Putting together a "Prius Toolkit"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by david81, Apr 17, 2008.

  1. david81

    david81 New Member

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    Just got my Prius a couple months ago. Loving it, of course. What I'd like to do is put together a little customized toolkit to carry in the rear lower storage area.

    By "customized" I mean a kit that has all the properly sized bits/sockets for the car. Does anyone happen to know of a complete list of the different hex/star/socket sizes in an 08 Prius? Sure would be handy to just pull it out of storage and have exactly what is needed.

    David
     
    #1 david81, Apr 17, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    almost all that you'd ever need a socket for are 10mm. There are other sizes in various locations, but I can't imagine you needing them more than once or twice over the life of the car and never urgently.

    You should have a Phillips Head screw driver....and that's about it. A flat head screw driver might help if you need to open the cover for the jump points or to remove dash panels.
     
    #2 efusco, Apr 17, 2008
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I'm not sure what maintenance and repair you intend with this toolkit. You will need a 24 mm socket for the transaxle oil fill plug and the transaxle coolant drain plug. You need a 10 mm hex key socket for the transaxle oil drain plug. You need a socket for the engine oil drain plug, perhaps 13 mm (not sure of the size)?

    My suggestion is that your toolkit should include a full set of small metric sockets plus the 24 mm size, a 5/8" 6 point long socket for the spark plugs, a 6 point long socket of the appropriate size for the wheel lugs, a few flat and Phillips screwdrivers, diagonal cutters, needle-nose and long-nose pliers, a variety of extensions, 1/2" and 3/8" socket wrenches, 1/2" and 3/8" torque wrenches, 1/2" to 3/8" socket adapter, and one or two oil filter wrenches (perhaps a cap filter and a band filter of the proper size; might need both in case your oil filter gets stuck).

    That will get you started for casual repairs. As you proceed into more complex repairs, you will find additional tools are required, and can add to the kit.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Apr 17, 2008
  4. Michou

    Michou Member

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    Good idea... the oil drain plug is a 14mm, and the wheel lugs take a 13/16 deep socket. If you are planning on pulling the oil drain plug, I would suggest contacting the toyota parts department for oil drain plug crush gaskets to replace whatever is removed.

    Cheers!

    Michou
     
    #4 Michou, Apr 17, 2008
  5. david81

    david81 New Member

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    Thanks a bunch Patrick. I should have known that you'd have all this info tucked safely away in that head of yours.

    The oil drain plug/washers won't be an issue and a Fumoto valve went on when I switched to Mobil 1 a couple weeks ago.

    ***On a mostly unrelated note, do you Patrick, happen to have a reference that would show the part numbers for the connectors used inside the center console for the AUX jack? I'm looking to put a ground loop isolator in the line and would like to make it a clean install if possible. ***

    Thanks much,

    David
     
    #5 david81, Apr 17, 2008
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Hi David,

    Sorry, I do not since my 2G repair manual documentation is for a model year prior to the AUX jack being installed. I suggest you visit your dealer's parts dept to see whether the illustrated parts catalog will show the parts that you require.

    Good luck.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Apr 18, 2008
  7. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    You can do an awful lot on most Japanese cars with a set of
    10mm, 12mm, and 14mm sockets and a couple of extenders. Those
    ride around with me in the car all the time, and if I need
    different sizes for oddball stuff that's in the home kit.
    .
    _H*
     
    #7 hobbit, Apr 18, 2008
  8. tochatihu

    tochatihu Senior Member

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    Tire inflation gauge (please!), flashlight, spare headlight bulb (unless you're HID) and any other bulbs you'd rather not drive without. Something to kneel on when the ground is yucky. Nothing Prius-specific on my list.
     
    #8 tochatihu, Apr 19, 2008
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