What services you need and what you don't

Thank you as I need to get a baseline on my used '05.
History is consistent oil changes and at least one major service maybe two that were noted on Carfax.

What about fuel injector cleaner or MAF sensor cleaning? This will be the first major service since I've had the car (a month) with 286K. Thanks for any input.

 

Cleaning the MAF sensor, throttle plate and throttle body, replacing the spark plugs (unless recently replaced?) and the PCV valve are reasonable engine maintenance items. Also, coolant fluids, brake fluid (or check water content) and ATF (transaxle oil).
Injector cleaner may be useful, but I've had mixed results / possibly residue on the spark plugs from injector cleaner.

 

This is excellent! I have been wondering if the dealership is trying to sell me too much service. Every time I have an oil change they try to sell me a bunch of other stuff. I bought my 2015 at 35K miles in 2017 and have only done oil changes, filter changes, and tire rotations/alignments since. It is now at 85K and I have been wondering if I've been neglecting it lol. I did the last alignment at 72K, just had the tires rotated, and an oil change, AND I just had to replace the 12V battery, so it looks like I just need to go for rear brake adjustment and PCV valve change. Maybe I'll get the alignment checked too. Thank you so much!

 

I would suggest doing an ATF drain/refill (not a flush) soon if you want to have your transmission (the HSD) last more than 150k miles. The Toyota ATF claims to be a lifetime fluid, it is not if you keep cars a long time.

JeffD

 

Look in the Toyota USA Warranty and Maintenance Booklet, the slim volume that accompanies the Owner's Manual. If it's missing, you can download a pdf from Toyota. One source is Toyota Tech Info website. There's no paywall for stuff like the owners manuals.

The only issue with the booklet: it goes event-by-event, so it's really hard to get the "big picture". Attached is a spreadsheet (plus pdf version), summarizing the intervals and what Toyota recommends to do.

The one thing that stands out for me in your description of what's been done, is no mention of brakes. Toyota recommends TWO brake inspections: a "visual" inspection, every 5K miles (or 6 months, whichever comes first), basically a look over when the tires are rotated. And, they also recommend a more in-depth inspection, a traditional brake inspection, every 30K miles or 3 years.

Also, while Toyota USA is mum on the subject, I'd consider periodic brake fluid change. Toyota Canada recommends to the brake fluid change every 3 years or 48K kms (30K miles), basically same as US brake inspection interval.

I'd second the transaxle fluid replacement too. First change around the 10k miles or 12 months is not too soon. Then stretch it.

 

Thank you !!!

 

hello!

first, i wanted to echo all of the gratitude to galaxee—this is the best thread!

my 2009 prius has just hit 120k, and i'm gearing up for what to do. so far, PCV and spark plugs (got some of the OEM Densos) and fluids are on the list, as well as a rotation and alignment. this prius has never seen any major maintenance based on the carfax; would there be any sense in having other work done, i.e. brake fluid change?

thank you so much!

 

transaxle fluid drain and fill is a good one to do

 

That's a good one, especially if it's never been done. Toyota Canada recommends brake fluid replacement tri-yearly or 48K kms, whichever comes first. Honda Canada recommends tri-yearly, regardless of miles.

It's pretty straightforward; dealership charge should be not much more than $100.

 

• If you have no brake fluid change documented, then that has to be the first thing.
• Renewing the grease on the brake caliper bolts is something I would do sooner rather than later.
  
• Cleaning the mass airflow sensor with the special spray - do no try to clean it mechanically, you will ruin it.
• A basic "status check drive" with Hybrid Assistant, to see the hybrid battery and inverter temperatures, and to check if the hybrid battery cooling fan works. You need an OBD2 adapter and an android phone/tablet for this. Also opens up the next item:
• Check for DTCs (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) via OBD2. I use Torque for this ($4.99 one-time purchase as far as I can remember).

 

Planning to have a major service done on the 2005 Prius (210k miles) before the kid takes it away for college. A few things I didn't notice (probably missed) in this and other threads, and was wondering if anyone had thoughts about these maintenance items for a high mileage gen 2 prius:

• Proactively changing the injection coils
• Proactively changing (not just cleaning) the MAF sensor
• Check / reset the valve lash
• Frequency of changing the serpentine belt
• Proactively replace either the engine water pump or EV water pump? If so, how often? Maybe one of which at the same time as the serpentine belt?
• Proactively replacing front wheel bearings? (I understand they're sealed, so no repacking)

 

If you're looking to be proactive, I would install a shield to prevent the catalytic converter from being stolen. That by itself totalled my 2005 Prius a few months ago (also with about 210,000 miles).

E.g.

 

That will be a bear, requires major mechanical disassembly of the head end, and access to an array of shim thicknesses on hand. Not like Hondas screw and locknut system.

 

Great point, definitely going to do this!

Do you think the system / product you linked is best in class wrt Prius catalytic converter protection? I've heard that some of these products don't protect the Prius catalytic converter at all, that any thief worth his salt can still steal it.

 

I didn't know that - Is there an alternative to managing that gap that doesn't require taking off/apart the head? I'm starting to hear a tiny little tick-tick-tick during acceleration. The valves have not been touched in any way AFAIK, and I've owned it for 208k of the 210k miles.

Anything you suggest? Or am I going to have to just run it as-is until it dies and then replace the engine? The OCD part of my brain is cringing right now

 

I suspect nobody does this. Here's the procedure (roughly first half of the document, Repair Manual excerpt):

 

Wow, sixteen and a half years after the original post, I love to add some relevant info. Our family owns a 2005 gen 2, we bought it around 2009 with over a hundred thousand miles on it. Since then..... I've changed the oil using five thirty non synthetic when the oil looked dirty. Hardly ever added because it didn't need topping off. At 220,000 miles I put a used set of front brake pads on it. When it rolled up to 299,999 miles we used the trip odometer to 310,000 miles and then I put in another combination meter, long story shorter, it now has 315,00+ miles and, FINALLY, the rear brake shoes need replacing...also, I have replaced about four cells and cleaned the buss bar on the traction battery on two occasions to keep it charging,,,,,plus a couple of light bulbs and a few tires along the way.... but that's it.... no other fluid flushings or concerns.....and I haven't had to attend to a single rattle anywhere,,,, this Prius is unbelievable..... gen two equals model t ford

oh yeah, forgot, I've had to refill the windshield washer container a bunch of times...

 

I am quoted with the following prices by a Toyota Center:
- brake fluid exchange 175.00
- transmission drain and fill 190.00
- coolant for the engine is 203.00
- hybrid coolant 285.00
(we completely drain all coolant out system and fill with all new to spec measurement)

Does that sound reasonable? Thanks.

 

brake fluid exchange 175.00 <$125
- transmission drain/fill 190.00 <$100
- coolant for the engine is 203.00 <$150
- hybrid coolant 285.00 <$125

 

it probably is reasonable these days, but all you can do is shop around.