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

Diagnostic Fee at dealer

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Falcon6v, Jul 29, 2024 at 11:20 AM.

  1. Falcon6v

    Falcon6v New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 8, 2024
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Tampa
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Local dealer wanted $180 for a diagnostic. Isn't that just a scan? I can get it done for free at a lot of places. Anyone know why they charge so much? That's almost $150/hour?!!
     
  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,487
    806
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Because they can!
    Those places that do it for free will hook-up a $20 OBD2 scanner from Walmart and read-off generic Federally mandated codes. It's not a Toyota specific, Techstream OBD2 code reader that will tell you specifically whats going on and enable you to toggle sensors and switches to isolate your issue.
    Hope this clarify things.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,004
    49,534
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you can do your own with an autel maxi 200
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    55,632
    38,758
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I recall the first time I encountered that. Forget what the issue was exactly but it was clearcut. I phoned up service, made an appointment, brought it in, got the the phone call about an hour later, something along the lines of "Yes, that needs doing. Would you like to book an appointment to bring it in?" Yeah I guess so... :cautious:
     
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    7,186
    6,734
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Proper diagnostics are much more than a scan, but most people don't know better.

    I'm not saying Toyota will do it correctly because that just isn't guaranteed. But as Biomed01 points out the dealer is supposed to do a lot more than the freebie places and they are supposed to use their experience to evaluate the results of their deeper scan in context with the symptoms reported.