Anyone had valves adjusted on 2005?

It's fairly complicated to do an adjustment, that's why nobody does it

 

The 2nd gen Prius uses shims to adjust valve clearance. It's a relatively stable system, less prone to get out of adjustment. But if adjustment IS needed, it's a bear: you need a supply of alternate shims on hand, I think you even have to lift off the cam shafts? It's difficult and labour intensive.

3rd gen has gone to hydraulic adjustment, which happens automatically, keeps the valve clearance correct constantly.

I'm coming from Honda, which typically uses screw and locknut adjustment, less stable maybe, but a walk in the park to adjust.

Here's a thread on 2nd gen valve adjustment:

valve lifters/valve clearance adjustment | PriusChat

 

that's a great thread. i wonder how much a dealer would charge for valve adjustment?

 

Indeed, this is no a procedure for the light of heart garage mechanic. As Mendel points out, you need a good selection of pocket shims to even attempt this adjustment. The shims are expensive to boot. At 125K miles you might consider using a slightly higher viscosity of oil and a shorter oil change interval. If you have a good record of oil change history you will probably (in the remainder of life) never have to worry about any catastrophic failure in the valve train. The car is 11 years old ! Pretend that the noise isn't there and just drive it.

 

i wonder if the high mile taxi's bother with this.

 

$800ish was a quote I was given a few years ago. It may have been from an independent shop rather than a dealer.

Low-mile used engines at the time were showing up for < $500....

-Chap

 

for all the high mileage gen 2's around here, it's not very common. in would be interesting to read an account from someone who's had to deal with it, the decision they made and the outcome.

 

Gen 3 no longer uses shims? I was told by my dealer it used shims, so a valve adjustment would cost $1,200.

 

Sometimes people will try to sell you power steering fluid too.

The 2ZR-FXE uses self-adjusting hydraulics. You would only ever be in there if something got plugged or flat out wore out or broke.

-Chap

 

Thanks, Chapman. I was told this by a master technician, who certainly knows the difference between Gen 2 and Gen 3.

 

clearly an idiot working at a stealership, not a surprise here.

 

Maybe by a green service writer, more used to 2nd gen.

 

Sounds like you talked to Service Advisor, not a technician. There is only two things on a Service Advisors mind...Sell, sell,sell, money, money, money. They will try to pack it to you anyway they can.

 

The master technician working on my car told the service advisor a valve adjustment on my Gen 3 would cost $1,200. When I asked why it was so expensive, another master technician who was nearby told me my car had shims, so I shouldn't adjust the valves any sooner than 200k miles. Maybe there was some miscommunication going on, but it does make me question the dealer's integrity.

 

Ask how much experience they have adjusting valves of third generation Prii.

 

assuming they didn't look it up, just going from gen 2 experience, and unaware of gen 3 change. at least the recommended waiting.

 

Interesting thread.
So at some point Toyota went to hydraulic lifters...good call for a street car.

Some valve trains wear loose (as valve stem wears) others wear tight (as valve seat wears / slams into head).

125K maintenance check in service manual.
Mechanic quote above 200K.
No stories/ experience from forum members.

Measuring may not cost to much (depending on perspective)...remove valve cover, spin cam, measure 16 valves.
3 or 4 hours, at $xxx per hours plus gaskets.

Adjustment would cost considerably more.
Biggest issue being an inventor of shims.
And mechanic experience...need math skills too!
Maybe another 2 to 4 hours at $xxx per hours.

Rough money calculation in my area labor rate is $150 an hours.

FWIW
Service manual maybe conservative...seen that with other brands.
Since no member stories...one could exceed that service limit (if off warranty).
Keeping or selling the car?

Keeping I'd adjust at 150K...Selling I'd drive till failure.

However, I have not personally seen or read stories of Prius value train wear....maybe adjust at 200K would be the best for owner's wallet plus still be within engine wear tolerances.

 

I've heard valves can get tight, and it sounds reasonable: the seating area wears, and the valve starts to ride up. In practice, with screw adjuster Hondas over the decades, they always got a little looser for me.

Screw adjustment valves are so much easier to deal with. Even a duffer like me could manage it. That's how I always justified buying the Shop Manual. Typically Honda's manuals were never over $100, usually $90ish. With mine the valve clearance check pages would get dog-eared and greasy, lol.

With our older Hondas, you needed to disconnect maybe one hose, a clip or two, the spark plug cables. Then remove the valve cover bolts and gently prize up the cover. They typically got kinda glued on.

It's necessary to turn the engine over by hand, basically by turning the wheels so you can reach into the wheel well, put a socket on the end of the crankshaft bolt.

Then with the shop manual to explain the timing belt pulley markings, you cranked the engine, checked clearance with a feeler gauge set, and loosened/adjusted/tightened and rechecked the various valves.

Took 2, maybe 3 hours, working slow. With our last Civic the job was complicated, the dang windshield cowl blocked access (similar to Prius) and there was a wiring harness running over top of the valve cover, difficult to get out of the way, needed further disassembly.

 

i don't believe there's any maintenance schedule for adjusting valves, so no warranty issues if you don't.