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Labor to perform listed maintenance?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PriVusLY, Nov 28, 2011.

  1. PriVusLY

    PriVusLY Junior Member

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    Have searched for this information on the maintenance forum, but did not find...

    For example purposes, let's assume a 2006 Prius - how long should it take a dealer service department to perform "only" the standard maintenance services listed in the Toyota maintenance manual, at the various mileage intervals?

    Given that amount of labor, and the standard labor rate for those services (perhaps you could list that for your favorite dealer, as well?), one should be able to quickly tell when a given dealer is charging fairly for standard maintenance, or not.

    Thanks much!
     
    #1 PriVusLY, Nov 28, 2011
  2. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    It depends on which service. The 5k minor? Basic 30k?

    Dealers and repair shops generally operate on the flat rate system, and a good technician is usually able to beat those times. However, you still pay for the service/repair based on flat rate times.

    However, some dealers have moved to a "menu type" pricing for many maintenance services. When calculated, these labor charges are much less than if you were billed for the amount of time that the tech gets paid to do the job.

    Case in point: oil changes. The technician usually gets paid 0.3 hours to do an oil change. But you don't pay 0.3 hours * the shop labor rate (usually around $120/hr) as labor. If that was the case, most conventional oil changes would be in the $55-$60 range.

    But to possibly answer your question I think most minor services (oil change and tire rotation) are 0.7 hours, at least from what I've heard and what I've been billed for. Basic 30k services (which just add cabin filter and engine filter) are probably around 1.5 hours.
     
    #2 The Critic, Dec 1, 2011
  3. PriVusLY

    PriVusLY Junior Member

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    Yes, I should have been more specific. Only really interested in how long it should take for the "only" the maintenance service items that Toyota lists in the owners manuals, for the major service interval points 30K, etc.

    What I am surmising is that since Toyota probably provides dealer service depts with anticipated hours of labor for repair services (e.g. replacing the water pump), that they probably would also list how long it would typically take for the major maintenance service to be performed.
     
    #3 PriVusLY, Dec 1, 2011
  4. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Usually the 30k services are just oil change, tire rotation, detailed inspection, engine air filter and cabin air filter.

    Dealers probably go by industry labor guides and combine them into a package deal.

    Like I said, oil change and rotation is usually 0.7 hours. Cabin air filter may be 1/2 hour. The rest probably depends on the dealer. I would guess 1.5 hours or is what they bill out. My most local dealer here charges $275 (but gives 15% off on Sundays).
     
    #4 The Critic, Dec 2, 2011
  5. PriVusLY

    PriVusLY Junior Member

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    Being more specific, I am interested in the labor guide/hours involved for the "detailed inspection". I have a good feel for what the rest should be, but dealers tend to drive a Mack truck through that "detailed inspection" bucket, and thus that is where the extra service & charges could be (and are) layered on.

    So again, I am suspecting that Toyota actually specifies to dealers how long the detailed inspections (at major service intervals) "should" take. Anybody out there in PriusChat land who has seen that?
     
    #5 PriVusLY, Dec 4, 2011
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Appleton huh? I went to the round High School on the EAST side of town....Class of '70
    As for dealer time, if you do most of the work yourself, it would cut that time considerably!
    Both filters you can take care of your self, I clean my engine compartment every 4 months or so! Good time for inspections. I mark the fluid levels in their containers with a BLACK Sharpie,easy to see if they need topping off!
    My 30k checkup cost less than $39 bucks! I had a nice Mexican lunch while they changed the oil, I had done everything else! 45 minutes later I drove off the lot!
     
    #6 KK6PD, Dec 4, 2011
  7. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Usually the inspections are free or included with a tire rotation, at least that's what I have found. I think a lot of dealers don't pay their techs for maintenance inspections anyway.

    MB860 ?
     
    #7 The Critic, Dec 4, 2011
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