"Recommended Services" and costs by Toyota service center ?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by GKL, Sep 17, 2025 at 1:41 PM.

  1. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    We recently had our routine maintenance done at our Toyota dealership's service center, it was for the 60,000 mile level as we are always careful to keep up the regular maintenance.

    While the car was being serviced they asked us about if we wanted some other services done that they felt was needed, we agree to one of the items, resurfacing the brakes as it seemed to be reasonably priced and something you do want to be working well.

    The items we said no to them doing at that time they later sent an email reminding us about them which said:

    Recommended Services:

    *3-PHASE FUEL CLEANING SERVICE : PERFORM SERVICERITE 3-PHASE FUEL INJECTION, FUEL INDUCTION, AND THROTTLE BODY CLEANING SERVICE BY FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIAN
    $349.95

    *A/C EVAP CORE CLEANER : PERFORM A/C EVAPORATOR CORE CLEANING SERVICE WITH RID-ODOR SANITIZING AEROSOL BY FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIAN
    $174.95

    *WIPER BLADE REPLACEMENT - FRONT : REPLACE WIPER BLADES WITH OEM PARTS BY FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIAN
    $59.95
    (end of quote)

    I know it often seems dealerships can have what appears to be overinflated prices, we bought our own wipers from Amazon for under $15 which was specifically listed as a compatible replacement for our 2020 Prius Prime and it was rated at 4.5 stars so we saved about $45 from getting the wipers ourselves.

    As far as the other two services, are those things I could easily do myself ?

    I am wondering if the prices for those other services $349.95 and $174.95 might be way overinflated and if I could do those things myself for maybe as low as 1/4 the amount they are asking, as well as how urgent having those things done might be.

    Thanks in advance for any help !
     
  2. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    I would pass on the A/C Evap core cleaning unless you have a nasty, strong smell (moldy) when using the A/C. (That's not a bad price, actually.)

    As far as the fuel cleaning service. I'd pass if you're not having any idle or engine power issues. Ensuring you fill the gas tank with Top Tier fuel is a good way to keep all the injectors and fuel systems clean. (But your throttle body and MAF sensor should be routinely cleaned about every 4-years, 50,000 miles.)

    FWIW, I no longer buy new wiper blades for our newer Toyota's but just buy the replacement rubber inserts from my dealer....they last longer than any expensive blade I've tried in the past. Last time I got the rubber inserts they were around $12 each.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    use the service schedule that came with your car and ignore dealer 'advice'
    not to make you feel bad, but 'resurfacing the brakes' is just a money grab like the others
     
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  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    It's expensive maintaining and staffing a dealership. IMHO, whatever you can do yourself - do it yourself. You'll save money, learn things, and be less reliant on dealerships.
    Anything over $500-$1000 get a second opinion. Standard maintenance check list is in your manuals - stick to it; anything more is gimmicky and questionable.
    Regarding brake resurfacing, are we talking about the rotors? That shouldn't be done, unless you were having brake pulsation issues during application. Shaving them down; removing mass will/can cause brake pulsation - less mass, less heat dissipation = warped rotors. It's simple cause and effect. Don't mess with it, if it ain't broken or squirrelly.
    FYI; Regular ICE cars require attention to brakes around 60K-80K miles. Prius with regenerative braking will normally go more than 100K+ miles.

    Good Luck....
     
    #4 BiomedO1, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:14 PM
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
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  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    The rubber inserts maintain the OEM design of the wiper's function; aftermarket full replacement causes them to skip during operations in my experience.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    From Toyota USA, the highlighted worthwhile, the rest more-or-less "fluff":

    upload_2025-9-17_11-25-51.png

    The 2 filters are eminently DIY'able, so that leaves:

    1. Replace engine oil and filter ($80~100 USD) (This one is usually cheaper, their "loss-leader", they undercharge, and then trot out the "highly advisable" stuff.)
    2. Rotate tires ($40~ USDS)
    3. Inspection brake pads/discs (($100~ USD) (basically checking pad thickness, and thickness/runout of the discs). It's in there, every 30k miles. I'd go further, say every 60k also pull the calipers off, clean and relube everything. ($400 USD)

    The graphic above is from Toyota USA's Warranty and Maintenance Booklet. A paper copy is included with each new car, and if missing (or just for greater convenience), you can download a pdf from Toyota Tech Info website, under the "Manuals" tab.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Sep 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
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  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Glad you aren't falling for any of this BS... Also keep in mind that it may be a "60K mile" service but unless that's all freeway miles your actual engine has less than 1/2 of those miles. For perspective, I have 300K miles on my Prius and not once has it ever needed a "3 phase cleaning service"

    As for Evap core cleaner that would be something you could do if there's a odor from AC that bothers you. All the people at Toyota are doing with this service is spraying a can of AC coil cleaner into the air intake...
     
