30k service?

Rule 1 Some where in your area is an honest mechanic. Use that one. Leave clear and unfavorable feedback to the 'bait and switch' mechanic, then never consider using him again.

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Rule 2 Always specify what services you want, never leave it up to the other guy to decide how much services he charges for.

 

Wanderer,

I have a 2G ('04-'09), but there shouldn't be that much of a change in the maintenance requirements for a 3G ('10-present). A lot of people in the past have just dropped their Priuses off & asked for a xx,000 mileage service & ended up paying what you're now being quoted. The only "required" maintenance for the Prius is in the "Passport" maintenance booklet (if that's what they still call it) that came with your car. If you stick with just what's spelled out in that booklet, you should only be charged significantly less than $100.

All of my services have been in the $35- $40 range [for the tire rotations & oil changes---I do my own engine air & cabin air filter changes prior to service & only if they need it, instead of letting the dealer do it for $70 each (on sale) for filters that only cost around $20]. That's the most I've paid unless I asked for anything extra like transmission oil DRAIN & REFILL for $80 (NOT flush for $140) every 50,000 miles, spark plug replacement at 120,000 miles (loosened @ 60,000 miles---they actually put some anti-seize on them for me), or PCV valve replacement at 120,000 miles (with the spark plug replacement because removing the plugs makes it an easier job), & both coolant system loops drained & refilled at 100,000 miles.

In most cases the $400 (that some dealers charge those who don't ask for just what's in the "Passport" booklet) is a generic charge for most of their other model cars. Therefore they will charge you for things that can't even be done or checked on a Prius. Why would you pay extra for something that can't be done? Ask for them to do just what's in the "Passport" booklet & re-quote you the new price. Tell them not to do the air filters (engine & cabin). Buy them in the parts dept. (or other place of your choice) & tell them you're going to do it when you get home [2 minutes for the engine air (dirty side will be on the bottom---just watch for the positioning of the rubber tab on the old one) & maybe 5 minutes for the cabin air (depending on how much junk you keep in your glove box that has to be unpacked & repacked). My only word of caution is for the cabin air filter if you're going to go aftermarket parts. Look at your original one first & compare it to an aftermarket one. The aftermarket one may be different & not fit quite right to do the proper job. You should have no such issue with the engine air filter though.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

Hi again, Wanderer,

For an example of what's suggested by the service dept trying to clean your wallet out vs. only what's required in the maintenance manual, see post #5 by dmaxwellh in this link below :

Did you get the prepaid maintenance program? | PriusChat

That owner even pays too much if his oil changes alone are $75 (must be 6 quarts of synthetic, overpriced filter, & overpriced labor). Lucky for the owner that the dealer backed down & refunded the price of his pre-paid maintenance plan when the owner stood up for himself. Maybe your dealer will cut you some slack if you make enough noise (especially if it's in front of other customers). Good luck.

And a big SHAME on him for trying to mark up the original price he quoted you by 150% (100% of $160 is another $160 plus 50% more of the original $160 is $80, so 160 +160+80=400) just because a woman brought in the car. Dry cleaners even take advantage of women that way too. A local news station did a segment to expose the inequality there when they had men & women bring in the exact same pieces of laundry for cleaning & pressing. The women were charged significantly higher on everything. Maybe that's where the phrase "I got taken to the cleaners" came from.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

Hi again, Wanderer,

Interesting that they charge you $19.99 for unpacking & repacking your glove box for the cabin air filter (next time try doing both air filters yourself). I can see the tire balance recommendation @ 30,000 miles & just maybe the battery service (if you're in an area that corrosion is possible). However, I've never had or paid for (that I'm aware of) a brake cleaning or adjustment & I'm at 143,000 trouble free miles.

Were the wipers streaking when working? Did they really need replacing? I got my '05 Prius on July 14, 2005 & before that first winter I put on a set of winter blades that have remained on the car year round ever since. They are still on the car now & doing a fine job. I will replace them soon only because the thin rubber cover (that makes them winter wipers) is starting to shred & causing distraction when driving. Oil additive I would refuse (it's just a money maker for them).

Fuel injection treatment should only be done when you have an engine running problem (probably from using cheap gas). 30,000 miles would be way too early otherwise to see fouled injectors needing that treatment. AND there have been some reports of injection treatments causing damage to, I believe, the O2 sensor or the catalytic converter.

And lastly, throttle body cleaning normally isn't necessary unless it gets fouled by overfilling your oil level. If the dealer has been doing your oil changes, then that should be their mess to clean up for free (& then maybe they wouldn't continue to overfill your crankcase).

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

If you use "X-rain" twice a year there is no need for wipers @30mph the rain will be gone from your front windows.

 

Hey, Wanderer,

For the engine air filter, all you do is pop 4 clips off the cover (it's easier to do the left side one first before doing the super easy 3 on the front edge). Note the positioning of the rubber tab (rear edge, slightly to the left of center). Believe it or not, some who have done their own filters have put the tab on the front edge & then can't figure why they can't get the cover to seat properly so they can re-snap the 4 clips. Lift the front edge up first until the non-attached hinge at the rear lets go, then lift that cover out of the way. Then lift the filter out & check the underside (that's the side that gets dirty). I seem to find the right rear corner (facing the car) of the filter the easiest point to grab onto when removing it. I'm just remembering now that you have a 2012 v (wagon), so your filter may be somewhat different.

I'm hoping that the cabin air filter is pretty much the same as my 2005. The most time consuming part of changing this filter is emptying & re-packing the glove box (if you have a lot of "junk" in it). After you empty it (on my 2005), you pop off one end of the little shock absorber type damper (on the right side of the glove box on my '05). Then you gently squeeze inward both sides of the glove box (to get the tabs on each side to clear their retaining holes) & swing down the glove box so it's hanging on its own. You then reach into behind the glove box & grab onto the 2 tabs on the white filter retaining tray & slide it out (I don't remember if you need to gently push the tabs toward or away from the center---mine just seems to automatically slide out). Then you remove the filter from the tray. Just reverse everything to install the new filter. When I looked an aftermarket cabin air filter, it wasn't the same & might not fit in the tray at all. I saw no such difference for an aftermarket engine air filter though.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

The "v" wagon is even easier for both filters....engine air filter cover has only two clips....
Glove box does NOT have to be removed...there is a small inspection cover in the glove box that is held in position with two tabs and when removed it permits access to the cabin filter/filter cover...not necessary to "drop-the-entire glove box"

 

Hey, CLUBGUY,

Cool that the filter maintenance is even easier to do on the 3G version of Prius (or is it only so on the "v" wagon). If I remember from sitting in a "v" while getting my '05 serviced, the "v" is different from the other 3G's in that the console bridge is gone (what some were complaining about was removed on the "v"). And Toyota brought back the storage drawer on the front of the console of only the "v" (like it was on all the 2G's). And one more difference I noticed on that "v" was that the front door pockets were elongated to accept maps, envelopes, etc. again (instead of just a drink container as on the other 3G's).

Thanks for sharing the info in your post. I hope Wanderer sees it too & enjoys the fact that he will have an even easier time than I have when I change my filters.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)