JiffyLube told me this about my MAINT REQUIRED light...

If the Prius is left in Ready - and we have had a few posts already documenting this event - the average high school dropout working at a hole-in-the-wall service place will probably think it is off.

After all, the gas motor isn't running, so it has to be off

Wouldn't matter if SKS is enabled or disabled. If a Prius is left in Ready, it will eventually start the gas engine to keep the traction battery charged.

We've had forum members accidentally leave their Prius in Ready overnight, parked in their garage. So if a Prius owner can make a mistake like leaving the car in Ready, how about a knuckle-dragger?

 

Long ago, I tried to take my Prius to a local Wheel Works for an oil change. That particular place is actually ok for tire and alignment related work. When I arrived, they told me they won't do oil changes on hybrids and that it was company policy not work on them. Tire/wheel related would be ok though.

I asked why, and he said "they turn on." I replied, "only if you don't properly turn them off first". Didn't matter. I had to go elsewhere.

Fast forward a year or so, and the above policy is no longer in place.

 

I don't care if the policy changed or not. If the people in the shop are too stupid to work on the car I'm not going back. Wheel Works didn't hire all the idiots. Firestone has its fair share.

 

Idiots are not in short supply. And they breed. :madgrin:

 

I think all cars should be equipped with Bullshit detectors. Quite frankly I trust almost no one! I have a great independent shop that is honest, and very good, but there are tons of charlatans out there if not out right thieves. My local dealer included.

I will take a simple car to jiffy lube, but never the Prius. I do it my self and I NEVER buy any of the "suggested services" when I do. Such as PCV valves, air filters (unless I know they are scheduled anyway) etc.

These people have figured out how to squeeze a nickel out of every thing,, including whole cloth.

Icarus

 

That's the huge problem right there. And the solution to the problem, if you stop to think about it

If you can figure out how to build such a device, I'd be happy to help out. In the meantime, do what I do to cope with idiots: heavy drinking

 

Toyota's maintenance light is a odometer-triggered idiot light, unlike the newer Honda and GM system which takes engine workload and driving patterns in account to triggering the light.

 

My maintenance required light came on on Sunday. I called the local Toyota dealer and they only charge $25.95 if you schedule the oil change on line and I bet they know how to turn off the maintenance required indicator light.

 

I wouldn't always count on the dealer to know how to (or to actually do it!) turn off the light. Mine didn't bother! You also can't count on the dealer to not to over fill the crankcase! Mine did! You can't count on the dealer not to strip the drain plug. Mine didn't with mine, but I know it happens.

Point is, the dealer is probably no worse nor no better than your average facility. It has been my experience that the "techs" don't do oil changes,, the car wash high schoolers do. Not too reassuring.

Icarus

 

No offense, but what are you nuts? Haven't you ever seen all those awful horror stories about Jiffy Lube in the media? Damn, I wouldn't trust one of those quickie lube places to change the oil on my old 94 Dodge Pick/Up, let alone my high-tech hybrid vehicle! Those quick lube places will hire anybody and they're filled with ex-cons and high school dropouts. Some of these guys will damage your car on purpose just so they can charge you to fix it!

 

I've used Jiffy Lube for years and have never had a problem. If you go in there clueless, they're going to try and sell you all these additional services. I always check the level before I leave. I watch them put in the oil (synthetic) and I make sure they have a little left in that last quart.

I haven't had any issues and I am on a first name basis with the person that manages the store I go to. BTW... what is wrong with an ex-con or teenager changing oil. Do you want the oil changed by a silver haired guy with a PHD in &*^%@#$$$????

 

Usually, since its your baby, you'll try best to make sure its done right. Even if you do fubar something, it was with good intentions

The horror stories and the hidden undercover camera investigations don't leave me with any warm and fuzzy feelings, that's for sure

Could be, they are trying extra hard then. If you're just some schmuck off the street, as long as they get you in and out with as little effort as possible, good enough for them

 

My Doge Cummins diesel in addition to the milage counter has a fuel dilution monitor that will turn on the change oil lamp sooner if needed due to >5% fuel dilution. The Prius is dumb in comparison and needs to be reset.
With regard to Jiffy lube service, I took my truck in to jiffy lube to remove the oil filter. It was it's first oil change and the factory gorilla must have used a 12 foot long wrench to tighten it down. I couldn't even budge it. They worked on it for 2 hours finally resorting to a punch through the side of the filter to get it off. They charged me nothing... that's right... 0 charge because it took so long. 12 quarts of heavy duty diesel oil included. I gave them the replacement Fleetguard filter because I didn't want a cheap Fram filter on my 54,000 $ truck.. I can't find any fault with Jiffylube!!
-Paul R. Haller-

 

We have a rapid oil change place where our Buick gets her oil changed. Same deal, the owner-manager has been there forever, doesn't push unneeded services, and is real careful about the details on oil changes.

