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

How do you find a good independent Prius mechanic?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by vafoodie, Oct 23, 2011.

  1. vafoodie

    vafoodie Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2010
    14
    1
    0
    Location:
    Yorktown, VA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I'm sick of my dealer's assumption that I'm an idiot.:mad:
     
    #1 vafoodie, Oct 23, 2011
    PriusCamper likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,784
    48,988
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    they're just generalizing, which probably works for them, but a few of us are not. :)
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 23, 2011
  3. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,837
    1,828
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    How far are you from Sanford, NC? Taylor Automotive is a great independent Prius shop.

    JeffD
     
    #3 jdenenberg, Oct 23, 2011
  4. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2010
    3,326
    1,512
    38
    Location:
    Santa Fe, NM
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Seems like you'd be able to find someone in the nearby town of Mechanicsville, VA :D

    Seriously, I have not read anything positive about Toyota dealers in Virginia. In Rav world, somebody just paid $1000 to have rear wheel bearings replace on a 2008 with 40,000 miles, even though they had been complaining about it before 3/36 warranty expired. I would suggest asking around for a good local Toyota/Japanese independent shop, and save major hybrid system repairs for Taylor's.
     
    #4 seilerts, Oct 24, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  5. Prefer a prius

    Prefer a prius New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2012
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Highly Recommend Mac's Service Center in Ashland, Virginia listed on Reinvolts website as an installer. A friend of mine had her HV Battery done there. She said they were great folow up called evven washed her car.
     
    #5 Prefer a prius, Mar 19, 2012
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    #6 JimboPalmer, Mar 19, 2012
  7. DumbMike

    DumbMike Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2010
    560
    119
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    There are AAA authorized mechanics. Has anybody tried one of these? I haven't, mainly because I've only taken my cars to mechanics that I've met through close contacts. I'm not sure where I'll take my Prius when it needs work done.

    Mike
     
    #7 DumbMike, Mar 19, 2012
  8. Judgeless

    Judgeless Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2009
    1,821
    255
    0
    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The Prius is just like any other car. Most things that need checked or repaired can be done by a person mechanically inclined or a local repair shop.

    Just tell them never to mess with any of the orange wires.
     
    #8 Judgeless, Mar 20, 2012
  9. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,319
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Replacing the coolant and brake fluids are very different than a conventional car. Other than those two items, everything else is quite similar. Diagnostics can be difficult without Techstream, though.
     
    #9 The Critic, Mar 22, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)