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Are these dealer suggested services valid?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by liskipper, Aug 19, 2019.

  1. liskipper

    liskipper Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2009
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    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My 2013 model 3 has 108K miles. Dealer says I need:
    1) Flush/replace inverter coolant. $180
    2) Flush/replace engine coolant $180
    3) Clean hybrid battery fan $290
    4) Replace spark plugs $250
    5) Flush/replace trans fluid $200

    Sounds like BS. Any comments?
     
  2. schmuber

    schmuber Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2018
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    Location:
    Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can I be your dealer for a day?
     
  3. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
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    Location:
    Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I would do the recommended 100k services from your maintenance manual, but not at that dealer. Those prices are way high. As an example, the transmission doesn't get a flush, it gets a drain and fill. That should cost $80-$100 including fluid. My dealer quoted me $289, then $189, then $119 for this service in the space of 45 seconds.

    Find a good independent shop and have them do the 100k service at much lower cost. Or DIY for a lot less than that.
     
    #3 jb in NE, Aug 20, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2019
    Pseudonymm likes this.
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
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    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    First, here is your maintenance guide:
    https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/omms-s/T-MMS-13Prius/pdf/2013_Toyota_Prius_WMG.pdf

    Second, I am assuming you have never had any of this done. Here is the timing:
    1) page 44 at 100,000 miles, checks out.
    2) page 44 at 100,000 miles, checks out.
    3) never in the schedule, it will depend on how much hair/dust/smog you go through. If you own dogs in NY, I believe it.
    4) The manual says 120,000 miles unless it is a CARB state, then 150,000 miles, I would do it at 120,000, unless there is a code they can show you.
    5) This is never in the manual, but every 100,000 miles is good advice.

    Now, I live in rural MS, not NYC, so your prices are about double what I pay. (5 has been $90- $110 for me) I would get a second opinion.
    Hybrid Auto Tech
    1204 44th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101
    (718) 482-1414
    seems to have mixed reviews.
     
    Mendel Leisk and Pluggo like this.
  5. Matthew Lindsay

    Matthew Lindsay New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2019
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    Location:
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    oh lord if I could get that kind of money for doing those things, i'd be a millionaire.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
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    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good advice above, especially @JimboPalmer's breakdown. You need to open the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet, check in advance what happens and when, and note it's miles or months, whichever comes first.

    And yeah, a lot of the dealer's quotes are absurdly high, in particular the transaxle fluid drain-and-fill. As @jb in NE says, $80~100 is reasonable. It's comparable to an oil change in complexity/time.

    I would add brake fluid change, sometime soon, and that should not be more than $100~125.

    Here's the US third gen schedule; I converted to graph format. Note, there is no transaxle fluid change, just inspection, but that's Toyota USA for you. Regardless, I would consider doing a change, ASAP. Then you can stretch it:

    2010 Prius Maintenance Schedule (US).jpg
     

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