Recommended service shop in Monrovia/Arcadia (SoCal) area?

First off, read this thread..

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ting/17790-prius-30k-mile-service-prices.html

Next, buy your own synthetic oil, oil filter, oil filter "O" ring cabin filter and engine air filter. You can find deals online, less expensive than Toyota dealer!
Now replace the cabin filter yourself, it's VERY EASY!!
Next replace engine air filter yourself, it's VERY EASY!!!
Next take Oil, Oil filter, and new "O" ring to Longo.
Tell 'em you need a oil change, you have taken care of everything else! They can take care of "Oil Disposal" at the same time. Maybe rotate tires, if your so inclned, you should pay around $50 bucks with tire rotation..plus they enter the service into the car service history, handy to have if warranty issues come up later!

I do this every visit to the Dealer, I go to 2 differerent ones, depending on my mood, and schedule for the day. They are used to me now. I'm that guy with preprinted instructions in 20 pt. BOLD font. I list what I need to have done, what I did and what I expect at the end of the service visit.

It works!!

 

No it's entered in Toyota's system when they perform service. If there is something you need looked at, and can't do yourself, have them take a look..
You can jump to the Toyota website, and have the ability to pull your service records!

 

Inspect the following:
Automatic transmission fluid,
You can look at the canister yourself, it has a fill line and add fluid line...

Ball joints and dust covers
Turn the front wheels hard one way or the other, shut the car off. Look at the dust covers for the Ball Joints, are they cracked, leaking, and or otherwise screwed up, no, move on. Turn on car rotate wheels to other direction, look at the other wheel.

Brake lines and hoses
Drop under the car look for cracked hoses, brake flulid leaks, anything that does not look right...

Brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs
With regen, you can go 100k before brakes really need maintenance. When you rotate tires look for excessive dust, etc.

Drive shaft boots,
Simple, either they are not cracked, or they are cracked and leaking. It's pretty obvious when boots are bad.

Engine/Inverter coolant,
Look at the coolant lines, look for leaks, you should see fluid bubbling through the little glass window. If it looks dry, there is a problem, have it looked at.

Exhaust pipes and mountings,
This ones so simple, just take a look, shake the tailpipe. There should be MINIMAL movement. If there is excessive play, find out whats loose, tighten it.

Front differential oil
Look at the cannister, in fact make it a habit, once a week look under the hood, it takes all of 5 minutes to see if one of the fluid reservoir's are low, that's why they put the lines on them.

Fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses
Do you smell gas....you have a leak, when you fill up do yousee a puddle under the car...leak, have you overfilled your tank, carbon canister is now screwed. Visit the dealer.

Fuel tank cap gasket
It's an "O" ring, is it solid and pliable and snug, it's OK. Is it cracked and not keeping pressure lock, RED TRIANGLE OF DEATH will appear alerting you to fuel system problem, buy new "O" ring.

Radiator, condenser and/or intercooler
Take a look, do you see any fluids where they sshould not be. Just look at it. That's all the Toyota mechnic is going to do. Sight is a wonderful trouble finder!

Steering gear box
Steering linkage and boots Finally, once again visually inspect it. Look for fluids, grab hold of tire try to move it. It should be solid. Any excessive play should be addressed.

Most of the inspection is just using common sense and your eyes and hands and just look! When things are wrong, it usually results in a mess, or oder, or a item that looks wrong.
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Thats why your going to do them your self, if you do not know how, ask as you did. There are many of us out here that are PROactive in looking for car problems. Once a month I detail the engine compartment. Thats a great way to find things that are leaking, low, or otherwise going south!

 

The whole point is, it's your car, you can do this!!!
You can save a bunch O bucks if you ask a few qestions, learn, and do!!!
If you trust Pep boys, go for it!!