15,000 Mile Service

I'm less than 2,000 miles from my 15K service, so it would be nice to get a feel for the cost...

 

Ah yes,Daytona Toyota home of Dan Dean and his internet special of a $39,000 package #9 back in mid-July. ukeright:

 

Servicing and overfilling gas

Wish I knew exactly what servicing the car needs at each interval and what discretion (read: ripoff potential) the dealership has. Brought my 04 BC in to Toyota of Morristown today for the 10K servicing, which in the manual is described as precisely the same as the 5K service. I paid about $54 for that, if I remember correctly. Well, when the intake person was writing me up upon my arrival, she wrote $177, including the charge for synth oil. I kinda flipped out, and she said, well, if I wanted they could do the 5K service again - that's the minimum needed, but AAA recommends more than that for our area of the country (northern NJ). Knowing the brakes have started squeaking and that I've been on a couple of long trips since the 5K, I said, well, OK. Got the car back after 1 1/2 hours. The Prius Tech on my team said it's a different service from other Toyota cars' 10K, and "he knows what the car needs." So my bill came to about $120, or about $89 plus 4 qts of synthetic oil. Seemed high to me, and it seemed like I got double charged for oil, not simply charged for the difference in dino vs. synth, but I just wanted out of there. The good news is they gave me back one partly-filled qt of oil, so I know they didn't overfill the oil.

Regarding the question on overfilling the gas tank in other threads, the Tech told me, as Michelle V. said, gas can get into the charcoal canister if you overfill; however, it will eventually work its way out. You don't want to overfill regularly.

Susan
04 silver BC
10,150 miles

 

I found a useful chart on the Prius-2G Yahoo group's Files section. It lists the service intervals and which work will be done, along with some (unidentified) dealership's quote for the service. I think the 5K was $69 so you could use that as a guide. Anyway, the file is free to members and this group does not get spammed. Enjoy!

 

I have data!

Did some research & calling around re: price of the 15K checkup last week (go to the 2nd page of this thread for more info).

In short, around Washington State and using some on-line data from Michigan and VA, the approximate price for a 15K checkup was between $135-$190.

 

I change the oil as recommended and have the car fixed when it breaks. I never take the car in for periodic checks and maintenance.

 

Doesn't that void the warrantee?

 

Warning……This is a long post!!!

Just took my Prius in for it's 15K service last week and all I can say is, "shoot me...shoot me now." I've never been "crazy" about a car before, but I love my prius! I bought it in West VA and live in mount Airy, MD. that puts me almost exactly in the middle of 3 dealers, 15 miles north is Westminster (Koons Toyota), 15 miles west is frederick (Darcars Toyota) and 17 miles east is Clarksville (Antwerpen Toyota.)

Initially I tried to be diligent and called each of the dealers to ask them:

- Do they have Prius Certified Mechanics?
- How many Prius' do they maintain

Of course, those who took my call (not all did) said, "we are the absolute best", etc. What else would they say. I eventually decided to take the car to Koons Toyota in Westminster for its 5K. I had been reading in this forum about issues, so I made sure to have them write on the ticket, "3.9 quarts of 5W30." At this time my tires were still set to factory so when I got the car back, I paid my $39 and went on my way. Later that weekend, I checked the oil and it was about 1/8th" over full and I freaked! OK, I didn't freak, but I did drive back to the dealer to have them check it out. Of course, they said, "if it was an inch over, I'd be worried, but that is fine." I asked why the receipt shows 4 units of oil instead of 3.9 and they blamed the computer ("thats the way it prints out.") I went on my way. At 10K, back to Koons. By now I had 40PSI in the front and 38 in the back and was reaping a pretty good increas in MPG. this time I reminded them of the 5W30 and waited for the car. I got it back, paid my $37 (go figure) and went home. Later that weekend (why won't I remember to check the car when I'm at the dealer?) I checked the oil and again it was a little over. I checked the tires and was half-way expecting them to be back at factory. Well, they weren't at factory. They weren't changed at all, except i now had 38 PSI front and 40 in the back!! I was Pissed!! the rotated the tires and didn't even bother to check the air pressure.