However, the Prius only gets changed by US, at home.

 

Keep looking. I will disclose some stories from my side of the fence.

1) Jiffy lube guy brought out his little white card to show me the color of my fluids. Included on this card was the front differential fluid of my (now ex) girlfriend's Isuzu Axion 2WD. In case anyone missed it, it is 2WD, it doesn't have a front differential as it is rear wheel drive. After looking at him suspiciously, I told him to go ahead and replace it. After waiting a few minutes for him to come back realizing his mistake, he came back with the bill. He charged me for the service. I asked him to show me exactly how he changed it. He refused saying i wasn't allowed in the back due to insurance regulations. At that point, I asked to speak to the manager. Manager said, after I had kindly pointed out that the vehicle doesn't even have the fluid they supposedly changed, offered my my next oil change on them. I declined and walked out without paying a cent.

2) A good customer of mine purchased a new car from 2 months prior. Our service department was closed on saturday, and he was taking his car in a long trip. Wanted the oil change done before he left. Against my advice, he took it to jiffy lube. Where they forgot to replace the drain plug. My customer called me and asked if we offered loaner cars since his 3,000 mile engine was now seized beyond repair. I politely told him he needed to contact Jiffy Lube and ask them the same thing.

3) I need to remove my shoes when someone asks how many times Jiffy lube has cut us a check for engine replacement when one of their employees has neglected everything from replacing the drain plug, the oil filter, or even the cap at the top of the engine. In fact, one time a JL tech slammed the hood down on the cap and broke it. He told the customer that everything will be fine and to drive to the dealership to buy a new one. By the time the customer got to our store, oil had sprayed out of the valve cover and was dripping from every wire, every part, every piece of metal under the hood.

I am sure that there are some reputable Jiffy Lube dealers out there. Not every one can be bad. But given the fact that you can be hired at 16 years old, have no prior knowledge of vehicles, and aren't required to pass a test covering the difference between a lug nut and an air filter, I just don't trust any of them at this point.

 

You won't have to look very far. Stripped out drain plugs, and mondo-torqued oil filters, are the LEAST of your worries

 

A good friend of mine (against my advice) built a quick lube/ car wash facility that he is loosing his shirt on. He has no experience in retail or cars. He had an operator run the place for a few months, and was loosing more & more each month. He closed the place after being open for less then 6 months. 6 months later he opened only the lube section. He hired some people that supposedly had experience. One day he calls me, and asks what to do. His latest oil change guy forgot to put the oil in the car, and he is now being sued by the customer. I told him to terminate the employee, and asked him what training he gives he employees? Does he have a check list of things that the employee must do when servicing the vehicle? Of course, he did not. No wonder he has problems, and upset customers (ex customers).
I am sure there are well managed Jiffy Lubes and other quick lube facilities, and poorly managed ones. Ask the manager what the work flow is for the oil change. It is also best to watch what the technician does.
Of course, with all this effort, you could do it yourself, and know it is done right, and save some time. (which is what I do.) That reminds me of another friend, who drained the transmission fluid and added 4 quarts of oil to the engine. Sorry about that engine. Are any quick oil change places ISO certified?

 

That is easy enough to do to an automatic transmission FJ Cruiser. The factory skidplate blocks the oil pan, but there is a black plastic oval that is easy to pop out. Unless you knew it was there and you were specifically looking for that black plastic oval, you'd miss it

Then directly behind the engine is the automatic transmission, with a large black oil pan, a very obvious drain plug, and a teeny plug, which is the overflow drain used for checking the transmission fluid level

There have been folks who pulled the wrong drain plug, and suddenly red fluid is pouring out. Oops. You really need the shop manual to figure out the correct refill procedure, the transmission has to be brought up to the proper temperature, and its a PITA to get that just right

And, of course, there were folks who did manage to accidently drain their FJ auto trans, and decided the WS fluid was just a bunch of BS. They put in whatever Dexron they had sitting around, and then wondered why the transmission was shuddering and slipping