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

Prius Certified Tech??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by lpleiss, Nov 23, 2004.

  1. lpleiss

    lpleiss New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    27
    0
    0
    Location:
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    I think I've seen mentioned here before that people made appointments to have their car looked at by a "prius certified tech". Is there such a thing, and how do I know if my dealer has one. (I could of course ask them, but I'm not sure I trust them to tell me the truth). I tried Toyota's dealer locater and Prius Certified was not an option to search for, nor was it listed for any of my local dealers.

    Thanks,
    Luta
     
    #1 lpleiss, Nov 23, 2004
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,192
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Almost every service dept. has at least one Prius Certified tech...there is such a thing and they go through some pretty advance training. This was part of the original Prius roll-out..they knew that there would be special training needed and they made sure Prius techs were everywhere.

    There should be some certificates on the wall somewhere at your service dept. Next time you go in just ask to meet the Prius certified tech. Make sure he knows your name, your car and that you know your stuff.
     
    #2 efusco, Nov 23, 2004
  3. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    you'll know a tech when you talk to one.. they actualy know the details. I was suprised to find one at my local dealer.. actualy.. i wasn't.. i'm just used to the other companies. I'm glad toyota can actualy out smart me seeing i'm only 20. normaly it's me teaching everyone at the dealership info. lol. Just call them and ask if there is a prius tech available. If you want to test them ask them one of the recals. see if he can give you an answer on the spot of what happened with the recal.. which pieces failed.. and so on. If he can answer these on the spot, he's most likely a certified tech.
     
    #3 V8Cobrakid, Nov 23, 2004
  4. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    1,637
    16
    0
    Location:
    Dallas TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    :roll: "Prius Certified Tech" So far I have been "insulated" from talking with such a creature! A barrier (Service Writer) seems to carefully guard against such a conversation. To add to the equation, many (most?) Service Writers really don't know much about the type of issues Prius owners encounter.

    I have had three telephone conversations with my Dealer's Service Manager who seemed to be completely unfamiliar with the TSB (EL010-04 Fuel Gauge Inaccuracy) or the LSC (40-J Free NAV DVD update) and has not troubled to call me back. Somehow this doesn't generate a high level of confidence for me to leave my Prius in their care.

    OK OK... there's my "gripe of the day!"
     
    #4 Charles Suitt, Nov 23, 2004
  5. jchu

    jchu New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2004
    1,063
    0
    0
    Location:
    Nampa, ID
    Perhaps it is time to talk to another dealership
     
    #5 jchu, Nov 23, 2004
  6. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2004
    4,147
    18
    0
    If I was you I'd print that off and send it to the Service Manage and a Copy to the Dealership owner/business manager and a Copy to Toyota regional headquarters. You WILL get an answer back.
     
    #6 Frank Hudon, Nov 23, 2004
  7. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    i agree with both replies above. report them and go to a different dealer. the tech i talked to here knew every little detail about the recalls and such. I posted about my fuel guage reading E all of a sudden... of course you all gave answers i wanted to hear and said it was a very recent recall.. well.. i called up my dealer and he was very informed about it. Maybe this dealer is just up to date. Good look with another dealership. too bad they give you hassel at the current place.
     
    #7 V8Cobrakid, Nov 23, 2004
  8. lpleiss

    lpleiss New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    27
    0
    0
    Location:
    Omaha, Nebraska
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Thanks for the info everyone. It doesn't surprise me that in CA where Prii are common that you would have knowledgable Prius techs at every dealer. I'm not sure I'll get the same results here in the middle of the country. (Although apparently Evan isn't having a problem in MO) I guess I'll call around tomorrow and ask to speak to the Prius tech and see what kind of response I get.

    Other than oil changes, the only time I've had my car in for service was the computer upgrade. After having my car all day, I went to pick it up and it wasn't ready. Apparently whoever was working on it couldn't even figure out how to download the upgrade from the Toyota computer to their local computer. This does not make me confident in taking my car there again.

    Luta
     
    #8 lpleiss, Nov 23, 2004
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2004
    13,439
    640
    0
    Location:
    Winnipeg Manitoba
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Before I cut the check on my Prius, the sales guy introduced me to their certified Prius tech. I already knew Prius used CANbus so started blathering about CAN and LIN. The tech appeared to have good working knowledge. I suppose you have to ask the dealer if their tech is Prius Certified, then ask the tech a few questions that might stump a normal tech.

    I must say that despite the disappointing failure of my Prius, my local tech has really bent over backwards trying to figure out what happened. He's constantly on Toyota's case to make sure they keep him up to date on TSB's and potential issues.
     
    #9 jayman, Nov 23, 2004
  10. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2004
    3,790
    152
    0
    Location:
    Park View, Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hey.. our moms were right.. all we have to do is ask :)
     
    #10 V8Cobrakid, Nov 24, 2004
  11. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2004
    1,637
    16
    0
    Location:
    Dallas TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I *may* have to post this :oops: OOPS icon. My Dealer Service Mgr called and has the replacement NAV DVD in. Said to call after Thanksgiving and they'd install it.

    mmmmmm CROW for Thanksgiving - - - delicious :)

    Now... let's see about the TSB on the Fuel Gauge.
     
    #11 Charles Suitt, Nov 24, 2004
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)