A bit scared -- new Prius

The new Prius have reverted to spin-on oil filter.

Underbody panels get more extensive with each gen, but I understand 4th Gen has a superior and more durable "trap door" local to the oil pan. Still, I'd be inclined to remove the full engine bay underpanel, maybe not every time, but regularly, to look for leaks, check CV boots.

The front jacking point is waaaay back though, doable with a floor jack IF you run the front wheels onto 3" of DIY ramps. (A non-issue if you're using ramps anyhow).

There's some hope the EGR circuit is good for life. Hopefully true, because it's more of a pain to access than 3rd Gen.

That damn touch screen though, that I find "eroding".

 

Wait until the YouTube videos come out. The Gen3 videos from NutzAboutBolts gave me enough confidence to tackle things I had never done on previous cars.

 

"Hi My name is Jimbo, I am 64 and my first car was a 1962 Falcon 2 door Wagon" Welcome to Falcons Anonymous!

As the fuzzy1 points out, watch the videos. Even if you decide not to do the work after watching the DIY videos, you know enough to know how much work it is.

 

I might have you all beat. I'll soon be 67. My first car was a '64 Belair station wagon. I still do pretty much all my own maintenance, even on my Prime, which has so far consisted of two oil changes and a transaxle oil change. Easy peasy. I let the dealer do the alignment and put on the new tires.

Also, from what I've read, when the spark plugs eventually come due (if I live that long) they are much easier than Gen 3.

 

This post I wrote a few years ago was kind of on that theme of "is the newfangledness going to mean I can't work on my own stuff any more?"

My take was that the newfangledness kind of changes what are the best ways of doing the work, and kind of changes them in the same direction that my tastes change as I get older....

 

How much work did you do on your old Prius?
With whatever changes between a "New" Prius and 2008 Prius, I would suspect you could reach a the same level of DIY knowledge, even if there are some changes.

I mean you've already evolved from a 1962 Ford Falcon to a 2008 Prius Hybrid in your lifetime. Going from a 2008 Prius to a 2020 or latest generation Prius should be a piece of cake.
Fear is the mind killer. Go forth boldly.

 

Sniff, sniff. I detect the awesome aroma of IcyHot . . . oh wait, that's me.

Yes, they're techy cars, but all of them are now. Just because it "has" tech does not mean you have to work on it. The Prii are nearly maintenance free and dirt simple to work on as there's very little to do. Any "new" car you buy now is going to be a tech stretch since the GEN II, but if you stop learning, you're probably dead. I'm 62 and purchased it looking forward to the tech over my ancient 2010 and yes I did read the manual 3 times before I received it. It's all better than my first car, a '63 VW Beetle.

 

haven't 'worked' on a car in 35 years other than check oil, tires, filters

prius don't need much love

 

Just to open that can-o-worms: it'd be nice if Toyota made at least the basic maintenance sections of the Repair Manual readily/freely available to owners, say in the Owner's Manual maintenance section.

Excerpt from 2019 Honda Fit Owner's Manual attached, an oil change instruction:

 

Was there any official reason as to why?

I loved the cartridge filters on my GM, but turned out I was just in love with the filter being on top of the engine.

Well, engine bays have gotten tighter through the years.

 

You've done some bumper cover repairs.

Some of your finest work.

 

Yeah, and I hurt my back

But it looks better than my wife’s hycam bumper who’s is falling off after ‘professional’ body work

 

No doubt.
But that's why I ask how much work the OP did with their 2008 Prius.
If we're talking routine maintenance tasks, even though we are talking up to 12 model years difference, the OP should be able to do, or learn the same level of DIY accomplishment.

But yeah, 57 Chevy, 62 Falcon...engine bay's have changed a LOT. You could pop the hood on those old cars, and reach anything and everything.
With my 2016 Honda Fit? I think the only reason it has a hood, is so you can reach the Oil Dip Stick, check some fluid levels, but it certainly isn't an engine bay designed to promote user repair or maintenance. You can do an Oil Change, but everything is packed so tightly? It's not designed for easy home repair or maintenance.

 

Falling off, or sagging?

 

Ends won’t stay clipped. Pretty cheesy design, but seems to work well until you have an accident.
Getting everything perfect afterwards takes a sober body man

 

Where do you find one of those?

 

Aye, there’s the rub

 

Am I remembering correctly that some old pickups had enough room to stand in the engine bay? I mean standing tall with feet on the ground, no hunching needed.

 

We just got our RX back after the wife hit this on the freeway:



When we picked it up Friday, I saw the job the protective film company did and was less than pleased:



Very low attention to detail.