It's been exactly 8 years since I bought my 2012 Prius c Two. I've driven--very gently--less than 46K miles. I basically go back to my original dealer once a year (each August). Each time they do a synthetic oil/filter change & sometimes a tire rotation (not this time, though, because I'll be replacing the original tires soon because of sidewall cracks). I've looked through my maintenance receipts. I've never needed a brake job. Each August the dealer does a "battery check", "inspected all fluid levels", and "performed multi-point inspection" of various things. I remember one time asking them to "tighten nuts & bolts" after traveling on rough "washboard" pavement during a road-construction season. In 2015 the "OCS sensors" were replaced in an official recall. I've never had a CHANGE of brake fluid, automatic transmission fluid, engine/inverter coolant, or front differential oil. Do I need to have any of these fluids CHANGED simply because of the passage of time since 2012? (If I asked the service rep, he'd probably say Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!)
Brake fluid change is recommended. Your old brake fluid has slowly been absorbing moisture from the atmosphere, this will eventually cause problems. I wouldn't call it urgent, just prudent. I think your coolant is due or overdue, check owners manual. (we haven't hit that interval yet so I'm not sure) Edit: dig4dirt added the correct details below. You do not need to change the transmission fluid. Some owners do it anyway for peace of mind, but it isn't strictly necessary in these because the Prius transaxle is so incredibly gentle on its transmission fluid. No clutches to wear or torque converters to heat and stress the fluid. There is no separate differential oil; the diff shares ATF with the rest of the transmission. How old is your 12v battery? An original 2012 would be deep into borrowed time by now.
copy and paste from the maintenance guide.... Initial engine coolant replacement at 100,000 miles/120 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter. Initial inverter coolant replacement at 150,000 miles/180 months. Replace every 50,000 miles/60 months thereafter. The spark plugs are 120,000 Now you could go by age, which would be 10 years, but you are neither here nor there. If you seem sluggish or issues or whathaveyou, then could prematurely replace if needed. +1 on the brake fluid. (flush) +1 on the 12v battery (dealers will prob be north of $400, but could diy oem for less than $300) You didnt mention air filter, so would recommend to look thru receipts to see if it has been done, and/or could take a looksee at it yourself....just two clips look into cleaning the fan if you have not already, it is located under back seat on drivers side Just remove a panel and clean off fuzz/lint/animal hair The c has such little maintenance that you always want to check everything to be sure!
Thanks guys, for all the good, useful information & advice. Much appreciated! About the 12V battery: I neglected to mention---I just found my receipt in a separate place---that in Feb. 2014 (definitely winter here), after I couldn't start the car in a parking lot & had to call for a jump, the dealer's technician---who owned a Prius c himself---wonderfully decided I deserved a new battery, so he did that (within my warranty coverage). It's been strong ever since. A footnote: In 2017 a young neighbor/friend in my apt. bldg. installed the new Bosch Cabin Air Filter I had bought, after I struggled & couldn't do it. Even he, with his tools, struggled but eventually was able to install it. I'm curious: Have you guys experienced this difficulty, too? Again, thanks for all the good info!
A 2012 battery dying in 2014 is certainly premature; that warranty replacement was entirely proper. That said, a 2014 battery is probably close to the end of its normal service life, so I'd still consider this to be an action item. The cabin air filter and the engine air filter are two separate items, both important for different reasons. I haven't tried the CAF myself but the engine filter is trivial to change.
Thanks for that, Leadfoot. By the way: I used "Contact Us" to ask PriusChat "How do I upload my car's photo to the left-side profile section?", but they haven't replied yet. (I'm a "boomer" with a computer & iPad, but my cell phone is a simple flip-phone, so I'm not used to routinely sending photos to social-media sites.) What's the procedure to "upload" my photo?
That section is called your avatar. This link will take you to your avatar settings. (It is universal, it will take anyone to their own respective settings) The procedure is pretty easy with a desktop web browser; not sure how it will go on a tablet or phone but I think it will be reasonable equivalent. You'll probably see Santa before a reply from the site honchos.
The cabin filter may actually be easier than the engine filter. However it is very tricky until you know what to do. The glove box has to be removed to change it, but it is just a tab that needs to be snaggled to take out and to put it back in. Unless you live in a dirty dusty environment, should be good for years, but good to check it every year or so.
Yes the Cabin Air Filter is easy once you know how. Open glove box; push sides in, one at a time, to get the stops past the frame; Lift glove box away. The box is held in by two simple pieces at the bottom and the stops on the side keep it from falling too far. There is an additional issue. There is a sort of shock absorber to the right attached to the box and a side bung. Make sure you detach and reattach that. It has three holes for the two bungs. The slim extendable side goes to the box. The middle usually to the frame of the opening. The end one would make the absorber too long and the box will not shut. damhi. Don't ask me how I now. For people with older Prius, I have done a repair to the button that works for years and needs to be replace only if the band wears. A rubber band around the whole mechanism fixes the whole issue. I will try to post a pic next time I am in that car. Rubber band wears out with temperature and age. Usually get many years before a few second replacement is needed. Thanks
