Transaxle fluid change -- Current $$$ from dealerships

I'm a Gen3, but the process is identical, so it shouldn't matter. At a recent service, I was quoted $139 for a simple drain and fill. Quote was $159 for the same at a competing dealership in another town. A bit excessive imo.



HTC6525LVW ?

 

$40 for fluid. I didn't pay them to drain and fill for me, but I did take it to my 3rd party Prius mechanic for an unrelated service the next day, and since I had the fluid sitting right there, I asked him to do the drain and fill for $45 (1/2 hour). $85 total.

 

It's a wild Friday night in Iowa, as evidenced by the fact that I am posting to PriusChat. Transaxle fluid change locally was $80. I could whine about it, but it actually seems reasonable enough for a Toyota dealer.

 

equally wild night in Massachusetts , as evidenced by my responding to this post....

 

Though I've said it before...

Prices quoted by the Service "Advisor" are not set in stone and be further advised this same person makes a commission for up-selling. Build a good relationship with one...and the Parts guy...and you will save a lot of money. All you have to do is be nice and ask for best price. Yes Sir, thank you, please.

 

I think a lot of times the service advisors have no clue what's involved with a Prius transaxle fluid change, and are basing their quotes on other Toyota vehicles, maybe with trickier transmission fluid changes?

When they quote in $200~300 range, you really don't want to take it there, for a couple of reasons:

1. The obvious: it's robbery (whether they know it or not).
2. If they're actually that in-the-dark about what's entailed, do you want to entrust it to them?

 

The service advisor isn't the person with the wrench in their hand, so the answer is likely yes. Any competent mechanic can do this, including dealer mechanics. The advisor just bargains the price.

 

I wouldn't count on a miraculous transition between the front desk and mechanics. If the service department is experienced in doing Prius fluid changes, and are doing them regularly, the service writers should also be aware it's under an hour and very straightforward. Should always be under $100.

Most here give up arguing with service department and DIY, it's dead simple and about $40.

 

Service advisors have probably also figured out that most customers think a transmission fluid change is a big deal and jack up the price accordingly. Any difference between the cost of the service and the selling price is pure profit for both the dealership and the service advisor. The service advisors will charge whatever they think the market will bear.

As a test, when I run my Prime to the local dealer in a week or so for the 10K maintenance, I'll ask for a quote on this service and see what they give me.

 

That's a good idea, do report back. My 2 cents: a transaxle fluid change at 10K is good timing; not good to leave the break-in detris in there for another 50K. Bargain hard, $80 US is plenty.

 

Unless they meet that price, I'll just do the job on jackstands in my garage. $40 for their labor would be a good deal actually. We'll see where they land on the price.

 

Stopped by the local dealer to schedule the 10K mile service. Asked for a quote to change the transmission fluid. The service advisor immediately replied $289 plus tax. I remarked that seemed high for what is essentially a manual transmission fluid change. He quickly came back with $189 plus tax, then looked in his computer and told me it would be $119.99 plus tax. At that dealer, World Standard fluid is $11.07/quart.

 

That 80 dollars was 4 years ago.

 

September 2016 was the last time I bought up here. Through a local dealership, Canadian dollars:

Toyota ATF WS, per liter: $9.14
Drain/fill bolt washers, apiece: $3.80 (robbery...)