My dealer tells me I need over $1000 worth of repairs

I replaced mine at 5 years proactively. It's called a "Time Change" for those of you not familiar commercial or industrial maintenance practice.

 

Most people will complain to the people (service writer, manager) at the business, ending there. Sadly nothing gets done and no change in behavior; unethical people have no incentive to change.

You can always call Toyota Customer Care and share your experience. Maybe they will do something? At the very least, the Dealership will get a call from Corporate inquiring about your case, which they probably don't want.

Your State may have the equivalent of a BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair), that over sees repair shops and investigates consumer complaints. You share your experience & facts, they then follow-up with the business in question about your complaint, to hear their side of the story. After hearing both sides, they make a determination.

If you were to do both, you will make this stealership unhappy: Corporate and The State are investigating them. Just maybe, they might begin to change their behavior? Unlikely though.

In addition to those entities you always have Yelp to shae you experience.

 

Service Managers can make a big difference. We had an excellent service manager for a while, at a Honda dealership. He would always come out, explain the diagnostics, go through the possible fixes. Really a great guy.

Sadly, he didn't last long. I learned later, through a work colleague who was good friends with him, he went on to teaching mechanics at a local community college. Said something like he didn't like the environment at the dealership.

 

Probably happier being a teacher I think

 

Why not just buy a 12 volt battery and install yourself or have someone help you if you so desire ?

 

One box wrench (11mm I believe), or a small adjustable crescent wrench is all you need.


iPhone ?

 

12 Volt battery is located in rear right - to your right when you open the hatch

 

10mm.

And yeah, just start with the 12 volt, replace it yurself. All signs are pointing at that component.

 

Your going to be alright unlike those people near that Crane that fell down big time.

 

OP, uber to a chain auto parts store, buy the battery and they will lend you 10MM socket wrench, uber back with the new battery and tools.

Swap the battery, drive back to get credit for the core and return the tools.

Remember, disconnect NEGative first then Positive, on install Positive first then Negative, Make sure terminals are tight but do not over torque it or you will strip the threads

 

AAA has a good price on Prius batteries. Just have them do it. My wife paid something like $125 installed, about four years ago. The guy had just been trained on how to change the Prius battery.

I've done a couple myself, and it's not quite as simple as some make it sound. You need to remove some plugs and components from the positive terminal, you need to remove a section of air duct (a large phillips is needed), and you need a 10mm socket and extension to get to one of the battery clamps. It takes about 30 minutes if you're pretty good with tools. The AAA deal was pretty good.

 

^^^ just make sure the AAA tech knows to install positive side first then negative. I had the Lexus changed by AAA on a warranty. This kid did the reverse and sparks flew everywhere. This was his first battery he has ever changed, WTD???

 

Just curios......OP: what was the end result of all this?


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