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Center Console re-glue and cleaning

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by jamesdear27, Feb 12, 2017.

  1. jamesdear27

    jamesdear27 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    Hey everyone!

    Haven't posted in a while, just thought I would share some work I did today. After my most recent trip to the Dealership for oil changes and maintenance I was told I needed new side marker bulbs, new license plate bulb, Transmission flush and service (per maintenance schedule), and new front brakes. They quoted $380 for brakes and $280 for Transmission flush and service.
    • I got the bulbs for the license plate and side marker from O'Reillys and installed them myself.
    • New Air Filter (I always check this when at the auto parts store, it was pretty dirty and took 2 minutes to replace, just remove the clips, lift the airbox and gently remove the old filter, put the new one in taking care to align the gasket correctly)
    • New Cabin Air Filter
    • I decided to do the brakes myself using a Prius chat post ( I can't link it because I am too new :) ) and ordered these parts for about $100
      • Centric Rotors
      • Centric Pads
    • Set an appointment for the transmission service
    I also have been wanting to fix the fabric on the center console since we bought the car a year ago. Here's what I did. Before and after pics attached below!
    1. Lift center console, remove all 6 screws.
    2. Gently pry plastic piece from fabric piece, it is held in by friction fitting of 6 little plastic pegs
    3. Take fabric piece inside, inspect
    4. Spray with Tuff Stuff ( all over, scrub with a coarse brush, pat dry and let air dry
    5. Flip to the underside, gently remove any fabric that is about to fall off anyway - I ended up removing all the fabric and re-sticking it
    6. Working in 6" sections at a time, apply Amazing GOOP to the black plastic, then to the underside of the fabric, let sit for 1-2 minutes and then press the plastic to the fabric and hold. (I used Q-tips with the cotton ends cut off for the application and smoothing)
    7. Let the adhesive cure overnight, in a well-ventilated area.
    8. Insert the black hinge back into the space between the plastic and fabric
    9. Reattach all six screws
    10. Gloat in confidence and a great feeling of accomplishment
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Maybe tell them you would just like the transaxle fluid drained and filled. Offer them $80. If they come back with a lot of resistance, decline and try another place. Or DIY.

    It is really trivial service, on par with an oil change, just the fluid a bit more expensive.

    Nice clean up of the centre console btw. :)
     
  3. jamesdear27

    jamesdear27 Junior Member

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    Good point - I had thought there was more involved than just draining and filling - they were also planning on flushing I think..
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Even with a regular automatic, where you might only drain 50~60%, regular drain-and-fill's are the simplest approach. The only time I would do a flush is in a case where you'd inadvertently put in the wrong fluid. And a flush should be only repeated drain-and-fill, with the proper Toyota ATF WS fluid.

    But the Prius transaxle drains about 90%. Barring contamination, no point to a flush. And "service"? No idea. They sound either unknowledgeable or larcenous. Maybe both, lol.

    It is a very simple procedure: remove fill bolt, remove drain bolt, install drain bolt, add spec'd fluid (with car level) 'till it starts flowing out. Install fill bolt.
     
    valde3 likes this.
  5. jamesdear27

    jamesdear27 Junior Member

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    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    $280 for transmission drain and fill? The dealership I take my Prius quoted me $150...
     
  7. jamesdear27

    jamesdear27 Junior Member

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    Thanks CooCooCaChoo ! I think I will cancel the appointment for now and get some other quotes.

    Cheers!
     
  8. jamesdear27

    jamesdear27 Junior Member

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    2007 Prius
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    Three Touring
    Hey guys! Thanks for your help. I got two other quotes in my area (SF Bay Area):

    Jacoby’s Auto Repair & Service - w/tax and hazmat fee $107
    Foreign Affair Auto Repair - $108

    Since the cost of buying a jack, jack stands, and fluids exceeds these quotes by quite a bit (plus my desire to not do it :p ) I will probably have one of the shops do it next week.
     
  9. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Just make sure that they use the Toyota fluid. I forget what its called. Anything else is liable to cause damage to the transmission.
     
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Toyota ATF-WS.
     
  11. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    I questioned the transmission service quote right from the start when they said "per the maintenance schedule." Transmission service is not on the maintenance schedule.

    Seriously, it's $45 of fluid and a gasket from the dealer, less than hour including set-up and clean-up, and you need a long tube attached to your funnel to reach the filler hole. If you can do a brake job, this is easy.