OK, now to the finale! 15K rolls around and I'm dreading the service. I'm seriously spending a lot of time wondering if I should change dealers. I finally covince myself that I should and make an appointment in Frederick (Darcars.) I also received the SSC 40D in the mail which I am also very worried about them screwing up during the download so I make an appointment at 8 am on a subsequent morning. I have a 10 am meeting, but no problem says the manager. I show up and ask for the 15K service. They say that will be 200 and something dollars!!!! What?????? I ask for the service that Toyota says I need. You know, oil, tires and check a few things. Oh, OK says manager. Anyway, I get the car back barely in time to get to my appointment and forget to check the car again!!!! They did tell me that they took care of my tires for me. A few days later, I check the oil. Still a little high, but not much (1/8" or so.) I check my tires. Not back at factory...not reversed....40PSI all around now. Sigh..... How hard is this????? I fix the air pressure and am now trying to decide what to do next service when i get a phone call yesterday from Darcars corporate office. "How was your service?" Well, I unloaded on her. She says to take the car back right now and she will call the manager. I tell the family to put the chicken away, we’re going out tonight! Justice!!! Off we go to Frederick. I go inside to see the manager and he acts surprised to see me (not a good sign.) I explained that corporate called me and he says, “oh, I told her that my Prius guy goes home at 5†and leaves it at that. I stare at him until he says, “I’ll check it for you if you want.†We go outside, he looks at it and says the same thing the Koons guy said (probably right from the “things to say to idiot customers guidebook†) If it was more than an inch over, I would be concerned. This is fine. Then he finishes with, “I’m surprised that you called. Bob (or whomever worked on my car) has over 37 years experience on this car.†I tried not to laugh out loud and said, “not on THIS car†and he realized his mistake and said, “well, I’m just saying he’s a master mechanic.†Yeah, that’s who changed my oil. The master mechanic.

OK, so I’m blown off again. I’m not looking for a dealer to hold my hand, but some sort of acknowledgement of the interest I have in properly maintaining the car without making me feel like a pestering idiot for asking questions would be nice. That or maybe performing the service correctly and with a modicum of concern for accuracy. Either would be nice. I guess I’ll write back in a month with my experience from Antwerpen. I’m running out of dealers……Sigh.

 

I agree totally with jamarimutt!!!

I have had Lexus service that you would not want for your kids bike; and it got much worse when I got involved with the "Lexus Regional" support staff!

I'm running into the 5ka service and I will give the dealer 3 qts. of Mobil-1, a written list of issues/fixes that they will sign a copy of and pick-up the car ASAP!

And.... I will hold my breath until the car is back in my control!

Best of Luck,
Tom and the Boyz

 

Rick,
I don't have my 2005 Prius yet (Oct?) but I'd suggest you do what I have done with my other cars on at least three occasions in the past number of years. If I have a realistically bad experience with service I carefully document everything then type a letter addressed to the CEO of the car maker, copy to the local guy. On each and every time I have received a reply and have returned to the local dealer/servicing department after making an appointment to see the boss. We are candid with each other and I agree to continue returning for service providing I get an honest job. So far things have worked out very well and , in fact, all is on a friendly basis.
My motto is " don't deal with the staff go to the boss" . Competition between car manufacturers is pretty keen these days and, pun intended, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

What TCD said. There's no reason at all to risk overfilling the oil. Give them 3 (three) full quart bottles of oil and tell them to put in exactly that, no less and no more. Tell the service writer that you will check the oil yourself after letting it sit for 15 minutes on their drive, and if it's overfull they'll do it again at their cost.

Three quarts fills the system to halfway between the "ADD" and "FULL" marks, which leaves margin for error both ways.

 

Yes, if something breaks related to a maintenance item which was not performed. You don't have to have regular service done by a dealer but you have to be able to document that it was done.

 

I believe that this would me more of an issue with a longer warranty, say the 7 or 10 year 100,000 mile warranties issued by some manufacturers, because you may have a timing belt substitution or something similar beyond 50,000 miles. but before the warranty expires. Is anything this important due on the Prius before the 60,000 miles of engine warranty expires?

 

Who knows what Toyota will decide is "important"? Not me; therefore, I'm not gonna skip any scheduled maintenance.

 

It has been my experience that maintaining a car regularly is far less expensive in the long run than fixing it when it breaks. Maintaining the brakes, timing, checking hoses, etc., and replacing parts is way better than getting stuck/towed/injured when the car breaks down. I've done it both ways. Preventative maintenance is better. A schedule of maintenance may be a great source of income for the dealer, but I'd rather pay that price than the alternative. I'd also rather, as Richard says, be sure I've kept my part of the warrantee bargain.

Susan

 

Also more convenient when you get to schedule in advance when you get to go to the repair shop.

Also, sometimes a good mechanic will spot an early sign of a problem that I would not see.

 

I change oil, filters (incl cabin air), etc. myself. I also check tires for damage/pressure and rotate them, inspect brakes, look for leaks, etc. My car will go in with that done/documented within the previous 500 miles.

Any service writer that tries to tell me that the 15k service includes "adjusting the ignition timing" or "adjusting the valves" will have to prove he can do that by showing it to me in his procedures guide. Only a few years ago a Subaru service writer used the phrase "points and condenser" -- pointlessly.

The most important single "scheduled maintenance" advantage might be a scanner that looks for trouble codes and other useful data stored in the ECU, or for sensors/etc. that are at the edge of spec. I can't determine that myself.

 

Not a thing is replaced at the 15,000 mile check and everything can be checked in 30 minutes by a beginner mechanic. You'll most likely waste half a at the dealer and spend $135 to $190 of the money you saved on gas. To each its own.