Is the service department ignoring my issues?

I have a couple issues that I was hoping some of you more experienced prius owners could help me out with. Before the holidays I went in to my dealer and had my first 5K maintenance performed for my III with nav and solar roof.

I let the rep know that I wanted the beeping turned to the one beep for reverse. I also let her know that I am experiencing sudden and harsh deceleration when canceling my cruise with the brake pedal. I am very familiar with how my brakes feel and let her know that when braking without cruise control on, it is a smooth process with no issues. Only when I use the brake pedal to cancel my CC does it jerk suddenly. I have yet to have a smooth braking experience coming out of CC. I have to depend on using my CC lever to cancel the CC before braking if I don't want the jerking sensation.

About an hour later (they were quite busy), she came out with the mechanic who remained silent and informed me that they are unable to turn the beeping off and that my only two options are to have the beeping remain as is from factory, or have it switched to a solid tone that remains on while in reverse. I asked her if this was the dealer policy and she told me it wasn't, that this is just not possible to have done with the programming of the nav unit. I informed her that I had heard otherwise and also let her know how much nonsense it is to have a beeping INSIDE the cab when no one can hear it outside where it can actually do more good than providing a distraction for the driver. She held her footing and kept with her story that it isn't physically possible to change it.

She then told me that the mechanic (who still remained silent) took the car out and did experience the same issue with the CC that I have, but that it is an issue with the prius and is not of any concern, and then tried to instruct me on how to perform a smooth braking procedure (after she just said that the mechanic had the same problem). I am a paramedic and drive ambulances very frequently. I think by now after years with a set of lights and sirens that I know how to come to a smooth and complete stop without jerking the vehicle forward like an old lady (no offense to any age impaired females on the boards).

Lastly, they changed my oil at the 5K mark when I know it's supposed to be 10K. I'm not complaining at all about this, but I do not fit the category for the hard use oil change (nor did they ask me my driving habits). I wonder if them changing the oil is just a sign of their lack of attention to detail that I am expecting my dealership to have when it comes to my brand new car (which they technically still own).

Any comments on how to address some of these issues would be appreciated. Thanks everybody and Happy New Year!

Josh

 

That helps a lot. Thanks for the clarification. That makes pretty good sense. You would think that they could program it be a bit smoother when using the brake pedal to disengage the CC, but hey at least I have an answer.

As for the beep, I was crystal clear about it. I think they either didn't want to go plug the car back in, or the dealer has some false morality policy about turning off "safety features." I might take it to a different dealer for the 10K service.

Thanks for the help.

 

@Troyroy: Can you be more specific as to where this switch is? This is the first I've heard someone reference it before.

@bretaz: I have no idea. I'm assuming 0w20 since I went to a dealer, but there's no way to be sure. If I ask, I doubt they would tell me any different, even if it weren't true.

It's a shame that the service department at this dealer is this way. The sales department was the best we experienced in Central Florida. I guess the dealers with the shady figures walking the lot will have a better service department.

 

Well, I'm reviving an old thread. I'm at the dealer now for my 10k service. I was lucky enough to pull the same service assistant and she was adamant about the beep only being continuous beeping or a steady tone. I was prepared and had my manual with me. She scoffed at me, and continued to say she was certain it couldn't be changed, but she said she would have the tech look into it. I watched her type in my comments into the computer and they were kinda snooty but I don't really care.

I also told her that I was aware about the brake lights feeding the cruise control and that I wanted them to make it slightly smoother when canceling the CC with the brake pedal. She rolled her eyes at me but also put it in to be looked at.

I apologized and told her I didn't want to be one of those "pain in the nice person" customers, and that I deal with those kind of people all day, and I understand how difficult I am being, but that after paying as much as I did, I believe I should have my car the way I want it.

What sucks is that she's apparently the assistant service manager. Let's see how it works out. As long as these two things get fixed, I won't care since all I have to do is come in for an oil change every 10k. I love my car, but these people make things so difficult.

 

Thanks Tom,

I am just bored while sitting here waiting so I thought I would post. I unfortunately don't have any other time this month to go to another dealer so if they don't change the beep, I'm going to push it up to the manager.

As for the CC, I read the procedure here on prius chat when you guys were nice enough to guide me to it. My concern is that I don't want to screw anything up and it be my responsibility. I am good at directions and good with my hands, but with as much as I drive every day (I've had the car almost 5 months and am getting my 10k service today) I don't want to do something I may have the faintest chance of screwing up.

thanks for the help!

Josh

 

So yeah,

She came out and told me "they were able to find a work-around and get your beeping to stop." She informed me though that the CC wasn't changed because they didn't find any problem with it. I was kind of expecting that so I guess I'll just do it myself.

Thanks for the help with this everyone. The thread can now rest in peace.