10,000 - 1 year check up... any tips

Don't ask for their generic 10,000 mile maintenance, else you could end up paying for items Toyota doesn't recommend for the Prius. Instead, show them the Prius maintenance schedule and tell them you want that and nothing more.

Not sure if I'd ask for 3/4 full on the oil; that might put it a little low. I would tell them 3 and 1/2 quarts and no more. Then check the level before you leave to make sure it's not overfilled.

What your inflation pressure is is your preference (realizing that higher pressure = better fuel economy), but they might drop the pressure down if you have it higher than the minimum. If the pressure is where you want it, tell them to leave it alone.

 

10k according to the maintenance schedule is not a big deal. Not much more than an oil change and tire rotation. Don't sweat it! If you use synthetic oil, they're likely to fill from plastic containers, so you can ask for 3-1/2 in the car, and 1/2 container in the front seat. The Toyota dealer I've been to was happy to do that for me.

 

Be very careful as most Toyota Service Dept. want to sell you way more than you need. When I did my 10k service they had this very long involved looking list up on the wall for the low price of $349.00 plus tax. Once I read the list all that I need was an oil and filter change and a tire rotation and that is according to the scheduled maintenance manual that comes with the car. They gave me the hard sell but I wouldn't budge. You shouldn't either.

 

I discovered this by accident;

Before going to the dealer, take out and clean your engine air filter and especially you in cabin air filter behind the glove compartment. By clean I mean just run the vacuum cleaner over it so it looks good as new.

When the dealer calls and states that your in cabin (or air conditioner) air filter is dirty and needs replacing, you have discovered a dealer that needs replacing and you now have a good idea of the quality of their 3000 point inspections.

 

maintenance

I've had my Prius since June 06 and do all of the maintenance myself (oil change, tire rotation, air filter changing, etc). I also have a Toyota Sienna and my ex-dealer really pulled one on my wife when she took the Sienna in for an oil change. The car had 20k miles on it and they said that it needed the fuel injectors cleaned and two new run flat tires on it. She's not car savvy and just thought that it was needed so she told them to go ahead. The fuel injector cleaning was about $70 and the tires were $249 each. So, yeah the bill was rather high. When she called me I told her to get the old tires from them and bring them home so that I can inspect them. But, somehow they "misplaced them". So, there are scum bag car dealers out there...

 

Price for the work must vary!

I had the same thing done in about 35 minutes; its cost me $48.79.

 

It's easy: always consult the Scheduled Maintenance Guide and show the correct page to the service writer.

 

TimMan

Awesome, what dealer did you use?

 

PA Toyota dealer

I used Team Toyota of Langhorne, PA. They have a brand new service center that is open until 9pm M-Sat. Awesome set-up for customer waiting. Also, has a deli, huge TV's, theater seating, separate child play area, etc.

Tman

 

If your able to you can do your own rotations with a small floor jack and a 1/2" Torque Wrench and 13/16" socket. That can save you a few bucks every time you go in for scheduled service. You also get the knowledge that it was done correctly. I have found loose lugnuts after a tire rotation.