2014 Prius Plug-in Service Requirements (52,000 mile)

Welcome to the forum. Actually, I am still rather new myself, but I've seen YouTube videos that address the blower fan that you mentioned. The plug-in has 2 fans, one on each side of the back seat. They are just a little squirrel-cage plastic fans that accumulate dust and dirt in their fins. In extreme cases a dirty fan may allow your traction battery to overheat and shut itself off. But really, I would not hesitate to do the maintenance myself if it meant saving $468. Here is one of the longer, more detailed videos:

As for cleaning and deodorizing the fuel system and evaporator, maybe someone else can present a case for this maintenance, but personally I would skip them unless there is a specific fuel delivery problem or an A/C odor that you cannot fix with a DIY product from the auto parts store.

 

I would DIY the fan cleaning, skip the other two items.

 

hello and welcome!

you don't need any of those services, they're just for padding the dealers bank account.

check your o/m for the recommended toyota service needed. and keep in mind, oil and filter are every 10,000 miles with synthetic oil.

some experts here recommend changing the tranny fluid, which toyota calls lifetime, that's your call.

prius does not need anything major until after 100,000 miles, unless you're running severe conditions. which is detailed in the o/m, and pip doesn't get any special service beyond lift back.

all the best!

 

With an EV ratio of over 50% I wonder about the 10K mile oil change. I suppose its best to be safe.

 

i have as well, but at only 9k/year, i change it every spring. if i were putting a lot of miles, mostly ev, i'd probably stay with once a year.

 

I like 6 months or 8000 kms (~5000 miles), whichever comes first. DIY'ing, it's no big deal.

 

unless you have arthuritis.

 

if you don't carry furry shedding animals on a regular basis, it isn't necessary. no one has ever found anything on the fan except a light coating of dust.

 

Do all service centers off this junk? Mine has never offered me anything weird. I'd probably look for a new service center if it's an option.

 

not all, but too many.

 

None of those services are necessary and they are WAY over-priced.

The Hybrid blower motor service is just cleaning a fan if it's dirty. But it's only a problem if you have pets in the car. This service is super-easy to do yourself on a Plug-in... the video in this thread shows the service on an ordinary Prius, and it's a pain to reach those fans. But on a Plug-in, it's really easy. I did it but there was hardly any dirt on the fans and it wasn't necessary.

Luscious Garage in San Francisco charges $60 to do it on the basic Prius (the one it's difficult on). So $468 is a total rip-off.

At 52,000 miles, the only services are oil changes and tire rotations. I ignore tire rotations; the tires wear out and I replace them. But the one added service I would do is the transaxle oil change, which a garage should do for about $100 or you can do yourself. Do not deal with a rip-off garage that wants more than $100 for this.

 

Stress again: if you do transaxle fluid change use spec'd TOYOTA ATF WS only.

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