30K checkup rip off!!

I was told by our sales guy that the CVT transmission fluid is a closed system, and never needs to be replaced.

Toyota pissed me off when it came to our Corolla's transmission fluid going black at 40,000 miles.

 

How much is the blinker fluid system flush at your dealer?

 

Never ask for a XXK mile service. Dealers have their own service
packages than contan many "services" that are either useless or
simply not needed.

Check your warranty booklet and see exactly what is called for at
your mileage. Call the dealer and ask for only and exactly what
you need to fulfil the warranty requirements. Such as:

Oil change and filter
Rotate tires

Do not mention any mileage numbers.

Cost should be in the $40-$60 range.

You could take your own oil to ensure getting high quality oil.
You might also specify 3.5 qts of oil to prevent overfilling.
You should check oil level before leaving the lot.
It would be wise to check the oil drain plug ASAP to ensure
tightness.
Check tire pressure before leaving the lot. Techs think it is their
duty/God-given-right to change tire pressure to OEM specs. Wrong.

IIRC, the transmission service Intervals are 100K miles and 50K miles
thereafter. However, some of the long term Gen I and Gen II owners
recommend changing at 15-20K miles "just in case" there are some
break-in issues.

Hope this helps.

Blinker fluid system flush is not needed until after the relative bearing
grease purge and renewal at the one year anniversary.

 

Don't forget that you should also retension the water line and sweep the baffles at this time also

 

Three quarts exactly of oil is fine, and avoids the bother of a half-full bottle.

 

stanlyjohn,
The search tool can be your friend ... sometimes.
The STICKIES are ALWAYS your friend ... and so are we:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...70-what-services-you-need-what-you-don-t.html

.

 

According to some forum experts it is worth to change it early anyway.

 

I second Rokeby's 'do not ask for the xx mile service'. I also found the dealer has their 'recommended' list which includes TONS of things you don't need (some that can not even be done on a Prius like 'lube') that they make big money on. There is NOTHING in the service manual for 'replacement' other than oil and filters until the 120K service, then they add spark plugs. The 'adders' at other intervals are 'visually inspect...'.

ASK what they charge for labor to replace the cabin air filter. My dealer charges 15 minutes for ANY cabin air filter even though you can DO IT YOURSELF in 3 minutes or less depending on how much stuff you have to take out of the glove compartment, no tools required. If they charge ANYTHING, just buy the part and do it yourself at home. AND then wash the old one gently in woolite or similar. Air dry and it is 95% new. Buy new cabin filters every few years (at ~$20) instead of every x miles or months. If it is FREE, you will do it more often. Oddly, they don't charge to replace the engine air filter and it takes just about as long as the cabin filter.

 

Don't fly off the handle before you ask why they are "suggesting" you perform these services at 30K.

Yes some dealers do find ways to run a cash register under your car and others are trying to save you money in the long run with preventative maintenance.

How happy are you going to be when your dealer who offered 30K transmission services and you declined them only to be sitting there with a $3,000 bill for a rebuilt transmission at 100K miles? If your the type of person that only keeps a car for five years or so why spend the money on excessive preventive maintenance? But if your like me who drives a car over 250K plus miles I would spend the money to over maintain a car.

There is no such thing as a Life time fill in a transmission, radiator, or brake lines. All these fluids need to be changed out on a regular basis.

Ask a GM owner that had 5yr/100K mile Orange DEX-Cool coolant of death in their cars?

Life time is The Life of Toyota's Warranty.

Remember all automotive fluids break down over time and mileage.

With out seeing the whole list from the dealer I can't tell you what is and what isn't over the line.

Plus see what is on the list you can do your self with out paying the dealers $90-$125 labor charge.

 

Wow! Do you mind sharing the dealer name and address?