Maintenance Priorities?

I'm not sure if the shop you are going to is really familiar with a Prius. Many times if a shop is just quoting maintenance recommendations without knowing the car and it's needs, you'll end up breaking the car.....and you would have paid for them to break it.

1. The car does not have power steering fluid
2. Transaxle does not need a flush, just a simple drain and fill with Toyota WS fluid (not regular transmission fluid)
3. A brake flush on a Prius needs specialize computer equipment or you'll end up with a $1000 repair after you're done doing it the conventional way.

So I suggest you ask around to shops that are familiar with a Prius before you take your perfectly running Prius and have some mechanic butcher it.

 

Has anyone ever cadged a second gen Repair Manual, in pdf format? With 3rd gen brake fluid replacement without Techstream is covered, it's readily DIYable, @NutzAboutBolts has even done a video on it (pinned in 3rd gen maintenance forum).

My wife and I bumbled through it in about an hour, plus time futzing, getting the car raised/supported, wheels off. Before you start bleeding there's a specific chicken-dance, to put the car in "invalid" mode.

I went through almost 2 pints of Toyota DOT3 fluid. That's the one question mark for me: how much fluid is in the system, would need to be replaced to ensure you've got most of the old fluid out. That seemed about right.

 

i would look at the maintenance schedule and add the tranny oil change. were the plugs ever done?

 

If you can do your own oil changes, you can do your own transaxle drain and fill. You'll just need a hose extension to fill the transaxle fluid and it'll be very simple to do. There are many write ups on this easy service.

The only thing I would leave up to the dealer to do is the Brake fluid change, that's something that can be very expensive if done wrong.

You should have these services done, if you haven't already done so.

1. coolant change (engine and inverter)
2. spark plugs
3. brake fluid change
4. throttle body cleaning and MAF sensor cleaning
5. transaxle fluid change
6. brakes checked

There are lots of write ups on all these things listed. If you want to invest the time to DIY, it'll be both fun and rewarding (from all the money you save).

 

You can do them in any order, it's just preventive maintenance. Spark plugs and throttle body/maf sensor cleaning should be done together. All those areas are accessed the same time.

 

Here's a site with some how-to's on maintenance: PriusDIY.com: Maintenance Tutorials - Toyota Prius

 

If hairy pets ride in the car, add cleaning the HV battery cooling fan to the list.

 

What he said!

I would add that a brake flush is a very good idea, if it can be done correctly and I would leave that to a trustworthy local Toyota Dealer.

As for the rustproofing.... ROFLMAO! This car is 10 years old and your location of "Medina" I am presuming is in MN and nothing done NOW will forestall rust. Salt is not the big enemy, it is Magnesium Chloride (or similar) chemicals; can you say I-35 bridge collapse?

 

Have a look at the rear suspension?

 

Oh, for rust issues. Maybe second gen is actually a bit better? I've heard reg's on metal coatings are getting more restrictive, some of the more effective rust-preventing coatings are banned now? Our 3rd gen's rear axle beam, and all the bolts in vicinity, got very rusty, plenty fast. Too bad they didn't galvanize, or some electroplate coating. The cross beam seems like bare steel with a token single coat of black. And a lot of the heavy nuts/bolts look pathetic. I spray a bit of oil on them, but not that effective.

 

How are your tires?
That's always a high priority maintenance issue for me.