1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Good Prius mechanic recommendation (SF Bay Area)?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mike45, Sep 2, 2017.

  1. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I've recently purchased my first Prius (used 2012) and as it seems to have some issues which disturb me I'd like to take it to the mechanic. Could somebody please recommend a good one in the SF Bay Area? I've checked the history but the posts I could find are from 10 years ago, maybe somebody would be willing to share fresher info as I see so many Priuses on the streets here.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Raytheeagle and m.wynn like this.
  3. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2013
    684
    1,226
    0
    Location:
    Queensbury, NY
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Add @Raytheeagle to that mix and the Bay Area is a great place to get a Prius worked on;). Luscious and Arts are two of the premier hybrid shops in the nation.
     
    NutzAboutBolts and Raytheeagle like this.
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    What issues are you looking for more clarification on?

    @JimboPalmer named 2 top notch mechanics in our neck of the woods. If you are the DIY type or want to hang out with the cool kids on occasion, we do meet ups :):

    Possible Monthly install meets. Bay Area-Fremont

    We have done everything from oil changes up to and including egr cooler swaps;). A good group of folks who can probably answer most things.

    @m.wynn will be happy to know that I have convinced the wife that our garage needs another tool:

    MaxJax Portable 2-Post Lift - Garage Hoist - Vehicle Lift - MaxJax USA

    Just need to save my pennies up now (y).
     
    #4 Raytheeagle, Sep 2, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2017
    m.wynn likes this.
  5. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks so much! I live in San Leandro so probably Berkley will work better but will check both as I occasionally go to SF by car (I work there but commute by Bart, the car is mostly for weekends).

    Meetup sound awesome (as I am a DIY kind of person), I'll plan to join next time. Too bad it sounds like the next one is in October :)

    The things I'd like to get a mechanic's opinion (or maybe just somebody DIY but experienced unlike me) are steering and brakes:
    1. Brakes I think I've figured out: there is chirping noise sometimes and I think it is just an air in the brake system which I planned to bleed this weekend but the stock jack turned out to be too short for my jack stands so I will need to go get a floor jack first.

    2. This one bothers me: steering. When I turn a steering wheel at low speeds or at still I feel (don't hear just feel with hands) some click when I let the steering wheel go after turning it. Maybe it is normal after all and I just made this click up because I've looked at some recommendations from this forum on lower ball joints, CV joints, intermediate shaft and nothing looks (visually) broken or leaking oil and all the rubber things are intact. So I thought I would get an opinion from somebody experienced.

    Btw, the lift looks awesome, I'd love to have one like that at home, it is golden for DIY kind of guys :)

    PS. My car is 2012 Prius V with 91k miles.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  6. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2013
    1,476
    1,551
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    +1 with @Raytheeagle
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  7. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks so much for your recommendations folks! I'll DM @Raytheeagle , maybe I can get an appointment.
     
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    The chirping could be the squealer indicating low pad depth. At 91 k miles not likely, but every cars past is different;). Just on the fronts? Do you notice any "grabbing" when you apply the brakes?

    For steering and noise, it all could be related. The squealer could be heard when turning. On our 2010 Prius II with 162 k miles on the clock I notice every morning when I am turning out of our development to the right a clicking sound as the brakes are applied and the wheel is turned. I have heard this for the last 82 k miles , so for me it is normal. I only hear it in the morning and do not notice at other parts of the day.

    You might have a very normal sound, just not Prius familiar yet;).

    Is yours the wagon "lower case v" or the liftback (trim level 5)?

    Keep us posted(y).
     
  9. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Nope, the sound comes from the area around brake booster. I haven't looked at brake pads yet (missing jack :) yet but the seller said he was driving mainly on highways (which is likely, judging by the minimal wear of rotors). Also, about a minute after turning off ignition something seems to turn off in the same area and this is when I also hear that sound. The sound doesn't come always though. And lastly, when it happens I can feel with my foot like there is something vibrating in the brake pedal which makes me also think it is around brake booster and this is why I think of the air (because the sound doesn't come all the time).

    Mine is a wagon (Three trim) :) We came from Europe about a year ago and I got spoiled there with station wagons which I fall in love with for their versatility and good gas mileage. That's why I got Prius V and so far it is amazing. If I would have to build car on my own I couldn't build anything better :)
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  10. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    There was a brake booster recall for the liftback some years ago (forget when but worth searching the forum). Was this a private party sale? Have you checked to see if all recalls have been performed?

    The brake system is triggered by the drivers door and to will hear it run on occasion. I don't recall any vibration in the pedal, but it is all probably related.

    Good to hear your happy with your purchase (y).
     
  11. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Yes, it was a private party sale but I did check all the recalls and found none.

    Yes, when I open the door I hear the humming sound and I figured it is normal but the sound that bothers me is different. It is more like rattling sound and it happens sometimes when I press the brake pedal or in a minute after I switch off the ignition and something sounds like turning off—that's when I also hear it sometimes.
     
  12. mike45

    mike45 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2017
    16
    8
    0
    Location:
    San Leandro, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Yes, it was a private party sale but I did check all the recalls and found none.

    Yes, when I open the door I hear the humming sound and I figured it is normal but the sound that bothers me is different. It is more like rattling sound and it happens sometimes when I press the brake pedal or in a minute after I switch off the ignition and something sounds like turning off—that's when I also hear it sometimes.