2010 Prius 100,000 Mile Preventative maintenance Items

No, it is not hard. It's just that you haven't done it yet. Plus you are in the dark? And it's COLD!
It is NEVER easy to work in those conditions. It's best to wait to at least day time so you can see better.
Maybe when the sun come up it will warm it up some for you.

Plus, it helps to have the correct tools. It makes the job much easier.
Do a search on youtube. Watch 4 or 5 videos of this job, at least. You will learn something from each on.
Nutzaboutbolts are good videos, but you can always learns other ways of doing things from other people.

Just take your time, think about what you need to do, and try to do it. And "try" not to get fustrated.

No, you do not "need" to remove the ground from the 12v battery. Even when working on the brakes.
Just keep the key fog at least 30 feet from the car. And do not open the drivers door when working on the
rear brakes. And you'll be fine.

 

This is increasingly making me want to just take a clean EGR cooler to a mechanic that's done this swap before. I'm too old, busy, and stressed to spend hours doing mechanic gymnastics.

 

Why don't you call around and see who will do it?
Or go on craigslist and put an ad on to see if there are other Prius owner's around that
might be willing to help you do it?

 

you know how many crazies out there will reply and will need favors in return?!

 

You can always say NO. But it doesn't hurt to ask.
I'd help someone in my area. It's nice to help people and the Prius is an easy car to work on.

 

should I also mention receiving explicit photos and messages?

 

Yeah there’s a sweet-spot extension length, allows the ratchet handle to fit in between the myriad conduits/hoses. I hear 4th gen is even MORE fun. And yeah, that’s why I was harping about dealing with that nut FIRST. You can take it off without doing anything else, and leave the car fully functional.

Get an E8 Torx socket and back out the associated stud, for bonus marks. Be REAL careful with it though, and if it feels like it might strip the head, leave till the cooler’s off.

I’ve likely said this countless times, but:

drain a couple of liters engine coolant (into clean container) via the rad drain spigot, and you won’t spill coolant when the cooler hoses pull off. And just leave throttle body coolant hoses connected; no need to pull them off.

more info:


Bad Flywheel | PriusChat

 

Hmm. Good to know. I adjusted the valves on my CRV last year which required being bent over and halfway in the engine bay for a few hours. I was sore for a week.

I go back and forth on DIY wrenching. I can do it. I can learn easily. But I also have periods of self-doubt and am just not very limber.

 

The good thins is you are not in a hurry. Just do a piece of a time, and you'll get it done.
Just keep thining of the hundreds, or thousands of dollars you are not paying someone.
And you can spend it on you and your family.

 

Plug one end, pour in hot/concentrated oxi-clean solution, let it bubble for an hour, rinse and repeat. 5~6 rep’s should get it like new.

Or have at it with a pressure washer.

 

I knew you could do it! I'm very happy for you.
It is pretty bad, but you caught it in time.

Use a pressure washer to clear it out. Then use oven cleaner sprayed in both ends, to CLEAN it out.
Let it sit for half an hour then use the pressure washer to rinse it out. The water will be black.
So oven cleaner it again and rinse again after 30 minutes and it should be a lot cleaner.

You "could" use other things, but spending hours on end waiting and waiting, with there pressure washer
and oven cleaner you are done in about an hour.

If you don't have a pressure washer, maybe a car wash place.
But you can just use the oven cleaner and then a strong stream with a hose. Still HOURS faster, and easier.

DO NOT use the oven cleaner on the EGR Valve. The cooler and pip are fine.

 

Yeah the EGR cooler is stainless steel, impervious to caustic chemicals, and needs more work. The EGR valve and pipe, and intake, are easier to clean, and best stick to more careful cleaning, with say brake cleaner and rags and brushes. They have more reactive metals and/or electronics too.

 

So... Any conjecture on just how polluting pressure washing that crap (plus oven cleaner, brake cleaner, etc thats still in it) either down a drain or into your yard might be?

 

Finally convinced enough to recommend it.

Welcome to the dark side.

 

Oxi ckean or oven cleaner are caustic (like soao), water soluble, and ok to go down drain.

brake cleaner obviously NOT. The latter I use sparingly, collect, and eventually pour over a small tray of kitty litter, allow to evaporate. Then tightly bag the KL and dispose in residential garbage collection.