Just had 30,000 mile service: cost me almost $400 bucks!!

Hey, all,

When I reached 60,000 miles my local dealer had a long laundry list of things specifically for the Prius that supposedly "needed" to be done (including a fuel injection service, replacing the iridium spark plugs, coolant replacement, transmission flush, & tire rebalancing) to the tune of over $300. They were insistant even though I pointed out that Toyota says the plugs & coolant are good till 100,000 miles & I didn't have any fuel or engine running problems. As suggested by others here at PriusChat & over at PriusOnLine, as precautionary measures I actually had my my plugs loosened & anti-sieze applied at 50,000 miles along with a transmission oil drain & refill only (NO flush). And I just had new tires installed & balanced & a 4-wheel alignment done (by a tire shop---NOT a Toyota dealer) at 55,000 miles. Instead of continuing to fight with them about the need to spend over $300, I just went back to my great selling dealer & got only what I asked for done for only $105 (this included the brake clean'g & adjust'g service---the only time I've done that). I also told them I had done the engine air filter & cabin air filter myself at home the same day.

It pays to talk directly to their service people at the dealership, because if you call their "outside" call center to make a service appointment, they try like hell to sell you on all the extras (just like at my local dealership) because they just pull up a generic service interval list. Other than this $105 service & the one at 50,000 miles (with the transmission drain & refill & the plug loosening & lubricating) I only pay between $35 to $40 for each 5,000 mile service. I hate it so much when I hear of all you owners who get ripped off to the tune of $300, $400, or even $500 for some of those 15,000 mile, 30,000 mile & 60,000 mile services. You guys need to become educated on only what is really needed (from the "Passport" maintenance booklet) & stick to it. And don't let the dealer charge you $69.95 (on coupon special, no less) to change your cabin air filter when $50 of that is for only 5 minutes of labor (at that rate he is making $600 an hour). Do it yourself for only about $20.

Ken (in Bolton,Ct)

 

Man, I wish I had been visiting this site since I bought my '05 Prius brand new. I've been paying $200 and $400 for the 15k and 30k tuneups, respectively, for around 105k miles now. Each time going in for an oil change, I would pray I would not walk out paying some astronomical price beyond a $30 oil change. They even got me with a tire and light bulb change once. They charged me 50 dollars for a light bulb, a single light bulb. The tire was also up there, but I think I chose to sub-consciously block out that price. You live and you learn. This is such a great forum.

 

They saw you coming...

 

I paid an independent shop $246.61 at 31,000 mi. I did so despite reading these threads for three reasons.

1) No mechanic had ever looked at the car before. It was just oil changes (Pennzoil synthetic (5w-30) and tire rotations.
2) The foot brake needed a major adjustment since the MrTire person drove the car without releasing it for a quarter mile.
3) I trusted them to perform the checks and regular maintenance better than the dealer.

I don't expect to have to pay anything before 60k.

 

:welcome:souliloquy.

 

The 30K service is nothing more than an oil and filter change,an air filter and a cabin filter change, a tire rotation and a general inspection.My dealer in Galesburg gave me a rough estimate of $200 for this service.The filters are a bit pricey,but I thought it wasn't too unreasonable.

 

It's really easy to change the cabin and engine filters; see the owner's manual. You can save money doing it yourself. And it's not necessary to rotate the tires, so if you're paying for that service, and don't mind buying tires two-at-a-time instead of four-at-a-time, consider forgoing it.

 

Time for a new dealer. Or, just break out the old tool kit, and DIY. Normal service on the Prius isn't that big of a deal. My car has never been back to the dealer, except one warranty job (inverter collant pump) in over 91,000 miles.

 

I have an 2007 prius, it's time for my 30K service, I just called the dealer, they want 349.95 to do the job which includes:
lube, oil, filter, brake inspection, engine air filter, tire rotation, cooling service, inverter service, timing and idle. I asked if they'd just do the oil/filter, air intake filter, cabin filter, tire rotation and balance, and check all fluid levels, brakes and wheel allignment (as recommended on this site) for $100, they said no. Looks like I'm gonna get ripped off too.

QUOTE=bac;680103]+1

... Brad[/QUOTE]

 

I just had my 30,000 service: oil, filter, brake inspection, engine and cabin air filter, tire rotation. They came back in and said both air filters were clean, we will check them in another 5,000 miles, it is $43.50 and see you in 2 months! I remain happy with my dealer, I suggest you never darken the door of your current dealer.

I doubt they even can do lube, timing and idle, it is not officially time for cooling service, inverter service, or wheel alignment. (You can have them done early)

"California" is too vague for anyone to reccommend you a new mechanic so here are resources
http://www.toyota.com/dealers/
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/

 

I definitely remember zerk fittings you could lube on my 63 Ford Falcon, I am not sure I ever saw another one. I do not think cars have had anything TO lube since the 70s.

Zerk Fitting : Cyclepedia Press LLC

 

Sounds like there is a lot of stuff on that list that you don't need or can't be done. Find another dealer. This time ask for just what's in the owners manual as required maintenance.

 

What Joe 26 wrote! You have been introduced to the evil miracle of the "dealer service package". You do not want this.

Instead, take the Scheduled Maintenance Guide that came new with the car from Toyota, show the correct page to the service writer, and tell them to do those items and nothing else. You should get out for $100 or less. If you do not have the Scheduled Maintenance Guide, see here:
Toyota Parts and Service

 

I agree. Instead of getting ripped off, why not find another place that will only do the required work?

 

Why do you think they are called "Stealerships"? That is why I always do my own oil changes and other minor repairs. Everyone should be able to change their own oil, it's not hard and takes under 30 minutes.

 

I took my 2014 Avalon Hybrid XLE Touring in to my Toyota dealer yesterday and had the 30,000 mile work done. They changed the oil and oil filter, rotated the tires and did a brake inspection. It cost me $69.90. I have a terrific Toyota dealer who never tries to sell me anything I don't need. The Toyota dealer that I had and dumped before this one was a crook who was always trying to sell me service work that I did not need.

 

aren't they spost to check/replace the filters?

i took my '05 dakota in for the airbag recall. 26,000 miles, and they tried to sell me $600. worth of tie rod ends.

 

I check and replace my cabin and air filters myself.

 

7 year old thread.
Age-old problem.

It's pretty simple, really.
If it's not on the maintenance schedule, then it's not maintenance..

Caveat Emptor

 

The only quibble I'd have with that: the "brake inspection" would be no more than a cursory glance as they were pulling the tires off. Sadly, with consumers demanding rock bottom prices, that's the norm.

A proper brake inspection would entail pulling off the calipers, cleaning/inspecting/measuring/relubing the pads/shims, clean and relube of caliper pins, possibly checking rotor thickness and runout, and lube of the caliper and piston points of contact with pads.

That'll typically cost somewhere between $200~400.