Maintenance at 150k miles

Did you not read the maintenance schedule included with the Owner's manual?

Did you not try calling the dealership to find what they recommend?

From what I heard from my dealer's service advisor, he said most fluids in the car were rated to 100k miles.

Sounds like you're about 50k miles overdue. Why'd you wait so long?

I'd start by changing engine / inverter coolant and transaxle fluid. And while it's not listed in the manual, I'd do the brake fluid too, if you're fond of stopping.

If you really want to go the whole nine yards, check plugs and belts, suspension bushings, CV boots... after 150k miles, anything that's rubber should be carefully eyeballed.

 

Here is a PDF of the owner's manual:

http://www.ferhoodle.com/files/2005priusmanual.pdf

JeffD

 

What's your comfort level? You do your own oil changes? The transaxle fluid change is fairly straightforward in comparison.

A coolant change involves some monkeying with electrics to get the system properly bled... there are threads on this topic here, do your research, see if it is worth the time and hassle to save a few $$$.

The brakes, also not straightforward. Read up here: Brake service You may want to pay for this, if you want it done.

Think of it this way. Pay a little for maintenance now, or a lot for repair after your car becomes undriveable.

Shop around. A few phone calls can save you a few $100s. Do your research, decide what you want done up front, and draw the line there. Don't let the shop feed you a string of "while we're in here...", get them to document their recommendations (they'll be much less eager to put their BS on paper), and decide once the car's back in your hands.

...and you drop in to tell me "the deal"? Why should I take you seriously if you don't even bother to do your homework before chiming in?

 

A drain and refill of the transaxel (about 4 qts of Toyota type WS ATF) is $100 at my dealer in CT but YMMV so take care. I suggest, based on lab testing of ATF every 60k miles in my 2004 Prius, that the appropriate schedule is a first drain/refill at 30k miles and then every 60k miles thereafter.

You need to determine if the FREE replacement of the inverter electric coolant pump (A recall due to design flaws. It should include a refill of that coolant) was done. If so that sets the schedule going forward. You may want to consider a preventative replacement of the mechanical engine water pump and serpentine belt when that coolant loop is due.

JeffD

 

So you came to bark at me for pointing the OP towards a decent starting point?

Thanks for the FUD, but it does the OP no good.

 

Maestro8,

If your first reply eliminated the first 4 paragraphs/sentences, you would have come across as being quite helpful. (i.e. this)

I'd start by changing engine / inverter coolant and transaxle fluid. And while it's not listed in the manual, I'd do the brake fluid too, if you're fond of stopping.

If you really want to go the whole nine yards, check plugs and belts, suspension bushings, CV boots... after 150k miles, anything that's rubber should be carefully eyeballed.

Your first 4 lines sound like you are scolding the OP and that is what Evan is saying is unnecessary. And Evan is correct.

 

In the first four lines I suggest the OP should start with talking to the dealer and looking in the manual... because as far as he knows, we're just another bunch of idiots on the Internet (and he'd be right).

Now if it happens to be the case that we echo some things the dealer says, then that would help the OP understand what he needs to do.

But without those first four lines, he'd be blindly following the advice of some Internet idiots. And you'd like me to hold his hand and tell him that it's okay?

Sometimes, people need a little slap of reality. It might sting, but in the long run it does more good than harm. I'm not saying I'm the person that should be doing the slapping... but wouldn't you think it's better that it's done now than after he faces a big repair bill from following bad Internet advice?

 

I have an '06 and I have never had my transaxel fluid replaced that I know of.

Every 5k I have an oil change, oil filter, tire rotation done. I put in one of those million mile K&N air filters, so it gets taken out, cleaned, and reoiled every now and then. I do my own cabin filter. I also add in a bottle of injector cleaner to the tank. Mostly DIY stuff.

Every 100k I go to the dealer and have them, do all the above, + coolant in both cooling systems, + drain and refill the brake fluid, + replace the PVC valve, + plugs and wires on the ICE, + spray carberator cleaner into the throttle body. It has cost me approx. $600 each time all this is done.

Currently have 322k + miles on the car. Same batteries, same brakes, same about everything else with the exception of the HID bulbs, and the tailight bulbs, and I have lost the windshield 3 times due to flying rocks on the interstate. Well actually serverly crack it and then get it replaced. Costs me $200 each time. New tires about every 16 months.

Last 100k service event, dealer told me that I needed the inverter pump replaced, something about a recall on them, I said ok.

About the throttle body/carb cleaner/gas additive thing; at about 30k miles, sitting in a hot parking lot on a hot day with the AC running, doing paperwork, the red triangle came on. I drove the vehicle to the dealer, pointed at it and said fix it. Dealer said there was some gizmo device that would cost $1500 to replace. I sucked in my breath. Dealer then said that it could just be a dirty sensor in the throttle body. Dealer offered to clean it with carb cleaner, see if the red-triangle goes away. He did, and it did, and I started adding injector cleaner at every oil change, and asked the dealer to reclean the throttle body at the 100k checkups, and it has never come back.

Referring to the 2nd posts. I bought my Prius new. During the 1st 100k miles, I took the car to the dealer for the 5k service. Dealer had a service writer which was interested in looking at my Owners manual with me to decide on what service needed to be done. He was also sympathetic to what I had read on Priuschat.com. About 1.5 years later, that service writer left and I found that the other service writers did not car what my owners manual or Priuschat.com said. Instead they would printout their "recomendations" and it looked like it would more fit an Avalone. I remember asking them about the "automatic transmission service" that they wanted to sell me. I decided that they were more interested in seperating me from my money, than servicing my car. However, when I am very clear on what exactly I want done, the work has always been done right. So I still prefer the dealer for the 100k service intervals.

 

Replies have been very little help. For Google posterity, RTFM rants are pollution. Also doesn't help the linked manual doesn't even detail 150K.

From efusco and galaxee I can only glean: oil change, clean/adjust rear brakes, drain/refill engine/inverter fluid, and possibly PCV valve replacement. More than what I can ask a local mechanic to do. Nearest Presidential Cabinet award Toyota is ~1 hr away, so some pita to get these services done.

I fill only with Chevron so I'm not worrying about injectors.

Had the water coolant pump replaced twice: when it failed in ~2009 and I paid out-of-pocket, and again when the recall was reinstated and Longo wanted to be sure it was done.

 

Reconditioning a Toyota Prius - Changing the CVT Transmission Fluid | NotPetroleum Blog

I would have recommended 30,000 miles then every 60,000 miles after that, but in any case, you are due.

 

^ Yes, get the transaxle fluid changed. Be interesting to see what it looks like.

 

It is true that a clogged PCV valve does not impair fuel economy. That is not the point.

The point is to have a properly operating emissions control system and to purge hydrocarbon buildup from cylinder blowby that gets into other parts of the engine, which may cause sludging over time. A seriously clogged PCV valve may also lead to engine gasket leakage over time, as pressure in the engine builds up which is not relieved by crankcase ventilation via the PCV valve.

It is also true that it is not particularly easy to access the PCV valve as the engine wiring harness over the cylinder head has to be removed for access. However, this is an important maintenance activity at 100K miles and should not be overlooked.

 

If you had not previously applied for a refund for the 2009 repair and you still have the repair invoice available, you might write to the Toyota Customer Experience Center, cite the applicable LSC, provide a copy of the invoice, and you should receive a refund in a few weeks.