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Dealer required maintenance concern

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by J Humes, Jan 4, 2020.

  1. J Humes

    J Humes Junior Member

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    2012 Prius
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    Four Touring
    I've been using the same dealer for years and just took my 2012 Prius 4 in for it's 90k which is basically an oil and filter change and make sure the tires are still on type of appointment. However, the service writer in bringing up my cars service record tells me it's a miracle the car made it in on its own power as you have missed critical maintenance. I said what! Why didn't you do them when I had the car in for prior services? He said he did not know why but they needed to be done right away or serious mechanical issues could plague my car.
    Well with one raised eyebrow I put him off and did the standard 90k service. Ok,,, I look old but not too old to check with the experts at Prius Chat. Are these legit concerns for a car that's been kept, up not abused and runs fine? Below is what he said had to be done right away.

    * Hybrid fan cleaning and filter install $235.00
    * Special hybrid coolant change $180.00
    * Intake de-carbon and throttle body cleaning $190.00

    Thanks in advance for responding
     
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  2. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius Plug-in
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    Plug-in Base
    Hybrid fan: no
    Throttle body: no

    Only the engine coolant at 100k miles: yes

    Might want to change your transmission fluid and brake fluid at 100k as well.


    iPhone ?
     
    #2 sillylilwabbit, Jan 4, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2020
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    No excuses, we have members here in their 80s.

    Coolant is the only thing you need to change around the 100,000 mi mark besides engine oil and filter change. Make sure it’s the right coolant that is changed.
     
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  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Your service writer is hoping for a Christmas bonus from you. Quit going to that dealer at all.

    If you have large long haired dogs (or large long haired children) you might need a fan cleaning, you would hear it if you did. can you hear your Hybrid fan? Can your back seat passengers?
    This is the similar Gen 3 Prius


    If you suffer from obvious hesitation and throttle sticking, you may need to spray down the intake, that is all he is going to do. If you can't feel it, it isn't a problem.
    www.amazon.com/CRC-05078-Throttle-Air-Intake-Cleaner/dp/B000M8PYO2

    Just like any car, you need to change the coolant as it ages, 100,000 is the right time, but nothing is special.
    www.amazon.com/Toyota-Scion-Coolant-Antifreeze-Genuine-00272SLLC2/dp/B018Y2WQRK
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Toyota USA recommends an in-depth brake service every 3 years or 30K miles. That's more involved than just the cursory "visual" inspection, at each tire rotation.

    Both dealerships and owners seem to enable each other, ignore that one.

    Spreadsheet of the US maintenance schedule attached.
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    If you still have it.....check the seperate maintenance book with your owners manual.
    That will show everything needed..

    But @Mendel Leisk did also provide you with the details :notworthy::LOL:
     
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  7. Pluggo

    Pluggo Senior Member

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    You may not need a new dealership but avoid that particular service advisor. His manager might want to hear about your experience.
     
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  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Do not concur.

    The “change dealer” light just came on
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Making a spreadsheet summary of the US book (and Canadian), is pretty much necessity, if you want to get the overall picture, see what all's involved, and at what frequency.

    Toyota Canada's now using the same format, except: they don't even print it out anymore. If you want to know what service you need, you have to go online, and plug in your miles/months.

    And then there's the Brit's: if I'm not mistaken there is no published schedule.
     
  10. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    ...There are handful of guys on Prius Chat that lives close to PDX and worked on these generation Prius. When I bought the 07 Prius as a used car at the dealer with a 98k miles. (heck what do I know about newer cars. I was just looking for an everyday miler) So confidently I bought he Prius since its a Toyota dealer. After a few days I found out that park light was busted one on rear and one on front, 1 backlight is out, 1 license plate is out, there is an "intermittent" winding sound at the front wheel, clunking when you shift reverse and a slight surge on steady driving. I went ahead and replace all the exterior light bulbs which is not a big deal. I took the car back to the dealer and I told them about the winding sound and the surge and after a few minutes they went back an told me there was a penny stuck on the wheel and they even showed it to me. According to them, the surging is not quite obvious just a sign of being a used car. Took it home, seems like fine and the next day that winding sound is still there. I pulled out both front tires and I found out that on the right brake caliper "bracket" housing the lower bolt was not there anymore. If that was the upper side , it could have been a disaster. As you can imagine if your driving and the caliper housing lean forward towards the wheel rotating forward.. I don't know and I don't wanna imagine.
    I replaced the bolts, add a red lock tight on both sides, both wheels, I replaced the lower dog bone motor mount. That got rid of the brake winding noise, brake pulsation, no more surging on cruise even shifting reverse. Bottom line is these are all safety check that they need to perform and fix before selling whether its a used car with no warrantees.
    The only place that will do this is a Joe-Blow Fly by Night Used Car lot.
    So I joined the Prius chat and I learned a lot of things about Hybrid cars and (still learning a lot more). Thanks to the guys that helped me out here, I ended up replacing all the pumps, trans fluid, flush my radiator, 100+ mile service. Etc. Its the peace of mind knowing what's needed to be done "first" and atleast you have a better chance before it becomes a surprise. If your car was only a generation 2, I wouldn't mind helping you. The list that Mendel handed you comes very handy. That's a start.
     
    #10 Classic Car Guy, Jan 5, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2020
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  11. J Humes

    J Humes Junior Member

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    Thanks to all that replied and confirmed my suspicions.
    In my youth, I raced sports cars in SCCA on the west coast and used to do all my own wrench bending on those cars and my road cars. When I bought my hi-bred sports sedan in 2012 I stopped doing most of my own but now at 77 I count on my dealer. I had a greedy service writer no doubt. My normal writer was on holiday.
    I bought my Prius literally off the showroom floor. It was a dealer option demo and has it all from Nav, heads up, Solar, the "TRD Plus Package", etc, etc. The only thing I've done to personalize it is swap out the North American market Performance Plus badge, (which no one inherently understands what it means), for the rest of the world TRD Sportivo badge, add the Asian markets Sportivo side decals and the TRD red chin spoiler.
    Thanks again to all that contributed to this thread.
     
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  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Since you've been having Toyota service the vehicle, all the service records would be easily accessible online at Welcome to Toyota Owners. You'll need to join if you haven't already and then you can type in your car's VIN and compare what's been done with the list provided by @Mendel Leisk or with the one in your car's maintenance & warranty guide.

    And I agree that that service writer is one to avoid and maybe see the service manager about.
     
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  13. J Humes

    J Humes Junior Member

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    Thanks Jerry.
    I did not know that was available. :)
     
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  14. Threej

    Threej Member

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    As a fellow PDXer, which dealership was this?
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    PDX is airport code, Portland (Oregon, USA) International?

    For us out-of-towners.
     
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  16. Threej

    Threej Member

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    Yes. We've adopted it as an abbreviated way to say "Portland." That we've abbreviated a 2-syllable word with a 3-syllable word should tell you everything you need to know about our local government's effectiveness.
     
  17. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Bought the car at Beaverton Toyota Dec. 2018.
     
  18. Threej

    Threej Member

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    Oops, sorry for the ambiguity in my question. I'm particularly curious of OP's dealership as well.
     
  19. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    That's okay. I'm not saying anything bad at all. I just told you what really happen and that was all true. In fact Beaverton Toyota is a good dealership we bought my wife's 2018 Prius there no problem at all. It can be a just coincident that it happen to me. Its a good thing that I know how to work on cars for I use to work with GM. I kinda have an idea how the dealership works.
    But its all good now. I got everything covered and I'm on my own.
     
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  20. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    which side of town in Metro Portland do you live?