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Third Party Service

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by aanvd, Jan 9, 2012.

  1. aanvd

    aanvd New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
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    II
    I am getting ready to have my 165000-mile service done on my 2006 Prius. Does anyone have any experience and/or opinions on having routine service done by non-Toyota (third-party) shop? The one I have in mind has a good history servicing imports at a reasonable cost but I am not sure about trusting my hybrid to a third-party shop.

    Thanks
     
    #1 aanvd, Jan 9, 2012
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What exactly do you intend to have done? Are you extrapolating from Toyota's service guide:
    Toyota Parts and Service
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Jan 9, 2012
  3. aanvd

    aanvd New Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just the recommended 165K-mile service (from the Iconic Prius Extended Maintenance Schedule):
     Replace engine oil and oil filter1
     Rotate tires
     Visually inspect brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
     Inspect the following:
    __ Ball joints and dust covers
    __ Brake lines and hoses
    __ Drive belts
    __ Drive shaft boots
    __ Engine and inverter coolant3
    __ Exhaust pipes and mountings
    __ Radiator, condenser and intercooler
    __ Steering gear box
    __ Steering linkage and boots
     
    #3 aanvd, Jan 9, 2012
  4. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Make sure that they actually switch off the car and not assume that because the engine isn't running that the car is off!

    You don't want the engine to fire up after the oil has been drained!
     
    #4 GrumpyCabbie, Jan 9, 2012
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What Grumpy wrote :_> In principle all of those things should be easy for any independent to perform; the risk is in whether they are sufficiently familiar with Prius basics. If they start changing fluids such as inverter coolant or brake fluid then the knowledge and proprietary tools requirement goes up fast. I reduce the worry by always taking it to a dealer. The chances are better.
     
    #5 richard schumacher, Jan 10, 2012
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