Extra Dealer Recommended Services

neweagle99 · 05-01-2006, 05:27 PM

I have owned a 2004 Prius for 18 months and put on 45,000 miles. During my 45K service at my local Toyota dealer, the service tech recommended 2 services to be performed at this time:
(1) Throtle Body Service ($ 99.99) and
(2) Fuel Injector Service ($ 89.99).

Are either or both of these services necessary? Is the service tech paid a commission for extra service work? It seems that they were recommended based on mileage and not performance issues.

Could I just put in a can of fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank? What are your ideas?

Thanks
Denis

richard schumacher · 05-01-2006, 10:40 PM

Probably not.

If they have planted fear, uncertainty, and doubt in your mind get a second opinion from another Prius certified service tech.

tochatihu · 05-01-2006, 11:53 PM

Neweagle99, you have 45k miles so your injectors probably don't need cleaning yet. Unless you have bought some funky fuel among those 1000 gallons.

The throttle body is somewhat different. Prius' Atkinson/Miller engine design allows some carbon (soot) to accumulate around the butterfly, and it does not take very long to become visible. Open the air filter box and perhaps you'll see it with a flashlight - just don't drop anything down there!

A little soot means nothing. A lot can interfere with the motion of the butterfly, and then you get error codes. At 45k miles, you are probably somewhere in between.

I think that if you did consult a different shop, you would find both of these services together for about $100. If you take your first cleaning at 60k miles, and then decide later how frequently this money needs to be spent, you will probably not go too far wrong.

galaxee · 05-02-2006, 11:26 AM

i agree with DAS.

probably don't need the injector cleaning unless you're having engine trouble that may be caused by bad fuel flow.

the throttle body may be acceptable if there's crap in there. really bad oil overfills can sometimes spew oil into that area.

techs work on flat rate, there is no "extra commission" to speak of. they do the job, they get paid for x hours, no matter how long it takes them.

azw · 08-14-2006, 05:31 PM

Is cleaning the throttle body difficult? I've done other cars, but not a Prius.

How do you do it? What chemical do you use?

And what do I have to do to clean the mass air flow sensor?

Blackfang · 08-14-2006, 09:41 PM

Our 15k/45k/75k comes with the Throttle body cleaning with it. I don't see why the injectors would need to be cleaned unless there is a drivability issue.

Stay away from over the counter injector cleaners. By the time it even gets to the Injecter it is about as potent as your piss. It is diluted and has gone through alot and isnt even going to work.

azw · 08-15-2006, 01:59 AM

Thanks, Blackfang. I always wondered about those "pour it in the tank" products.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blackfang @ Aug 14 2006, 09:41 PM) [snapback]303286[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Stay away from over the counter injector cleaners. By the time it even gets to the Injecter it is about as potent as your piss. It is diluted and has gone through alot and isnt even going to work.
[/b]

05-01-2006, 11:53 PM	#3
tochatihu Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kunming Yunnan China Posts: 2,408 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: Pioneer #1 Thanks: 1 Thanked 38 Times in 38 Posts Friends: 14	Neweagle99, you have 45k miles so your injectors probably don't need cleaning yet. Unless you have bought some funky fuel among those 1000 gallons. The throttle body is somewhat different. Prius' Atkinson/Miller engine design allows some carbon (soot) to accumulate around the butterfly, and it does not take very long to become visible. Open the air filter box and perhaps you'll see it with a flashlight - just don't drop anything down there! A little soot means nothing. A lot can interfere with the motion of the butterfly, and then you get error codes. At 45k miles, you are probably somewhere in between. I think that if you did consult a different shop, you would find both of these services together for about $100. If you take your first cleaning at 60k miles, and then decide later how frequently this money needs to be spent, you will probably not go too far wrong. __________________ DAS Tochatihu, the Hopi hummingbird kachina

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What services you need and what you don't	galaxee	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	437	10-18-2009 02:32 PM
Any good recommended dealer in NYC	priusnyc	Gen II Prius Main Forum	4	07-20-2006 10:27 PM
need help in CT social services	barbaram	Fred's House of Pancakes	0	07-12-2006 12:45 AM
Recommended dealer in or "around" Upstate, NY?	timg	Dealers & Pricing	1	10-12-2005 07:16 PM
Gold Package 9 available now- No extra dealer mark-up.	Arizona Charlie	Dealers & Pricing	0	07-20-2004 02:14 AM

05-01-2006, 05:27 PM	#1
neweagle99 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have owned a 2004 Prius for 18 months and put on 45,000 miles. During my 45K service at my local Toyota dealer, the service tech recommended 2 services to be performed at this time: (1) Throtle Body Service ($ 99.99) and (2) Fuel Injector Service ($ 89.99). Are either or both of these services necessary? Is the service tech paid a commission for extra service work? It seems that they were recommended based on mileage and not performance issues. Could I just put in a can of fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank? What are your ideas? Thanks Denis

05-01-2006, 10:40 PM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Probably not. If they have planted fear, uncertainty, and doubt in your mind get a second opinion from another Prius certified service tech.

05-02-2006, 11:26 AM	#4
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	i agree with DAS. probably don't need the injector cleaning unless you're having engine trouble that may be caused by bad fuel flow. the throttle body may be acceptable if there's crap in there. really bad oil overfills can sometimes spew oil into that area. techs work on flat rate, there is no "extra commission" to speak of. they do the job, they get paid for x hours, no matter how long it takes them.

08-14-2006, 05:31 PM	#5
azw Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 26 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Is cleaning the throttle body difficult? I've done other cars, but not a Prius. How do you do it? What chemical do you use? And what do I have to do to clean the mass air flow sensor?

08-14-2006, 09:41 PM	#6
Blackfang Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 50 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Our 15k/45k/75k comes with the Throttle body cleaning with it. I don't see why the injectors would need to be cleaned unless there is a drivability issue. Stay away from over the counter injector cleaners. By the time it even gets to the Injecter it is about as potent as your piss. It is diluted and has gone through alot and isnt even going to work.