Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ

smittya · 02-16-2008, 08:39 PM

Hi, all. It's been a time since my last post... new child, new job and about 15K on the Prius.

I'm curious if anyone has recommendations for mechanics in th NJ... specifically Central NJ area.

Dealership has been where I've been going... but, frankly they haven't got much of a clue about the car. Eg. ask them details... the service dept relays you to the sale team who regurgitates marketing pamphlets and points you to the parts dept who states the all parts for touring and standard suspensions are the same. Forget asking them about making simple adjustments to things like bluetooth etc.

I suppose my gripe is that it seems as if Dealerships are really the only place to go if maintaining a warrenty is important. And the Dealerships show not only very little interest but almost outright resistance in the technology that is a bonanza for them.

There has to be a mechanic(s) out there that is motivated by and enthusiastic about the new technology.

I am interested to hear oppinions and hopinig to get recommendations.

Thanks in advance.
-alec

smittya · 02-22-2008, 11:50 PM

Awww... man.

We are in deep doo doo if there are no qualified hybrid mechanics.

Hmmm... Market opportunity?

barbaram · 02-23-2008, 02:44 AM

alec-
sorry if your dealership is that lame. call toyota if they really don't know what they are doing. there are many folks here at priuschat with lots of expertise who may be able to help.
I saw the spaceship as a computer on wheels so got service plan. joecar guy on the corner would be useless.
barb

yams69 · 05-01-2008, 10:25 PM

Holy cow, NO ONE has any recommendations on a good place to have a Prius serviced in NJ?

smittya · 05-06-2008, 01:31 PM

Seems as if there's no other option than to go thru the dealership.

Frankly, I do trust them to have on hand and be able to review the existing tech/shop manuals.

My confidence is limited as they haven't got a clue or interest in any off the easter-eggs (eg. bluetooth adjustments, etc) or aftermarket add-ons.

I went to the parts dept to see what the $$ would be to convert my base to a touring. According to the parts dept the only difference btwn touring and non-touring is in the spoiler, wheels and tires... ie. suspension part numbers are all the same. They had to look up to know... Sales didn't know what the technical diff was either.

Thoughts?

I keep thinking there is an really great opportunity for a hybrid specialty shop in central NJ.

Any potential investors?

Proco · 05-08-2008, 01:57 PM

I've been fortunate that I haven't needed any "hybrid-related" service on my car. My local mechanic has ably handled my oil changes & tire rotations thus far.

composter · 06-04-2008, 07:42 AM

We take ours to our local (excellent) mechanic in Highland Park, NJ. The 2005 is the only one that is old enough to have needed any service. Just the scheduled maintenance and the tail light I broke

JimN · 06-06-2008, 09:10 PM

For warranty work I go to Cherry Hill Toyota where I bought the car. For oil changes I go to Victory (an indy shop) in Cinnaminson. My Prius in 2 years has not needed service and I don't expect it to need service. You are not required to take your car to a dealer to maintain the warranty. Retain receipts for all work done.

Boo · 06-20-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smittya

Seems as if there's no other option than to go thru the dealership.

Frankly, I do trust them to have on hand and be able to review the existing tech/shop manuals.

My confidence is limited as they haven't got a clue or interest in any off the easter-eggs (eg. bluetooth adjustments, etc) or aftermarket add-ons.

I went to the parts dept to see what the $$ would be to convert my base to a touring. According to the parts dept the only difference btwn touring and non-touring is in the spoiler, wheels and tires... ie. suspension part numbers are all the same. They had to look up to know... Sales didn't know what the technical diff was either.

Thoughts?

I think your initial mistrust was correct.

I am 99.99% certain that the following suspension parts on the Touring are different than their counterparts on the Standard Prius:

1. Different Front Stabilizer Bar

2. Different Rear Stabilizer Bar

3. Different Rear Shocks

4. Different Rear Springs

The cost of these four different Touring parts is around $400.

Check it out for yourself on the Toyota Prius OEM parts database (but be sure to plug in 2008 as the year you're looking for parts for). Or see this thread started by BerkshirePrius:

Touring Suspension Parts Research

02-16-2008, 08:39 PM	#1
smittya Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Keyport, NJ Posts: 7 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ Hi, all. It's been a time since my last post... new child, new job and about 15K on the Prius. I'm curious if anyone has recommendations for mechanics in th NJ... specifically Central NJ area. Dealership has been where I've been going... but, frankly they haven't got much of a clue about the car. Eg. ask them details... the service dept relays you to the sale team who regurgitates marketing pamphlets and points you to the parts dept who states the all parts for touring and standard suspensions are the same. Forget asking them about making simple adjustments to things like bluetooth etc. I suppose my gripe is that it seems as if Dealerships are really the only place to go if maintaining a warrenty is important. And the Dealerships show not only very little interest but almost outright resistance in the technology that is a bonanza for them. There has to be a mechanic(s) out there that is motivated by and enthusiastic about the new technology. I am interested to hear oppinions and hopinig to get recommendations. Thanks in advance. -alec

02-22-2008, 11:50 PM	#2
smittya Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Keyport, NJ Posts: 7 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ Awww... man. We are in deep doo doo if there are no qualified hybrid mechanics. Hmmm... Market opportunity?

02-23-2008, 02:44 AM	#3
barbaram Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trenton, NJ Posts: 714 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ alec- sorry if your dealership is that lame. call toyota if they really don't know what they are doing. there are many folks here at priuschat with lots of expertise who may be able to help. I saw the spaceship as a computer on wheels so got service plan. joecar guy on the corner would be useless. barb

05-01-2008, 10:25 PM	#4
yams69 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 19 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ Holy cow, NO ONE has any recommendations on a good place to have a Prius serviced in NJ?

05-06-2008, 01:31 PM	#5
smittya Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Keyport, NJ Posts: 7 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ Seems as if there's no other option than to go thru the dealership. Frankly, I do trust them to have on hand and be able to review the existing tech/shop manuals. My confidence is limited as they haven't got a clue or interest in any off the easter-eggs (eg. bluetooth adjustments, etc) or aftermarket add-ons. I went to the parts dept to see what the $$ would be to convert my base to a touring. According to the parts dept the only difference btwn touring and non-touring is in the spoiler, wheels and tires... ie. suspension part numbers are all the same. They had to look up to know... Sales didn't know what the technical diff was either. Thoughts? I keep thinking there is an really great opportunity for a hybrid specialty shop in central NJ. Any potential investors?

05-08-2008, 01:57 PM	#6
Proco Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Beautiful NJ Shore Posts: 1,872 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ I've been fortunate that I haven't needed any "hybrid-related" service on my car. My local mechanic has ably handled my oil changes & tire rotations thus far.

06-04-2008, 07:42 AM	#7
composter The Hermit Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central NJ, USA Posts: 19 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ We take ours to our local (excellent) mechanic in Highland Park, NJ. The 2005 is the only one that is old enough to have needed any service. Just the scheduled maintenance and the tail light I broke

06-06-2008, 09:10 PM	#8
JimN Certified Prius Advisor Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 2,135 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Qualified Hybrid Mechanic(s) in central NJ For warranty work I go to Cherry Hill Toyota where I bought the car. For oil changes I go to Victory (an indy shop) in Cinnaminson. My Prius in 2 years has not needed service and I don't expect it to need service. You are not required to take your car to a dealer to maintain the warranty. Retain receipts for all work done.