Got two different lists of recommendations (2010, 93k)

Assuming that you don’t know what a socket wrench is, and you’ve never worked on a car before, which of these things can you do?


Egr service: NO
Transmission: NO, but you can learn how
Spark plugs NO
pcv: NO
fan service: Not necessary unless pets ride in the car
oil change: YES
air filter: DEFINITELY YES
cabin filter: DEFINITELY YES

Replace front brake pads and resurface rotors: NO, but you don’t need this
Cabin filter YES
Air filter YES
Throttle body service NO
Brake fluid system exchange NO
Headlight restoration YES
Mass air flow meter service YES
Replace spark plugs NO

What about the “No’s”? I’ve figured out all those things. Once you’ve done the basic tasks, with oil change being the hardest of them, the Throttle Body Service is very easy. It’s just a little more work than changing the air filter.

And if you can change the Engine oil, you can definitely flush the Engine and Inverter coolant fluids, which aren’t on your list, but should be. The Engine Coolant can be done with no tools at all, except for a drain bucket. The inverter coolant is just a little harder; you need to jack the car up, remove the belly pan and unscrew a drain bolt.

Once you’ve changed the inverter coolant, you’ll realize that you had to make sure you were unscrewing the inverter coolant drain plug and not the identical transmission oil drain plug —- “Hey, I can do that!” So now you know how to drain the transmission oil.

If you’ve gotten that far, THAT’S when you can assess whether you want to do the other tasks. For instance, if you’ve cleaned the throttle body, you realize that removing the intake manifold is just a few more bolts, and now you can remove that, clean it up and replace the PCV valve. Once you’ve done the transmission oil change, you know how to jack up all four wheels, so you can flush the brakes if you want to tackle that.

You can develop these skills and we can help. You’ll do it maybe one weekend a month, gradually picking up the tools and reviewing the tasks before you do them. But all the YES tasks are very simple, with the oil change being by far the most involved — and LOTS of people change their own oil.

When I changed the spark plugs, I thought it was an unbelievably complicated process. Turns out, it’s like Step One of Ten to removing the EGR cooler. My point is, these skills build on each other. Start with the engine air filter. It only takes a screwdriver, but it’s a start, and you go from there.

 

It would help A LOT, if Toyota made Repair Manual info freely available. At least a "light" version, with the maintenance fundamentals. Even windshield wiper insert replacement instruction currently requires a Tech Info subscription, "technically"...

And dare I ask: actually offer advice and encouragement to DIY'rs??

Another thing, with each generation, the Repair Manuals seem to be slipping in quality:

 

University of YouTube.....

 

If they did that, that would lead to lesser chance to price gouge when it comes to diagnostic fees and repair costs. There had to be a way to rip off I mean keep making money with minimal work.

 

I'm not sure it's that simple. Toyota and the dealership are arms-length businesses, for starters. And I suspect ultimately the dealership profit margins wouldn't vary that much, if Toyota loosened the "knowledge base purse strings". What might happen, is a lot of the dealership "B Ark" personnel would be looking for other work...

 

Who needs it? We’ve got Mendel!
For an independent Toyota shop, the Techstream price is a good deal.

 

Until they take me away in chains...

 

50 or 60 more posts and I'll have a complete copy!

 

No worries, I’ll set up a go fund me account for bail. The donated money left over will be for red wine, non profit use of course.

 

The Timothy Leary of DIY...

 

Have you been threatened with shackles?

I know awhile back they were more on the offensive in this regard .

But things seem okay now.

 

…when I get my 2009 Gen II serviced, I always ask the dealer NOT to do these items. Parts are ~ $30 @ AutoZone and it's about a 5 minute job! Good luck!

BTW Welcome to PriusChat!

 

I've yet to change either filter on our 2010. They're good.

 

I’ll do it for $69

 

Hah. The enjun air filter in particular looks pret'near brand new. If you look on a shallow angle you can see a little amount of soot differentiation, that's all.

The cabin filter, meh: I tapped it out and vacuum once in a while. Through summer we mostly just use windows for ventilation. And the car is low miles.

I did change the front wiper blade inserts recently, had to be careful not to mix them up: old and new looked about the same condition. Saved the old ones...

Are you "Marshall" here:

The 2016+ Toyota 2zr Engine oil filter conversion - Armstrong Family Blog

I've got the parts for that, will do it in April with the spring oil change.

 

How many forums or blogs are you on?

I barely have enough discretionary time for Prius Chat.

The joy of retirement I guess.

 

Oh that Armstrong Family thread on oil filter bracket was all I was interested in.

My latest time burner is watching South Main Auto Youtube channel. A small town mechanic with a busy shop, doing everything under the sun.

 

Up here it's $9.14 (CDN) per liter. That'd convert to roughly $6 USD per quart?