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  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Keep in mind we're talking about a PriusPrime so all this is premature nonsense, especially if the car is mostly driven around town in all electric mode. Some people with Prime's fill the gas tank like twice a year if they mostly drive local so the amount of wear and need for maintenance on the gas engine is more like a 10K mile service...
     
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  9. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    @GKL; I'd do the automatic transmission fluid replacement - NOT a flush. Drain and fill ONLY. This is just from experience, but it's not mandatory and allegedly a 'lifetime fluid'. I just consider it cheap insurance that shouldn't cost more than $250.
    My sister just started getting intermittent slips on her Subaru @130K - another 'lifetime ATF'. She's over in Tennessee and gets her car serviced at the dealership. Asked her if the ATF has ever been changed? She stated that she does everything the service manual states. I had her call her Subaru service advisor and have them go through the car's service history to see if it's ever been changed.
    I pulled up the manual online; it's only an inspection every 25K miles. Foot note: "If you drive under extreme conditions or pull a trailer, ATF should be replaced every 25K". Does that make any senses for a so called lifetime fluid??????? Well fingers crossed; hopefully the ATF change will take care of her issue and nothing was damaged.

    Getting off my soap box now.......
     
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  10. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, no odor from AC, as far as "throttle body and MAF sensor" I'd have to check past maintenance to see if they did that at 50K as they seem to be good at recommending as much as they can.
     
  11. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, at least I'll know about the resurfacing info if they suggest it again in the future, been a really long time from the days when it was easy to do more auto repairs yourself so I have to research more beforehand from now on.
     
  12. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, yep, I was telling my wife the same thing about the overhead expenses a dealership has, just think what their electric bill is from simply using AC to keep the huge building cool in the summer.

    Wish I had researched that beforehand and maybe should had held off on the resurfacing till researching it, but it's done now so hopefully that will means it should last a whole lot longer than if it wasn't done even though it likely wasn't necessary.
     
  13. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, I'll see how the ones I got work since I already got them, they were customer rated at 4.5 stars so hopefully they work well.
     
  14. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, good info and thanks for the highlighted graphic, I know most dealership salespeople seem to be trained to sell you as much as possible, it's their job I guess, so we have to do our research to keep up on what is really needed.

    I remember long ago before we got our Prius Prime and we just drove "regular" non-hybrid vehicles we used to have a small independent auto shop we went to and I knew we had an honest mechanic when one time I took our car in because it was making a noise and later he (the owner) called me after having a chance to check out the car and said something like it was just a loose bolt or something and only charged me $5 when he could had made something up and charged a lot more, so there are honest mechanics out there !
     
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  15. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, good point about the engine use only being part of the overall mileage, we used to average over 100mph but since we have been doing some more frequent drives beyond EV range it is down to about 92mpg.

    I especially liked when you said: "For perspective, I have 300K miles on my Prius and not once has it ever needed a "3 phase cleaning service"

    and it does not surprise me when you said about them just "spraying a can of AC coil cleaner ".
     
  16. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, right now on average we get gas about once a month since we had been doing more freguent drives past EV range than before, but still a valid point as far the engine not being used for all the mileage.
     
  17. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    I hope you didn't throw out the old Toyota blades....Toyota seems very proud of them, not cheap to buy!!
     
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  18. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Thanks, have not had any transmission issues and do not pull anything with our Prime, but I appreciate that info to keep in mind !
     
  19. GKL

    GKL Active Member

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    Still have them and they are still on the car, only bought the ones we did from Amazon because the dealership wanted to replace them, we have not had any rain for a while while driving and I don't remember having any big issue with how they were doing so I'll leave them on for now and see how they are doing and leave them be for now if they are still doing okay. (in hindsight I am not sure if we ever replaced the original ones yet on the Prime, we also have a Kia and I might be thinking we had replaced the blades on the Kia)
     
  20. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Yep, taking apart the dash is a huge amount of hours for doing something like replacing the AC evaporator you're talking double digit book hours, which costs a fortune considering most shops are starting to charge over $150 an hour in labor. So for them to offer $179 to do the job you can be certain in takes like a 1/2 hour or less to spray chemicals into your system.