A few words of thanks and a couple questions!

First and foremost, I want to once again say THANK YOU to Patrick Wong, who saved me a lot of money (probably) and a lot of headache (definitely) as evidenced in this thread:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ubleshooting/48699-gas-engine-wont-start.html

Now, more than two years later, my 2006 Prius is at 104,000 miles and runs like the day I drove it off the lot new. (Needless to say, I've never let it come close to running out of gas again.) I can honestly say that this is the best car I've ever owned, and at this point would be the clear choice when my next car is needed - which I have a feeling (hopefully) won't be for some time.

I also want to thank the administrators, moderators, and members of this great forum for their hard work and helpful advice. While I haven't posted here since that fateful day, I've often come here for advice when I've needed it and always found it with a quick search. This site has helped me with everything from replacing the rear windshield wiper to the cabin air filter to the front headlights (surprisingly difficult).

As I prepare to take it in for 100,000 mile maintenance, I think I have a pretty good list of what I need done based primarily on galaxee's fantastic thread. I'm just wondering if everyone agrees that these things are all a good idea, or if any are unnecessary? I'm willing to get done whatever she needs for a good, long life, but can't really afford things that aren't needed! Here's my list (none of which have ever been done):

brake flush
clean/adjust rear brakes (brakes still at 50%)
replace transaxle fluid
replace engine and inverter coolant
EFI cleaning
throttle plate cleaning
PCV valve replacement
spark plugs
test 12V battery
check serpentine belt?

Again just wondering if anyone thinks any of these are not needed OR if there's anything I should have done that I've missed. Also, any ideas what all of this might cost (ballpark)? In the St. Louis area if that matters. I'm sure I'm looking at at least $500 but would certainly like to keep it this side of a grand.

Also - and I did a search but couldn't find anything on this - the top glove compartment won't close, although I found that if I stick the head of a pen (or any other skinny device) in there and slide it across, it will close. Anybody know what the dealership would charge to fix something like this? It's not a big deal, and I doubt I would get it repaired unless it was an easy (hence cheap) fix.

One other thing - anyone from the metro east (Illinois) area that has experience with Newbold in O'fallon and Mungenast in Alton that would recommend one over the other? Or, alternately, have experience with just one of them but would recommend/not recommend them? I bought the car at Newbold, and took it there for the first few oil changes, until they stopped taking appointments for oil changes and I had to wait several hours. Since then I've just been going to a regular mechanic I trust and everything's been fine (and much cheaper).

Once again, thanks to everybody here, and any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll skip cleaning and adjusting the brakes, since I'm not having any problems with them, but probably go ahead with the flush.

As for the 12V battery, I did the MFD/headlights on and off 3 times check, and the numbers seemed okay, though maybe a tad low. In ACC mode the reading was 12.1, upon pressing START the second time it went down to 11.7 but back up to 11.9 within a couple of seconds, and when I pressed the brake pedal and went to READY it was 14.1. (Car had been off for ~15 hours if that matters.) Does this mean the battery should still be okay for a while, or, given the age (4.5 years), is it something that can go out suddenly?

Another battery question: my parents also have a 2006, though with less miles than mine (around 70,000). Three times in the past two weeks their battery has been dead in the morning and they've had to jump it. I told them what I read on here, that given that it's almost 5 years old and that it's dying like that they need to have it replaced. They took it to O'Reilly and had it tested and were told that the voltage was fine, although they said it was at 78% whatever that means. My parents looked online and read that driving short distances can cause the battery to drain. They've been rehabbing a house just a few blocks from theirs for the past few months and have made many short trips back and forth. So they're convinced that alone is causing the non-starting in the mornings and that, since they're about done with the house, nothing needs to be done. That doesn't sound too likely to me, but is it possible? For the record, my parents are thrifty to the point that even if they can easily afford something, they won't do it unless they are absolutely convinced it needs to be done. Having something relatively cheap done like battery replacement every 4-5 years as a "routine measure" would be pretty much out of the question.

If the battery is bad, I'm sure at some point they'll realize it and have it replaced. But can any other damage be done to the car before that point?

As for the spark plugs, I was just going to get it out of the way now since i'm almost up to 110,000 but might wait a bit. Is this something any mechanic can do or should it be left to a Toyota dealer?

Also, if I bought a battery for $112 - or the yellow top one for $165 - is this something anybody who replaces batteries could do? I think I read somewhere that someone had Pep Boys put one in for $15 or something?

One last thing - and sorry for so many questions - but Patrick you mentioned probably not needing the EFI cleaning if I haven't noticed rough idling. I don't think I've noticed rough idling, but one thing I have noticed is that many times when the ICE kicks on or off - usually off, actually - it seems rather violent, like kind of shaky and jerky. It's pretty much always done this though, and has always done it in my parents' car as well, so I just figured it was normal. Is it?

Thanks again, you guys and gals :rockon:!