Should I have these service items done?

Those are some really high labor rates. I would actually do the transaxle fluid service. The brake fluid is good for 100k miles or more. The clean brake thing.....unless you have braking issues, you can skip this. Most of the Prius braking is electronic, it doesn't use the pads unless you're going under 7mph.

Transaxle fluid change here at an independant shop runs around $60-$80. Dealerships here might charge $120 or so.

 

I think the lady in the parts dept doesn't know what she's talking about. But if they think they are different, then I have no idea what transmission fluid they're changing if it's not the transaxle.

I agree with JC above. You can get the transaxle fluid change done for less I hope. Personally I'd do it myself, but you may not have the tools or the inclination. Skip the rest.

I'm curious what kind of brake cleaning/adjusting they would do for $60. My guess is they would look at the brakes (maybe with the wheels on the car) and perhaps spray some brake cleaner on them. Done. Can't imagine they would remove the wheels and do any brake disassembly whatsoever at that rate.

 

my daughter has my old '08 with higher mileage than yours. i wouldn't do any of those unless you are keeping the car longer than 150k. in that case, i'd do the tranny oil, but shop for $120. or so. it's easy diy, so maybe ask a local mech.

 

That's something worth doing tri-yearly, regardless of mileage. Toyota is coming around on this now. And the price is not bad, a little high, but Prius brake bleed is tricky. If the pros want to do it for that amount, I'd say go for it. Do ask them if they're going to road test it after. Be very specific, make sure they're on their best behaviour. It is possible to screw up the brakes when bleeding them.

Good idea with your mileage, I'd do it a fair bit sooner, for a first time, which tends to be the worst. The price is a bit steep. I've done DIY on ours a couple of time now, the fluid and a couple of drain washers come in under $40. And it's an hour's labour, at most, very simple for them with hoist. Up here dealerships were offering the service for $79.95 (Can), which is quite good. $100 would be my ceiling.

Meh, don't know know about that. $60 is cheap, really cheap, but what are they doing for that. A proper brake job, front or back, would be around $150. I'd ask for more details. It is worthwhile to do a proper inspection, say bi-yearly. Remove the caliper, pull out the caliper pins and relube, check pad thickness, clean and re-install (or replace as needed). Inspect rotor, check runout and parallelism. But you're not gonna get that for $60.

And the rears are drums? Check shoe thickness, put a little fresh anti-seize compound on the contact points between shoe and backer plate. That's about it. Sometimes just getting the drum off can be the main event, tho.

Brake inspection IS in the scheduled maintenance, you knew that right?

 

The I wouldn't let them touch my car!

Will they 'fess up if they mess up?
Would you trust them to make things right if they break something while they're fumbledoinking around with your car?


If you stay with the dealer:
Ask them to point to each of these items in the MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (that came with YOUR car) and justify the expenses.
Actually, the Transmission fluid replacement is not stupidly high (if they do it right) but I'd want to know a little more about what a brake fluid service actually entails and why it's necessary.
If you hear the word 'hygroscopic' in their explanations redouble your suspicions.
I'd also be curious what "adjustments" are required on your brakes that mine have not required for 80,000 miles.


Offer them $120 fro the transmission flush
and get back with us on the justification for the brake work.
Although not on your maintenance schedule, this is recommended by many Prius drivers on this forum.

Good Luck.

 

ETC, I don't mean to be stepping on your heels all day, but brake inspections are in the schedule.

 

I agree with Mendel.
Given the age, none of those recommendations are really out of line.

Could you skip it and just keep driving ?
Maybe; probably.

If money REALLY is a problem, maybe you should skip everything but the brakes.
Otherwise I'd get the stuff done.

 

No sweat.
That's why I have two of them.
Hey.....I fix phones for a living

I'm good at offering advice.
Sometimes?
It's good advice.

Have a good weekend!

 

actually, toyota considers the tranny fluid to be lifetime. some here have had it tested early on, and the recommendation came back to change it if you are keeping the car long term. what is long term? there's the rub.

and btw? some of them still put in 4 quarts.

p.s., i hope you're moving somewhere warm!

 

pleasure.

 

Given the cost/benefit analysis of changing the transmission fluid - especially if you do it yourself - it's a no-brainer. I did mine at 80K. It was not filthy but it was not fresh. There were small filings and some minor sludge on the drain plug. I'm glad I did it and plan to do it again at another 50K. It's not that expensive and it's simple to do.