07 Prius 15k service....$139.00!!!!!

i have not read through the thread, and I'm sure it was already said. Best thing to do is follow the service guide to the tee, tell them exactly what you want done. Manny at desert Toyota is quite honest about this, and he knows when I come in what exactly should be done, down to the tire pressure. I have the tires rotated, oil/filter with motorcraft. And they top the fluids off no charge. Inspect the brakes and other items(so they say). It comes out to 43.99 normally, it's gone up a few dollars since last year..but that's expected. I could have most of it done elsewhere, like tire rotation alot cheaper..but it's a just more convienent to have it all done at one place instead of say taking it somewhere for rotation, then doing the oil at home or whatever. I've done my own oil 3 times, but lazyitus caught up and lately I just take it to the dealer.

139.99 is a rip off

 

At 15k, you need an oil change, tire rotation, brake inspection, suspension inspection, and a cleaning and adjustment of the rear brakes.

The fuel injection cleaner and engine air filter were not required. They should have been offered as "optional" upgrades, but the dealer gave the wrong impression that they were required by Toyota.

Nevertheless, $140 is very reasonable for the work performed. Around here, an oil change, tire rotation and cleaning and adjustment of rear brakes if purchased a la carte would be $35, $20 and $30, respectively at an independent shop.

 

It's gone up.

My Toyota dealer just quoted me $379.49 for 15k service on my '07 Prius. I didn't pay it of course. (Quote attached)

They did, however, manage to get me for an oil filter. I'm changing the oil myself, and going to my local Firestone shop for the tire rotation and inspections.

New Cost:
5qt Mobil1 Oil 0w30 (From WalMart with $10 rebate): $12.00
Oil Filter and Washer (from dealer): $8.13
Service at Firestone (tire rotation and inspections): $19.99
Total cost: $40.12, or roughly 89% less.

-->Adam

 

Thanks for attaching that quote! Interesting.

First thing this morning I asked Butler and 2 other local dealers for an itemized quote today on what they would charge for the items in the 30k service. Have heard back from any of them.

 

Adam

VERY interesting - What is this Wynn's stuff they're insisting on? A PCV valve every 15,000 miles???

Insane, and that's assuming they actually do any of the work quoted. It would be cute if we all chipped in, somebody donated their personal Prius to that service department, with "witness marks" on things like the PCV valve, and lo and behold, the work wasn't done

 

schnikies! I was thinking about taking my 09 to the dealer to do the first 5000 mile service, but hell, I'm a DIYer. If it's just rotating the wheels and an oil/filter change... I can knock that out in an hour on my own.

I want to use a good quality synthetic oil anyway, so doing it myself will allow me to do that.

 

Holy Mackerel!

You should send that "invoice" to the Toyota regional office, with a formal complaint about this so called service.

The 4 hour labor is anything but creditable. As a matter of fact, I would report these guys to the Better Business Bureau as well.

 

As a counter point, I went to Kirk Toyota in Grenada MS today, for my 10k service. $26 for the oil change with filter, $13 to rotate tires, $42 total.

I like this dealer!

 

Filters are so easy to exchange on a Prius. I bought a box of each a while ago, and am set for the next five years.

I don't have the numbers in front of me at the moment, but maintenance for the past five years has been about $200. My car wishes I was a hobbit or a Patrick Wong, but it has suffered me gladly so far with the following:

Good syn oil and oil filter twice a year. About $15 each time.
Cabin Filter twice
Engine air filter once
Transaxle oil at 70k miles
Coming up for 100k miles: brake check

For the future:
Transaxle fluid each 50k miles -- diy
Inverter fluid and pump every 120k miles -- dealer
Engine air filter every year -- diy

 

To the original post ....

No, it is not for 'basically just an oil change'.

It is for all the things you listed that were done to your car.

Can't say I like hearing people whine about service done to their car. If professional service work were that easy, we'd all be doing it.

For example, how many here have the equipment to lift a car in the air and thoroughly inspect underneath it?

I have found in depth service work at home is not easy on my motorcycle and car. It takes time, tools and some hard work.

 

In their defense, I didn't waste any time arguing with them/haggling after getting that quote. I don't haggle with mechanics, because I figure if they feel ripped off, they might rip something off my car. I say 'yes' or 'no'.

If I had tried to get down to what Toyota recommends, they may have charged less. I didn't even look at the line items 'til I got home, and by the way, my wipers are fine.

The sticker shock had me so floored that I had to go to the parts department.

Also, I had to buy an oil filter wrench, so add a few bucks to the $40.12. The guys at Firestone did a good job - I actually SAW them looking at and inspecting the car for a decent amount of time up on the lift before they took off the tires and rotated them.

-->Adam

 

Forums like PriusChat make it very simple for a car owner to know and understand what basic maintenance is reasonable, and what part of that maintenance can be performed by laypeople who do not have special tools.

Expecting the dealership to not pad a service bill is unrealistic.

 

I'm dealing with the same dealer for service that alevinemi is.

This dealer sells what they call "factory service" and "dealer plus" service. Alevinemi got a quote for the 15k dealer plus service, which is definitely filled with a bunch of unnecessary items. I got a quote for 30k service, although I didn't call it that when I asked for an estimate and they quoted me just under $200 for the factory service. When I told them that I could do the two air filter changes myself and asked for quote taking those out I was quoted $60 something for the oil changes, tire rotations, and visual inspections. Now that's more like it.

 

Does the warranty or extended warranty dictate that you have to have the service done at a Toyota dealership?

 

Nowhere in the owner manual or extended warranty documents does it state you have to have servicing performed at a dealership

 

Thanks!

 

In fact, it is illegal for them to give a blanket denial of warranty if you had work done elsewhere. They have to show that the 3rd party work done caused a failure.

Anyway, what's with "adjust rear brakes"? Other than when having the rear shoes replaced, I've never adjusted drum brakes. Aren't they supposed to be self-adjusting? I'd only do this if there was a problem -- reduced braking, pulling to one side, etc.

 

The rear drums can get out of adjustment, even with use. Not only does this have some effect on braking performance, but a large effect on how the parking brake works.

Forum member Hobbit has a very good and detailed writeup at his website on how to inspect, clean, and adjust the rear drums.

 

The local dealers charge $40-$70 for an oil change, I DIY all my maintenance work. You can find oil for cheap if you live near a Wal-Mart - you can get Pennzoil or Valvoline dino for $12 or less and some dealers will sell filters cheaper than the aftermarket. I know the wholesale counter guy at the local dealer. The Prius is a very maintenance friendly car - but I would let someone else deal with the brake fluid flush or coolant change.

Wynn's, MOC, and BG are cash makers for the dealership. They get it at a low marginal cost and sell it to you for more. Last time I checked, my job charges $130 for a MOC power steering flush - the fluid is $65 customer cost. Brake Fluid flush is $200 or so, the fluid is $40. Just get a bottle of Techron, Regaine, or SI-1.

 

The 2010+ Prius REQUIRES 0w-20 synthetic oil, so oil changes will now cost about $40 in parts alone. That is, 5 quarts of Mobil 1 0w-20 @ $6.99/qt and $5 for a filter.