1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Price quotes on transaxle fluid change

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by F8L, Feb 21, 2011.

  1. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I need to get my fluid changed and two dealers (Maita and Hanlees) quoted me $290 and one quoted me $115. They all stated the world class fluid was $9/qt. but the cheaper dealer (Magnusson) said the fluid change is easy on the prius and not as complicated (fluid temperature monitoring and such) as say the tundra which they charge $200+ to do. Does this sound right? Magnusson of Auburn is a pretty big dealer too.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,658
    49,371
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    seems like a good price, but not so low you wonder if they're really going to change it. i havn't had it done but i've read quite a few here in the low 100's. i think rae vynn's was.
     
  3. dinger_greg

    dinger_greg New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2010
    86
    8
    0
    Location:
    Brookfield, WI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Best price I found was $89.99 with a coupon in my area. I ended up doing it myself. The dealer charged $8.00 per quart of WS.
     
  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2010
    4,539
    1,433
    9
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My one service experience with Magnusson is that they did my freebie 5k mile service correctly and didn't try to upsell me. They also seemed to have their act together and their shop was neat and clean. I know that doesn't answer your question but I am starting to get a warm fuzzy feeling about their service department.
     
  5. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks guys. It's really hard to use the search feature with my phone. I'm going to have it done at the cheaper place. I like the fact they were honest and knew what they were talking about.
     
  6. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

    Joined:
    May 21, 2007
    6,038
    707
    0
    Location:
    Tumwater, WA USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sometimes, service departments will quote an extremely high price because they don't know what they are doing. No clue as to how long it will take, etc.

    Mine ran about $100 I think.
     
  7. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2010
    872
    53
    0
    Location:
    Grand Forks,B.C. Canada
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    This is a easy DIY. Just drain and refill. Hal
     
  8. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,038
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The $290 quote is probably for a "flush", also known as a "wallet flush" or "boat payment". It is not needed. A simple drain-and-fill is fine; $115 is a wee bit high for that but not terrible.
     
  9. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'd normally do it myself but I'm only 3 weeks out from a major liver surgery and I'll likely start up on chemo again next week. :)

    Once I have this done I'm going to contact the managers at the other dealers and make them aware of their misquote. I hope they are not actually charging people this amount.
     
  10. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,850
    1,843
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    I've had it done three times (at 60k mile intervals) at my CT dealer for $100 each time.

    JeffD
     
  11. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    729
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I dedicate my 2000th post to you. Get well, man.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, bru. :)
     
  13. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2010
    872
    53
    0
    Location:
    Grand Forks,B.C. Canada
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    In that case, get it done. All the best with your recovery. We're pulling for you, Hal
     
  14. vince3151

    vince3151 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    33
    2
    0
    Location:
    PLYMOUTH,MA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I got mine changed in MA yesterday for $110-
     
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks, Hal! A member from PC offered to change the fluid for me. I meet some of the nicest people here on PC. :)


    That is right on par with my estimate. At approx. $9/qt. x 4 plus labor it pencils out and doesn't look like you're being ripped off.
     
  16. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Best wishes for a quick recovery from your surgery.

    Glad to hear that you'll get some local help with the transaxle ATF fluid change, that's great.
     
  17. bigblock67

    bigblock67 433K with new cells

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2011
    171
    35
    6
    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Is there a dip stick on an 02 transaxle. How is it filled?
     
  18. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    There is no dipstick on any Prius transaxle. It is filled via the fill plug on the side of the transaxle case, facing the radiator.
     
  19. clearblue

    clearblue Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    40
    0
    0
    Location:
    us
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A

    so its basically drain and refill. 4qts. no need to measure. just fill with 4qts of the toyota oil?
     
  20. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,471
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yes, regarding the 2G transaxle: fill until you've used four US quarts of Toyota ATF WS, or the new fluid starts to drip out of the fill hole, whichever comes first.

    If you've used four US quarts and the fluid level is not near the fill hole opening, it would be good to figure out why that is the case.