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

Check transmission fduid

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Peter1, Jan 22, 2022.

  1. Peter1

    Peter1 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2019
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Toyota dealer said my "transmission fluid is dirty". $325 to service it. Seein' as he wants $5,000 for a hybrid battery, $50 to change a light bulb, I was wonderin'. I really can't beleive that the only thing I've seen online is a vague "locate the transmission dipstick" for this 2010 Prius. Still can't find it. Is there one?

    Just got a new hybrid battery today for $2700 at specialty Prius hybrid battery shop. They said I don't need another 12 volt battery.
     
  2. burebista

    burebista Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2019
    165
    114
    0
    Location:
    Romania
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    How did he know that your transmission fluid is dirty?
    You don't have a dipstick for tranny fluid.

    Basically Toyota says that tranny fluid is lifetime but here on PC most of us we change it at least once. I did it for the peace of my mind.
    You can do it yourself, that $325 dealer quote seems "a little bit" steep for me.
     
    privilege, douglasjre and PriusCamper like this.
  3. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,894
    4,418
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Always fun when Stealerships expand their scams into our DIY territory despite Toyota not agreeing with them....
     
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yup! WAY behind on his yacht payments. That's about $700 per hour labor. Except that, since there is no dipstick for the transaxle, the only way to know if it's dirty is to change it.

    Have you told the service manager or the general manager about this service writer? If they don't put a stop to the larceny, then maybe go to the Better Business Bureau or even the state attorney general?
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,658
    38,202
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There's a link in my signature with info on transaxle fluid change. The Toyota ATF WS fluid and replacement fill/drain bolt washers are around $40~50 at dealership parts department, and it's no harder/complicated than an oil/filter change. Anything significantly more than $100 USD for dealership to do this is a rip.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Jan 23, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2022
    jerrymildred and Paul E. Highway like this.
  6. 2010moneypit?

    2010moneypit? Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2021
    314
    122
    0
    Location:
    Beaumont ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Don’t go to that dealer again!
     
  7. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    653
    247
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I just got the transmission fluid drain and fill done on my 2011 Prius (125k miles) at my local Toyota dealer this past week. They quoted $140 and I had a $10 discount coupon, so I payed $130 + tax. I was taking my car in to get a software update for the engine ECU, so I had the transmission fluid changed while it was there.

    I did not want to do it myself because it is to cold outside and I did not want to wait until spring for warmer temperatures.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,894
    4,418
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Only thing that's hard about it is shopping around for a socket for the oversized bold... I think it's 24mm and most socket sets don't go that high.
     
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,658
    38,202
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Gen 3 has identical bolts for drain and fill; socket-head-cap-screw style, require a 10 mm hex driver. Torque is 29 ft/lb for both.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,894
    4,418
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks! So many little things that are different between Gen2 and Gen3... Got an old Gen3 restoration project starting up in a week... Looking forward to better knowing all the differences more thoroughly!
     
    Mendel Leisk and jerrymildred like this.
  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,491
    14,100
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You guys reminded me that I had to hunt up a 24mm socket a few years ago, but I couldn't remember why. Now I remember. :LOL:
     
    Mendel Leisk and PriusCamper like this.
  12. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,894
    4,418
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Someday all our tools will have little data storage chips so we can ask them questions about why we got them and how often we use them. Could make hanging out in the shop and talking to all your tools more legit than it currently is. :)
     
    jerrymildred likes this.