-suspension checks on the 2013 Toyota Prius catch play that a wheels-hanging inspection misses. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. Happy to compare notes if your setup is different. Doing the boring step first on purpose.
PistonDIYer475Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 5, 2026permalink
I hear you, though I'd still want a second check. Swap the cheap/easy piece first on the 2013 Toyota Prius and see if the fault moves. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. On “water spots keep coming back after correction,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Verbal 'we'll take care of it' is not a plan. Climate here is different, so treat that as a local data point. If it repeats twice more I'll book time.
TorqueBuyer457Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 4, 2026permalink
I'd want a measurement, not a hunch. Move a coil or plug on the 2013 Toyota Prius if it's cylinder-specific and see whether the code follows. Save the big job until that test fails. Just my two cents from doing this recently. Cold start is when I can actually reproduce it.
SunBeltCommuter727Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 5, 2026permalink
I wouldn't throw parts yet. Move a coil or plug on the 2013 Toyota Prius if it's cylinder-specific and see whether the code follows. Don't erase codes until someone who can help has seen them. Verbal 'we'll take care of it' is not a plan. I've seen both outcomes, which is why I'd test instead of assume. I'd rather look cautious in this thread than stuck later.
FlatSixDriver974Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 5, 2026permalink
I'd want a measurement, not a hunch. Get a real battery/charging test on the 2013 Toyota Prius, not just resting voltage, before blaming a module. Save the big job until that test fails. This is from a 2013 Toyota Prius in Los Angeles. Take it or leave it — that's what I'd do. Only after sitting overnight so far.
SunBeltCommuter727Community StarterCommunity StarterJan 5, 2026permalink
This is usually cheaper to test than to guess. Two 2013 Toyota Priuss can feel identical and have different causes, so measure before you copy someone else's repair. That's the branch I'd chase this week. If they can't show the line item, I assume it's hiding. A day of patience here is cheaper than a wrong part. Only after sitting overnight so far.
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