Very shameful -- differential fluid concern. $150 reasonable?

most PC members say no to anything but Toyota WS fluid. I personally have used a multi-vehicle low-viscosity ATF fluid which is also ATF WS compatible with no negative results. Then again I change mine every 5k just because it's so simple and so cheap for the fluid. It only takes 4 quarts. Even if they charge $10 a bottle (which is way overpriced), that's $40 + tax for fluid. Add 2 washers for the drain and fill bolt. Those are all the parts you need.

Check out: Toyota Prius: How to Change the Transmission/Transaxle Fluid - PriusDIY.com

very detailed and has all the parts and steps with pictures.

easy as an oil change. I'd say $80 max with genuine fluids if I were to give a mechanic a go at it.

 

also, dealers may pricematch other dealers or mechanics. I remember seeing ATF drain and fills at Toyota dealers for $75-80 with coupon/service specials or $100 max. Definitely would recommend not paying more than $100 at dealership.

 

Dealer or independent - INSIST that they fill your car's transaxle with Toyota ATF WS fluid. Accept no substitutes.
It is fairly easy to change out the 4 quarts of transaxle fluid. The retail price of ATS WS is about $9 US per quart.
So the "stealership will be charging you $100+ for 15 minutes of labor.

I'd steer clear from the independent shop.......unless you have been there before or know someone who has and
have been satisfied with them.

 

ask them how much for labor and pick up the fluid from toyota on your way. and watch them do it.

 

Toyota WS only...$100-$150 is fair market...Go to the Dealership. Good news is you get a real mechanic. They don't let the express guys do this one.

 

Only use Toyota WS ATF. I buy it by the case for $6 qt shipped. It takes 4 qts. That's $24. I've changed it 4 times in 190K miles. It only takes 10 minutes. It's way simpler and faster than any regular automatic transmission fluid change. There's no filter to change. It's even simpler than an engine oil change. Nobody should pay a delear $100 in labor. That would be insane.

 

Well, unless you're in Iowa in the dead of winter and you don't have a garage.

 

Agree with all of the above. For the small price difference it's not worth using anything other than the WS ATF.

Yes, you can obviously save some money if you do it yourself, but if you can't then I don't think $150 is too outrageous for the dealer to do it.

Plus OP might need to buy a few tools to get it done. Obviously the funnel and clear plastic tubing, but possibly also a 24mm socket and 10mm hex key socket and a breaker bar if everything is tight.

 

Decent web site, somehow I missed that one, just the LINKs are good to have handy.
After looking at it, I might continue to let dealer do that one though.

 

Our dealership charges about $110. I know Aamco transmissions will do this fluid change as well and they charge slightly less using the same Toyota Ws atf, but I just to to the dealership to sit in the lounge, use their wifi, and enjoy their cookies....

 

$110 is a lot of cookies. I wish we had US prices for oil products in the UK as 4 ltrs of WS ATF in the UK costs $78.

John (Britprius)

 

But you get "free" coffee at the dealer (mine doesn't have cookies, but only charges $100 for an ATF drain/refill).

JeffD

 

I paid my Toyota dealer $175 to do the tranaxle oil change a few months ago, this was for my wife's Prius. About a week ago, I did the exact same work on my Prius. It's a brain-dead, easy thing to do, can't believe they're charging $100+ for this job. You just need a way to lift up the front of the car (I used a floor jack and a stand), a 24mm socket and a 10mm hex key, and A FUNNEL with a 2-3 feet clear tubing. Like someone said above, this is easier than an oil change.

 

Fact...most people do not work on their own cars "at all" these days...any work. I would also venture to say the Prius crowd does so at an even lessor rate.

 

"Most people" is a difficult number to pinpoint. I'd wager that at least half of the Priuschat membership have some experience with auto maintenance . While automobiles have unquestionably become more complex since the Model T, there are still a lot of things average Joes (and Jos) can tackle with relative ease and simple tools. Changing out transaxle fluid on a Gen 2 Prius is a perfect example.