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lost with choice..

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by H.S., Nov 7, 2016.

  1. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    Hello. My car's warranty is up at 25k, and toyota offers extended care for up to 45k at $299. that includes the regular oil, filter, tire rotation default maintenance.

    i have never owned a prius before, and i know alot of you here are experts when it comes to this car. Is it worth it to spend the $299 to push for more of the same toyota care to 45K miles? Or would it be more cost efficent to find a local toyota/hybrid mechanic to do the maintenance vs the dealer?

    Looking at this is the first NEW car, as i have always bought used- what are some tips or things to look out for as the miles increase in the car? things i should be aware of? specific glitches? certain maintenance elements? will i need to change the battery every certain amount of miles? alot of questions going on in ones head

    your input would be greatly appreciated.

    I drive a 2015 prius 3, its at 24.500 miles. HELP
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Don't do it, you're basically getting 2 oil changes and tire rotations for $299.

    Many dealers have special service coupons online, like synthetic oil changes for $59.99
     
  3. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    thanks for the response. should i look for an independent mechanic in Los Angeles- you recommend any? also if i decide to go the non-dealer route, what do i have to look out for other than oil change and tire rotation?
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Carson Toyota has a special on their website for $79.99 for synthetic oil change, and that includes tire rotation.

    Many dealers will send you service coupons after your first visit, to keep you coming back
    [​IMG]
     
  5. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    thats 70 per 5000. if you do the math, with the 299- it adds up being about the same, because you have 20k extra miles, and at 299 total it adds up being around under 80 dollars.
     
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    They only change your oil every 10000 miles. Not at 5000
     
  7. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    yes, i am saying the 70 dollar deal equates to be the same if the toytoa care plan in santa monica is 299 for up to 45k miles.
     
  8. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    At 30/60/90 thousand miles, you should replace the engine air filter ($20-$30) and the cabin air filter ($20). You can buy these parts at your Toyota dealer. I buy them at the dealer and change them in the parking lot. These repairs don't require tools. There are videos in the "Sticky" part of this forum which show you how.

    There are also maintenance procedures which many of us do in addition to the procedures which Toyota recommends. The key ones are:
    * Lubricate the brake calipers' sliding pins every 30K miles
    * Change the transaxle oil at 30K and every 60K miles after that.

    There are also videos which show how to perform these procedures. A competent garage should charge you $80-$100 for each of those two services.

    There is nothing "hybrid specific" about any of these items. An independent Toyota garage can definitely do them. If you go to a shop and they recommend some additional work, check here in this forum before you agree. Prius is amazingly trouble-free and the new car warranty covers a lot of things.
     
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  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The up to 45k miles service only gives you 20k more miles from where you are at now. Doesn't give you an additional 45k miles of service.

    The gen3 prius oil change interval I'd every 10000 miles, do you only get 2 for $299
     
  10. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    this really helps, on average oil change for prius ever 10k, how much would it cost? i found some youtube video tutorials on changing the air filters. anything else i maybe am forgetting?
     
  11. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    So I guess standard warranty is up to 60k and the Toyota care package is out at 25k which means I have to cough up 200+ dollars every 5000 miles I have to take the car to the dealer for maintenance/checkup. Sounds unreasonable in terms of time duration and price right?
    -any other oils/fluids I have to change every so and so miles? Like transmission, or other parts?
    Trying to find the most cost effective way..
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that doesn't sound right.

    5,000 miles is just inspections and tyre rotate, you can take it anywhere.

    30k; check/clean/replace air and cabin filter, oil and filter, tyre rotate, inspect everything.

    35k; tyre rotate and inspect.

    40k; oil and filter, tyre rotate, inspect.

    45k; tyre rotate and inspect.

    value; $250. at a dealer, $150. elsewhere, 75 bucks diy.:cool:
     
    #12 bisco, Nov 7, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2016
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  13. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Just take the car to Carson Toyota to do the oil change every 10k miles for $70 or your preferred dealer. I'm not going to tell you to ignore the 5000 mile interval but I can tell you I ignore the 5000 mile intervals. They are a waste of time to me.

    Every 30k miles, purchase the cabin air filter and engine air filter online and look up YouTube videos on how to install in less than 5 minutes.

    That's it up to 120k miles. Then you have to do more stuff.
     
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  14. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    You can find the videos here:
    Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

    When you get to 80 ~ 120K miles, there are a few more maintenance tasks. I easily did them all myself. If you drive with pets in your car, there's a fan cleaning procedure to perform.
     
    #14 Rebound, Nov 8, 2016
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2016
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  15. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    those responses are awesome and thank you all for pointing me in the right direction.
    the dealer prices are fairly high, i go to the toyota dealership in Santa Monica. any recommendation for places in LOS ANGELES that are reasonably priced to do the maintenance at vs the dealership? at the dealership it would cost me up to 290 dollars which is really high for every 5K....
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I don't understand what service every 5000 miles would cost $290
     
  17. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    i mean to do oil change, rotation,- at 10k, i was told by toyota to inspect, change filters, do all that its 290
     
  18. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    This is an international forum, so I don't know if it's the best place to find an independent Toyota mechanic in Santa Monica, but it's worth a shot. Here in the San Francisco area, we have the famous Luscious Garage. I'm sure you can find a competent shop. Avoid the oil changer places. They're notoriously bad.
     
  19. H.S.

    H.S. Junior Member

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    is there a local forum you can point me to to specifically find a place reasonably priced than the dealer in the LOS ANGELES area?
     
  20. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Here's my feeling.
    I consider 45K as still owning a very new vehicle.
    With very little luck needed, you shouldn't really need any major repairs.

    But $299 to extend the coverage?
    Even for basic maintenance probably isn't a bad deal.

    It really comes down to, how happy have you been with the dealership service up to this point?
    If you have a relationship with the service department, trust them, and have been happy with the support?

    Continuing it at a cost of $299 simply isn't a bad idea.

    If you are indifferent OR have your doubts about the service?
    You could take the expiration of "Toyota Care" as an opportunity to establish a new relationship with a service situation you feel better about.

    Sure you can argue that the basic maintenance probably needed in that period could be done cheaper? But I don't think the difference in price would be astronomically huge.
    I kinda make the assumption that IF you are even asking about extending a service plan, you probably aren't a huge DIY person.
    If you feel you want to change your own oil and rotate your tires...then factor that reality in as well. However...
    The bottom line for me? Would be are you happy with the service you've been provided thus far?
    If the answer to that question is Yes. Then extending your relationship with that service department for $299 may not be the best "bargain" but IMO it's a perfectly acceptable proposition.