Belt replacement

The belt will need to be replaced at some point. If it hasn't been replaced yet after 85k miles and nearly 5 years, it's probably a good investment to replace the belt soon.

It's not easy to replace so you might want to take it to a mechanic who has a hoist to do it for you.

$149 is a little overpriced but that's what the stealership charges.

An independent shop could probably do it for you for $100.

 

That's for them to tell you.
If they're saying $150 now or $150 later then they're not cutting you a break.
If they'll charge you just $100 this time they you might as well go for it [my opinion].

 

You are probably having the HV inverter water pump replaced which is not part of the same cooling system as the gasoline engine water pump, which is belt driven.

The dealer is trying to make some extra money. It's your call if you want to fork over some to them.

If the $149 charge doesn't bother you, then give the go ahead. As I said, the belt will need to be replaced eventually.

 

Interesting..

I have 28k on my car (although it's 5 years old now)
I was told exactly the same thing, when it went in for its recall. Get this :

Drive belt 'has cracks' ( I'm dubious) $149

New tires ( huh? After 28k miles) - $468
balance and rotate - Um.. s'cuse me? If you're putting new tires on, are you saying you're gonna put them on 'out of balance' ? $128
New battery - $430 ish.
Rear brakes need some kind of 'cleaning' $59
and some other stuff I can't recall.

So, I was looking in this forum about 'new battery'. Granted - my car has needed a jump start a couple of times over this last winter, so I'm figuring that it does need a new one. However, while looking at the dealership recommendation - the new battery comes with an 8 year warranty. My car is only 4 years old. Wouldn't the OLD battery come with an 8 year warranty aswell? If so, shouldn't my 'dying battery' be covered?

Steve.

 

I think the 8 years is on a new latest and greatest Toyota battery that just came out. The one that came in your car might of had a year warranty.

 

Steve why would a brand new set of tyres need rotating.

John (Britprius)

 

>why would a brand new set of tyres need rotating.

Beats me... Sounds like a scam to me.​

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Along with those 'your air cabin filter is dirty, needs replacing' = $90. ​

Which is the line I got last time I went to this place...​

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For a $12 part and 30 seconds of unclipping inside the glove compartment. AND... the service technician actually brought it out to show me (it had some leaf debris in it!!!). Thing is? He had... already gotten it out. And therefore had to clip it back in when I refused. Which is the same 'labour' he'd have to perform had I simply bought the $25 filter from the shelf in the service department. My mind boggles.​

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So, anyway - after some research it looks like I can get a spiffy new battery for about $160 and fit it myself in about an hour (30 minutes once you've done it before). I've muddled around that area of my Prius (back from when I installed an aftermarket Sirius unit). Save myself $230 'labour'...​

 

The belt is a $25 part plus labor. I did my own in less than half an hour but many dealerships will charge a 1 hour minimum.

It probably needs to be done around 75,000 miles to 100,000 miles or a lot longer even if you like to run it until it breaks (saw pics in one thread of a belt changed at 164,000 miles).

cracks in drive belt | PriusChat is the thread I posted my photos in and I linked to another thread with instructions on replacing it.

Toyota Genuine Parts 90916-02570 Alternator and Fan Belt : Amazon.com : Automotive is the actual part so you can see a price.

 

I have a 2008 Prius and the dealership told me my serpentine belt is cracked and it would be $200 for parts and labor this morning. This is a quote from Tustin Toyota here in Orange County, CA. It's a relief I have used this site to reference what needs to get done and what doesn't need to get done. It's sort of frustrating that they're blatantly overcharging me the price of the belt itself too. They told me the belt is 100$.

Anyone know of a mechanic in the Orange County/Los Angeles area that will do a good job of replacing the belt for a decent cost?


iPad ? HD

 

Any reasonable mechanic should be able to replace the belt in 15 minutes or less. There is nothing special about the fitting of the belt as in fact it is much simpler than most cars, but a little difficult to get at. It only drives one item, the coolant pump. In the UK the belt is around £8 so about $12 to $15 for the part.

John (Britprius)

 

Call Avi's Advanced Automotive. Avi is a contributor to PC.