feeling a little bit taken!

um... throttle linkage? for an electronically controlled throttle? go back and ask them to SHOW you the thing they adjusted.
efi service isn't really recommended unless you're having injector problems.

 

Yeah you got boned but not too bad. I would have thought they would have at least drilled you $400 for the trans fluid replacement and the throttle body cleaner they sprayed in your throttle body (linkage part). As prev. stated its fly by wire gas pedal. Uses motor mounted on the t.b. itself to open butterfly.No linkage.

But please ask them what they lubed. I'd like to know whats supposed to be lubricated under there please.

 

You cannot take a car to a dealer and just say " service it". You should know what is required when and spell out exactly what you want done. sorry if I sound harsh, but if a service writer see's $$$$$ signs when he talks to you then he wants to make $$$$$$$.

PS. If your not sure what's needed when ask here first, that's what Priuschat is all about helping our fellow Prius owner's.

 

I keep screaming that the rear brakes have an auto adjuster on them.

In a clear area, no pedestrians and no objects, drive backwards and stab the brakes hard dozens of times. Avoid the charge.

Why was the trans fluid changed? When you got your car they gave you a service interval data sheet from Toyota. It is either 90,000 or 120,000 miles between fluid changes.

 

sometimes the rear brakes do need manual adjustment. the auto adjuster is not perfect. also does not require that you drive in reverse.

 

Hey galaxee how does the auto adjuster on the rear brakes work?? I always thought that you had to bake up and stop real hard? Is that old school now?

 

Hobbit has a page devoted to the rear brake adjuster. It is a unique design that does not require backing up or using the parking brake to work.

Self-adjusters

 

Actually, the Toyota maintenance schedule is silent on the question of transaxle fluid changes. However I change the transaxle fluid on my 2004 at 30K mile intervals, which I believe is justified based upon used fluid testing.

If barbaram wants her car to last beyond the applicable warranty period, I think it is reasonable for her to have the transaxle fluid changed at 45K to 60K mile intervals. The PCV valve is another service item not mentioned on the maintenance schedule, but it should be replaced periodically - 60K miles or so.

Other than those two considerations, the Toyota maintenance schedule should be observed. Additional services are generally not required for owners who wish to minimize their vehicle's maintenance costs (unless driveability issues are noted).

 

I would contact Toyota and email them a scanned copy of your detailed bill. They have committed fraud and you should be reimbursed and they be punished. I called a close friend of mine who is a mechanic to verify that the scammed you, they did!

 

next time, be on guard with these folks. here's a guide to help you out:
http://priuschat.com/forums/care-ma...70-what-services-you-need-what-you-don-t.html

 

Complain they "frauded & should be punished"? Thats going to play hell with his "loyalty" discount.

New Car Dealer: Latin for "Scamitus erectus till you can't stand it us:"

 

I feel pretty sure that the dealership he goes to next will give him the discount...The factory rep in his area will make sure of that.

 

You were taken, but you allowed it. How many time has it been said here, you never, ever go into the dealership and say you want a xx,000 mile service. They will do what what they want and charge the crap out of you for it. Foolish. Go in and tell them what you want, specifically, like, an oil change. That's it. The air filters are so simple a child can do it. But just tell them what you want, right out of your maintence guide that came with the car. Nothing else, and Not their dealer maintenance menu.

I personally doubt they really changed you tranny fluid. But that's me. What type of fluid did they list?
Did they rotate the tires? Because the rear brake adjustment would have required removal of the rear wheels, and a front brake inspection would have required removal of the fronts too, hence they should have rotated for free, since all the wheels were off, and having charged you for the brake service. That is called for on the maintenance shcedule........Probably not, because they didn't really adjust the brakes either, nor the throttle linkage that's not there....... They only adjusted the amount of cash in your wallet.

 

Yes, you were taken, in two ways:
1. Dealer service "packages" are a waste of money. Do only what is shown in the Scheduled Maintenance Guide.
2. Pre-paid maintenance is a waste of money at an exorbitant rate of interest.

It's too late to do anything about #2 but you can prevent #1 every time.

 

It's sure not unique to the Prius - Saturns that I've owned have an almost identical adjuster with the star wheel and the rachet.

The way it works is this: If you have to move the pads too far, it causes a metal tang to slip beyond the rachet on the adjuster when you press the brakes. When you release them, the return spring causes the metal tang to turn the adjuster star wheel. By tightening this wheel, next time the brake pads won't move as much, and the metal tang won't be able to slip beyond the rachet. Very clever design.

 

Unique to Prius and Saturns? :madgrin:

 

There is nothing special about the drum brake adjusters on the Prius. Just about every manufacturer uses a similar setup on their drum brakes.

 

04-09 Prius (and future years as well, I'm sure) use World Standard ATF. It does NOT have a service interval. Toyota does NOT recommend changing it unless contamination or some other problem occurs.

I hang my head in shame at what some dealerships will do just to make a few bucks.