Heavy Engine P0302, P0304

Hi Prius Experts,

Yesterday, when I started my 2014 Prius V (120k miles), it rattled, and shortly after that, the engine light came on. Today, I took the car to a showroom, and they charged me $189 for a diagnosis (I also called a local garage in Austin, and they quoted $190 as well). The Toyota service center informed me that there are misfires in cylinders 2 and 4, which occur only during initial startup. The codes they provided are P0302 and P0304.
To diagnose the issue further, they are quoting an additional $500.

I would appreciate your advice on how to proceed. I have kept up with all recommended services from Toyota, with the last service performed at 116k miles just a couple of months ago. At that time, Toyota did not mention any urgent issues.

Should I pay the $500 for further diagnosis, or would it be better to consult a local service shop in Austin? If anyone can recommend a reliable Toyota service center in Austin, I would be grateful.

Thank you!

 

Thanks @rjparker for the references. Before contacting the dealer, I called Bearden Automotive, and their price was the same. As a result, I decided to go with the dealer. I'll also be getting a quote from Hometown Hybrids. However, I am likely going to skip the additional $500 fee to the dealer and take my vehicle to Bearden Automotive for further diagnosis.

 

I took my car to Bearden Automotive and had a pleasant conversation with Albert. The pricing seems to be comparable to what I would find at a dealership service center. I'm considering whether I should invest $6,000 to $7,000 for the head gasket repair. The car is in good shape, and I personally want to keep driving it for as long as possible. Should I choose a local repair shop or stick with the dealership?

Please advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

Thanks, @rjparker. I will try to obtain an email quote and see the actual work that needs to be done. I'll also check with Hometown Hybrids. Currently, the dealer cost is around $130, plus BearDen is approximately $200, and I believe Hometown is about $250. Normally, in the past, I would have traded in my car for a new one, but with car prices being so high right now, I don't want to rush into anything. I'm feeling confused about whether to go ahead with this expensive repair or not.