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Toyota Care Plus

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Cactus, Sep 19, 2015.

  1. Cactus

    Cactus Junior Member

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    My wife's '14 is ready for the last free service@ 25K. Is the extended Toyota Care Plus plan worth the money for $299? I usually do most of my own work, oil changes, etc but it has been nice being hands off on this car so far. I also know how the dealer works with their "inspect" everything and know that they probably don't really do anything besides an oil change and tire rotation.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    There's a minor learning curve with some aspects of maintenance, but not big deal. If you start doing the maintenance now, you'll see sooner-than-later what they mighta messed up.

    The "oil change access door" for example: it'd be good to see it's condition. The dealerships tend to abuse it. There's nothing in the Repair Manual regarding that flap: instead the instruction is to remove the whole panel, which is actually quite easy and goes quick.

    Also there's been reports of incredibly overtorqued oil filter housings. And (shudder), one owner on his first DIY oil change after dealership service, discovered the oil filter element was missing.

    The first time you attempt to rotate tires you might find the lug nuts on like the hinges-of-hell, depending on the place. Also, you'll likely be the first person to even look at the brakes.

    A few specific tools worth having:

    1. 14 face, 64.5mm inside face-to-face oil filter wrench. Both Toyota and Honda use this size, and there's plenty of third party offerings.

    2. The fill and drain bolts on the transaxle are "socket cap screws", have a 10mm hexagonal recess.

    Just to add: transaxle fluid change is not in the maintenance schedule, but worthwhile. Drained fluid at the first change seemed knackered when I did it, the next change mighta been a waste of fluid: the drained fluid looked pretty good still. Toyota ATF-WS fluid is really your best bet, 4 qts or liters required.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's not worth it. if you don't want to diy, just pay them (or someone else) a la carte.
     
  4. Cactus

    Cactus Junior Member

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    Yes Mendel I'm aware of everything you mentioned. I also have an 01 4Runner I do all maintenance/oil changes on but recently had the timing belt service done at the dealer. I was convinced they would screw it up somehow but it looks like they pulled it off. Its a shame that this is the new normal.
     
  5. Blizzard_Persona

    Blizzard_Persona Senior Member

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    Personally I think it's kinda worth it if you have no skills and or do not have the means to diy... Kinda like me. Lol.

    Simply for the pay once and forget about it till you make your appt, head in and drink free Coffey for an hr or two and drive away factor.

    Then again most dealer websites have service coupons and discounts on there so if you want to possibly save a few bucks go that route and clip coupons and pay as you go.
     
  6. Stevevee

    Stevevee Active Member

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    In a rare and generous moment, I bought both the 75,000 mile extended service and the Platinum vehicle warranty protection. I haggled for a bit, and given prices I've seen here and elsewhere, didn't do too badly.

    This is the first car I've had in many decades that I'm not driving 25k to 30k miles a year, and I intended it to be long term. I also got the .9% financing, so that made it lots better. Just something I felt good about having this time around, not something I usually do. At the rate I'm driving now, I will likely get the maximum years from each plan.
     
  7. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    If you travel, make sure it's good anywhere and not just at a particular dealership. From a purely financial perspective, it's easy to figure out if it's worth it. Simply get their normal prices for the work it includes and do the division. You didn't say what it includes or the duration, but if they charge $85 for an oil change and it includes 5 ($425), then it's a good deal. However, if they only charge $50 ($250), then you lose.

    And make sure you know "exactly" what you're getting for that $299. For example, my dealer charges $85 for the 10,000 mile service suggested by Toyota. However, they only charge $50 for just the oil/filter change and that's all my plan includes. They threw my plan in after I made my deal, so I don't really care. It didn't cost me extra, but I know it's just a gimmick to get me in the service bay so they can try to up sell me additional services. Right now they're trying to up sell me their Blue Service that includes the oil/filter change as well as engine/cabin filters, rotating times, topping off all fluids and checking a bunch of stuff. Now, we do a lot of cross country travel on back roads and out of the way places, so I don't mind paying as long as I know what I'm getting and I'm actually getting what I'm paying for. When they check the brakes, I want them to actually measure them, not just guess by sight that they're 8-9 mm.

    And I know there are all kinds of people who say you can do/check all that yourself. In my case, that's no longer true. I'm no longer able to lie on my back under a car without getting vertigo and no longer have the space to raise the car to change the oil/filter, take off the wheels to check brakes, etc. Even using a hoist has become problematic because I have to look up to work and I started getting dizzy too often, so I gave it up. Obviously, I can still change filters and check some fluids, but since I'm not able to do it all, it becomes a question of efficiency vs cost. Since I have to take the car to someone anyway and service is generally all-inclusive for a given price, it simply becomes cost effective for me to have them do it all. Plus I don't have to buy/store oil, brake fluid, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, etc.

    Anyway, just my 2 cents. YMMV
     
  8. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    You wouldn't happen to be suffering from a hearing loss? I have the same vertigo problem. Also Meniere's disease at times, like a week after having a head cold. Dramamine works a little, like maybe 5-10 minutes before my vertical hold shakes loose. Then I'd better have an emesis bag close at hand ... I used to be that universal car-fixing guy, could just listen to it run and diagnose the problem. And then fix it in 2-3 hours. Not any more.
     
  9. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    Fortunately, no. It's just that when I tilt my head a certain way, I get really dizzy. I can keep it under control when I'm doing normal things, but I don't have enough control when I'm under a car, sink, that sort of thing. I've had only 2 episodes of true vertigo over the years, but at 68, I take no chances anymore.
     
  10. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    Not that I am any sort of medical diagnostician, but just being able to spell that word means I might be on to something. Sounds to me like a problem with your ear rocks. Otoconia. There is a "maneuver" to get things back to normal. Check it out.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    eply maneuver
     
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  12. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    I've seen ENT specialists over the years and they've done that. A couple of years ago I developed on infection on the inside of the ear drum that was causing deafness. We got that cleared up, but now I have to put hydrogen peroxide in each ear for 10 minutes once a month. Doing both ears on the same day causes nausea, so I do them on different days. I've always had sinus problems as well as allergies and they think a combination caused the infection. I now use a C-Pap machine for sleep apnea and that has significantly reduced the sinus problem, including the severity of the allergies, so we'll see. I will talk to my current ENT doctor about this though the next time I see him. Thanks.
     
  13. PortlandHiker

    PortlandHiker Junior Member

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    Have you seen an audiologist? Some forms of vertigo are easy to fix with a simple visit to a competent audiologist. See one at a major medical center or teaching hospital. More information at Canalith Repositioning Procedure (for BPPV) | Vestibular Disorders Association. Just a disclaimer, I'm not an audiologist but I do auditory research.
     
  14. DoubleDAZ

    DoubleDAZ Senior Member

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    No, but that's not a bad idea even though I only get the dizzy feeling when I'm under a car or sink working while looking up. I can lay on my back and look up all day long, but when I start to work on something and have to move my head, etc., that's when things start to swirl at times. When I saw the ENT doc once for a bleeding eye, he did say I have a slight "something", but I don't remember what it was and figured it went away with the eye problem. Thanks for all the comments, even though they're off-topic. :)
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I know what you're talking about. Was under a car, just after having the flu. Slid back out, sat up, and whoooah.