Maintaining a Prius - Thoughts?

First - congrats on being able to drive the car with such little maintenance. 200k+ is amazing considering.

Addressing 1 by 1:

1. First thing to try is cleaning the MAF sensor. Buy a can of MAF cleaner (do not use any other type of cleaner!) and spray it on the sensor first to see if it clears the code. If it doesn't clear this way, the MAF sensor is not a hard job to do yourself and will be much cheaper. The part is only ~$80-90. Price to replace is crazy. Search around as this is not a rare Prius problem and there are several threads on how to clean/replace.

2. Part is ~$160 for a Dorman. $700 is far too much for the work.

3. Brake pads should definitely be replaced. Shop around for prices, would expect $100-150 for this job if only pads (and not rotors, etc) at brake specialty store.

4. Spark plugs are very easy to do yourself and should have been done much earlier. Shop can do it in 20 min. Plugs cost less than $50 (didn't look up exact price). Their price is crazy.

5. As far as I know this isn't standard maintenance and isn't needed unless there is a specific issue with your engine

6-9. Good idea considering mileage. Prices seem high but may be normal in California. I'm not familiar with the 3rd gens maintenance schedule, but I believe you're significantly passed on at least a couple of these.

10. Not needed unless your A/C has a specific issue

11. Unless you've transported cats, dogs, or dusty objects in your car regularly, shouldn't be needed.

12. A bit of oil leak comes with cars' aging and driving many miles. Check your oil regularly and increase the interval if you need to fill when you check. Consider the amount of time it takes to leak $2000 dollars worth of oil out. I would not repair.

 

Haven't really got time to go through all of it. Some is crucial, some arbitrary. One specifically, the transaxle fluid change, is WAY overpriced for what's a simple service. My take: they're sketchy, trying to push you into way too many items at once.

 

i'd just keep driving it. if it ain't baroque? don't fix it.

 

The price they quote for "transmission flush" also makes me think they are completely clueless as to what's involved. There are some Toyota with traditional automatic that are more complicated to change, I think. But for Prius this is very straightforward, should be under $100. And is not urgent, and not what you brought it in for.

Maybe not the best bunch to leave alone with your car: it requires Toyota ATF WS and nothing but.

 

Well, it is baroque though. It at least needs the MAF sensor cleaned, with the all of ten minutes that'll take. It's well past due on coolant changes, and changing coolant is a lot easier than changing everything old dead coolant corrodes. Keep driving it sounds good, but to keep driving it for a good while, at least don't leave the MAF dirty and coolant dead and dare it to fail.

Spark plugs are about 80k overdue too....

All that stuff is easy. The timing chain cover leak, now that's more of a dilemma. Was it clearly leaking around the cover to block joints, or could it have been around the crankshaft seal, crank position sensor, etc.?

-Chap

 

Has the dealer tried to add up the total in services they recommend? I bet it'll total the same price as the 2011 used car on their lot with 100k miles. So makes you wonder why they would quote such crazy prices for "maintenance" of your own car. It's cheaper to buy another one

 

AC evaporator cleaning? Probably not needed unless you have a serious mold problem in the vents.

 

Just go to my YouTube channel, all of those services are on there besides 1,2,3 and 12.

 

Yeah if you need it you'll smell it. If you use AC sporadically, and make a point to run the ventilation system for a few minutes with the AC off towards the end of your trip, you'll have no problems. This is a pain, but it works.

 

At the end of my trip I turn the temp to "HI" and blast heat while the A/C light is on, for 1-2 minutes. I believe this is more effective at removing moisture than unheated air, but I'm not sure. I would think the heat would evaporate more condensation off the condenser.

Also I'm not sure if the air would run over the condenser if the A/C light is off?

I think more expensive cars do something like this automatically after you turn off the car.

 

Good points.

The main thing, that works for me: we rarely use the AC. It IS a bitter pill for most, I know, especially the heat beleaguered Southern folks.

Some use is necessary to avoid drying out seals, I've read.

 

Your dealer is smoking crack, crack is an expensive habit hence the obscene prices.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

You should post this dealer's name and you should never go there.

1. Check engine light (P0101) – Mass Air Flow Sensor short circuit/dirty/sticking $550.00 Total BS The MAF sensor is very easy to clean or replace. It is definitely the easiest maintenance item here. Difficulty = Windshield Wiper Blade level.

2. Left front door lock inop – Door Lock Actuator short circuit $700.00 Rip Off. It's very easy to remove the door panel on a Prius and look around. Looks like the part cost is about $100 +/- $50.

3. Front brake pads at 3mm (safety concern) $249.95 Way overpriced, but you better do this. I think you can do all four by yourself for about $75.

4. Spark Plug replacement $189.95 I think this is a fair price. Part cost alone is $45 and this procedure is a PAIN. I just finished it. Ugh.

5. Prius EFI fuel injection service $279.95 I think there is no such thing

6. Inverter (Hybrid Motor) Coolant Flush $199.95 Rip off. Fluid for both Inverter and "gas motor" coolant is around $50. Paying $400 for both is a rip off.

7. Gas Motor Coolant Flush $179.95 rip off

8. Brake Fluid Flush $169.95 Should cost about $100

9. Transmission Fluid Flush $299.95 Should cost $75 to $100

10. A/C Evaporator Cleaning Service $179.95 RobberyWhen you see the NutzAboutBolts video and see how ridiculously simple this is, you'll want to kill this dealer. I think this service is also unnecessary.

11. Hybrid Battery Fan Cleaning Service (essential to keep hybrid battery from overheating) $299.95 Not needed unless you transport pets and costs $60 at Luscious Garage

12. On hoist inspection also has shown signs of oil leaking from timing cover (this vehicle has a timing chain). In order to perform this repair, the vehicle’s engine is removed from the vehicle to access. Therefore, the estimate is mostly for labor and a small amount of parts. Estimate for this repair $1950.00 Monitor oil levels carefully If you're using a lot of oil, this could be an expensive repair. If your car is leaking oil and it gets too low, it will destroy your engine. Keep an eye on the oil level. This is important.[/B][/B]

 

About 80% of that kind of maintenance I can do myself. You save your self s ton of money being your own mechanic. I clean my Hybrid cooling fan every two months. My battery still works as new as my Prius has 162k miles on it currently but that practically means nothing. It's about how well you take care of a car and maintain it.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Every 2 months? What type of environment are you providing your batteries with that requires that frequent of a cleaning cycle? What are you finding every 2 months that keeps you doing it? A hairy animal, or little ones that make "deposits" in the vent?

 

Why would you clean the hybrid fan every 2 months? Is it even dirty in that amount of time?

 

It's a general maintenance routine. I just check and maintain everything no mater what it is.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Seriously, have you done that before?