Dealer Service Center issues

I would say you are ok. Those services are useful if not essential. Realize dealers often suggest services that are useful but not immediately needed. Technically Toyota's Warranty and Maintenance Guide that came with the car says nothing about changing the transaxle or brake fluids. They do suggest coolants at 100,000 miles and spark plugs at 120,000 miles.

The maintenance that is the most important are oil changes at 5k miles, not 10k. That is important because many gen3 prii have oil burning problems which often leads to head gasket failures or blown engines. Some on this board will also say cleaning the egr cooler and intake manifold because of oil induced carbon buildup.

You can often get maintenance service for half or two thirds the dealer cost. It is extremely useful to find the trustworthy independent hybrid shop before the high dollar brake booster or head gasket happens.

Warranty and Maintenance Guide (see labeled pgs 50 and 53)

 

those are good services and good prices.

 

I normally use a shop in the San Antonio area but I have used
Bearden Automotive in N Austin once. My "hybrid repair austin" search also came up with Newmann Automotive on the south side. My point is you test with the less expensive and less challenging things like you just did in order to find a shop with hybrid experience that also provides value. The dealer will always be the high priced option that may recommend services you don't require right now.

 

Yes you use the low cost maintenance jobs to shop around for the day the brake booster, head gasket or engine needs replacement.

 

This green/yellow/red jazz is purely a dealership invention. Look at the Toyota maintenance schedule before going in, decide in advance if you want something superfluous to the US schedule.

When they propose extras and it sounds fishy, odds are very good there’s a kipper amiss.

the charge for both the transaxle fluid and brake fluid change both border on larceny; both should be around $100, a bit less for the tran and a bit more for the brake.

 

You may have the Brake Booster failure. If the proper codes are present, Toyota will replace it free under a Customer Support Program. Many have failed including mine several years ago. Both the Brake Booster (Master Cylinder) and Brake Pump are covered. The dealer must see the codes.

 

They will diagnose by scanning it with Techstream, the factory scanner. If it has the codes needed, the repair and diagnosis are free. If not, you pay for the diagnosis. There are other faults that could bring up those warning lights. Read the attachment.

Some owners clear the codes by using a scanner or disconnecting the 12v. Its easy and they feel like it may solve the problem. At that point a free repair, if needed, is lost at least until the codes return, which could be a long period. However clearing codes never solves the root cause.

It is important to understand auto supply and most other scanners will not read the specialized brake codes.

Just because the car ran flawless for six years does not mean the slew of gen3 issues won't happen to you. My v ran great for almost 150k miles but I have had almost every common issue since.

 

you struck gold!

yes, every 5k is a good idea.

it is time to concentrate your energies on a full egr circuit cleaning, hopefully to preclude a blown head gasket

 

it is usually around $1,000. but you can't count on a dealer to do it right, or do it at all.

you would be better off with a private mech if you could find a willing one.

 

Go back to the original premise of this thread, find an independent. I would buy a used but cleaned egr cooler and then find a shop willing to clean your intake manifold. The $1,000 deal is a dealer installing new egr cooler, valve (rarely bad) and "maybe" a new intake manifold. You should be able to get it cleaned as suggested for $500 all in if you shop.

It is not a guaranteed fix or preventative to a head gasket, especially when your car starts burning oil. The smart move is 5k oil changes, no exceptions, ever. This may get you to 150k miles with only a brake booster killing your budget somewhere down the line.

This is a half price new unit from Japan. Often used units are fine if they are precleaned, not an easy job which is why dealers don't do it. They would have to charge a couple hours of labor at $150 an hour. https://www.ebay.com/itm/265709368444?fits=Year%3A2012%7CEngine+-+Liter_Display%3A1.8L%7CTrim%3AThree+Wagon+4-Door%7CModel%3APrius+V%7CMake%3AToyota%7CSubmodel%3AThree%7CEngine%3A1.8L+1798CC+110Cu.+In.+l4+ELECTRIC%2FGAS+DOHC+Naturally+Aspirated&epid=655726808&hash=item3ddd83347c:g:HFEAAOSw-spij4cU

 

Do it yourself...... very easy.....................................1/4 the cost