Fuel consumption increase after service and new brakes.

I agree they probably botched the job.
I suggest you drive the car a few miles and then spray some water on the wheels.. If you get a cloud of steam then you have proof that the pads are dragging.

 

Check after an extended drive if the wheels feel warm around the centre, hub area. Also, if you can jack up the back: release the parking brake and see if the wheels turn relatively freely. A slight amount of drag/noise is normal. The rears are drums aren't they? They might have adjusted the parking brake cable.

 

unfortunately, we hear this story way too often. i hope it's just the brakes, many have failed to ever figure it out. sometimes, i think you're better off delaying service until absolutely necessary.

 

That is normal for disk brakes, according to the dealership that provided some brake repair on one of my previous cars. The increased drag is also normal, according to the same shop.

They repeated this mantra several times, until one day the drag was so bad I couldn't maintain highway speed without downshifting, and the heat was so bad the brakes started smoking. If it hadn't been closing time Friday afternoon of a three day holiday weekend, I'd have driven it to the dealership and let it burn in the shop bay entrance.

Tuesday morning, the repairman's boss admitted to a known problem. Unable to find a trustworthy local shop for that brand, I haven't bought that brand again.

 

We had an Accord with dragging brakes. I don't think they would have steamed if I sprayed water on them, but they were uncomfortably hot to the touch. Just saying.

You might check tire pressures too, if you've been running them higher: dealerships tend to bleed pressures down to what's on the door jamb decal.

 

I would be demanding that they put everything right, adding a throttle body clean and a maff clean at no cost. Plus a refund on oil not required. This just as a starting point.
If the oil is one inch over the dipstick level do not be surprised if you do not make it as far as the dealers, and yes this would be all 5 ltrs.

John (Britprius)

 

better to have them show you the disks and pads compared to new ones compared to them and measured against them.

 

This is a difficult one.
The pads and disc do require bedding in this will have been accomplished by the fact they are binding. However some abnormal ware will have taken place depending on how tight they are, and how hot they got.
I think in the distance you have driven this should be minimal. If the ware surface of the discs has turned blue I would say have them replaced (both pads and discs). I would also have the problem logged in case of bearing failure in the near furure (doubtful but possible). If they are just bright steel finish they should be fine.

John (Britprius)

 

Glad everything is sorted out. Hopefully your front disks didn't get too hot from the pads dragging on them constantly.

Watch out for signs that the brake rotors have warped from the heat. If they are warped, you might feel vibration or shimmy in the steering wheel when the friction brakes engage the warped rotors.

Had this problem on our Nissan Quest van which was notorious for warping the front brake rotors.

SCH-I535

 

Glad to hear that the dealer sorted the issue and did that little bit extra to compound the apology...they are not all robbing bast.... then!

 

What was the problem? rubbing pads or what? and what was the actual solution that ur dealer applied?

Actually, I think im experiencing a similar problem:
SYMPTOMS:
1:MPG drop from 47 to 37
2:when i put the car in D and release the break,without any throttle, the car would accelerate on its own with speed around 6 km/h. Previuosly, it would move at 10 km/h.
3:the no. of car leaves in mileage graph has increased. previously, i would hardly get 2-3 leaves in my daily commute to office. but now im getting 8-10! and my battery is green when park my car in office parking.

what i think is that perhaps there is some brake issue, may be rubbing or something. i have noticed it for a week now. no brake repairs in the recent past which i can attribute as cause of this problem.

hope to listen from u soon.
have a nice day.

 

I carried out that steam test on the discs, and found no steam. the wheels are not too hot. currently, i am keeping my 08Prius under observation. MPGs are fluctuating, but i will observe for a full tank. Perhaps, a detailed car wash has loosen the brakes pads/calipers.
will update soon.

SSA

 

Hi Salman. Has there been any other work done on the car recently? Tires changed? Anything at all where the 12V battery may have been disconnected?

Also, could this just be attributed to the colder temperatures and more cabin heat required (which means engine running more frequently).

 

Seems to me the "steam test" is way too coarse a measurement. If the wheels are even 10~20 degrees above ambient the brakes are likely dragging.