2005 Prius maintenance schedule Q

How were you able to get a 9 year old car with only 19k miles on it? Do you have any records of what maintenance that's been done so far?

 

Absolutely incredible! 19k miles 2005.

I would change out the following, just because of the age. If there are no issues, this would be it.

1. Transaxle fluid change
2. Brake fluid change (optional)
3. Coolant drain & refill. Both engine and inverter coolant
4. Check if there is a leak with the engine water pump, if there is, you can change it at the same time as the coolant change.
5. Check your shocks and struts for leaks

Since this car was serviced at the dealer, I would think there's nothing leaking on it or else they would have brought it up. They just like telling owners about possible problems with their car.

 

Wow! I bought 2005 last December with 66k miles, and I thought that was a find. Nice going, and welcome to Prius Chat!

 

The main reason I would change the plugs is to make sure there not stuck in there. The plugs will be fine but with that age the threads tend to get corroded in the aluminum head. Dissimilar metals works against you there.

But maybe don't even worry about that just get the trans fluid changed. Trans fluid for sure. Its probably pretty acidic from sitting in there so long and hardly used.

 

And I got my 2004 with 53,000 miles 2 weeks ago, and I thought THAT was a find!

You certainly hold the record for "oldest youngest" Prius I've ever seen

 

It's true--the service department usually won't touch the transaxle fluid. I bet most owners don't change transaxle fluid but it is a popular thing to do among the forum participants. I'm going back and forth about it with the 46k mile 2007. I may do it sometime between now and 60k (although it'll take me seven years to get there).

The service department also suggested a brake fluid change. I'm not going to worry about that though, at least not any time soon.

The services prices sound fair. The coolant change is worth having them do, since it's so difficult to get all the air bubbles out of the coolant loops. You can also put it off for another year if you want. I think that's a 10-year thing.

If you want to replace the spark plugs (I'd probably put that off too, myself), that's a potential DIY item. It takes a little disassembly to get to them, but it's nothing too complex. Here's a video:

 

The only thing I'd have done on that list is the coolant. Everything else will surely be ok. As for the plugs, there's a reason the change interval is 120k miles. Because they last even longer than that. Save your money. I know you want to take good care of this car but lets face it, it has been taken good care of. You don't need to do anything special, just keep taking good care of it.

 

+1 on not needing spark plugs. If you are afraid they will get stuck in there because of the time factor, you can always take them out, clean the threads and put them back in. They are good for a MINIMUM 120k miles.