What services you need and what you don't

Re: What services you need and what you don't

"The good news is that a limited service campaign covering the inverter coolant pump is underway, so you should be able to get that pump and the inverter coolant replaced at no charge."

I just bought a 2005 Prius with 119K on it. How can I tell if this car I just bought is/was covered under the recall? Would it still apply to me if I am the second owner and it has 119K miles on it?

 

Ok, you guys are awesome. I registered on Toyota's website and found 94 records for my Prius. Some questions:

12/22/2010 AON-PRIUS WATER PUMP AON-PRIUS WATER PUMP ~|~SSC AON - MY 2004 THROUGH CERTAIN MY 2007 PRIUS VEHICLES 0615L1 (1.2) REPLACE THE ELECTRIC HYBRIB WATER PUMP PART# 04000-32528 ~|~ ~|~REPLACE WATER PUMP AND COOLANT RECALL COMPLETE

Does that mean I just got a new water pump (assume it's for the inverter) two months ago?

By Dealer 10/04/10 Milham Toyota 115,313 0432968 115,000 MILE SERVICE View Details

Is anything good included in the 115K service? They didn't show much in the summary.

Wow, this previous owner did everything through the dealer. I would have paid more if I saw all of these detailed service records!

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

There really is only one way to determine the answer to your main question; ask a Toyota dealer.

For all practical purposes, change the oil every ten thousand miles like clockwork and you should be covered. That's for practical purposes. Legalistic folk will claim you must follow all the Toyota rules. Reality is something else entirely.

In Northeast USA use 100% synthetic engine oil and change every twenty thousand miles, if you are so inclined.

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Yes, you now have a new inverter cooling pump AND new fluid in that cooling loop, so that part of the system is good to go for another 100,000 miles.

The 115K service is probably just oil+filter.

Look back through the service records for a transaxle fluid change and an engine water pump change. The engine water pump is a common repair pushed by dealers before it is actually going bad. If the prior owner did everything at the dealer, then I'd bet there is at least one engine water pump change, maybe two, but no transaxle fluid change. You can figure 100,000 miles until the next engine coolant drain/fill from the most recent engine water pump repair if there was one. If they did do a transaxle fluid change, you should figure 60,000 miles from that point until it needs it again.

Congratulations on buying a nicely maintained car! That's one that I would expect to see in the 299,999 club without encountering serious issues.

 

No transaxle change, ever. I'm going to try it myself this weekend. As for the engine water pump, it was changed on 10/24/08 at 85K miles. My car has 119K on it now.

 

Cool. Make sure you have the right tools to get the plug off, it will feel like it has been welded in place. When mine came loose finally, the metallic crack sound was so loud that I thought I had broken the hex drive.

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Not paper averse, just new to the dealership shop and forgot to ask for printout. Next time, or something.

The ECU has been teaching itself since... the tank average (1/2 tank) before dealership was at 51mpg, when refilled was 48. Current tank (first fill since) was holding steady at 54 until I took a few short trips dropping it to 53. Either it's learning how I drive it, or it's teaching me (along with these forums).

I'm hoping to do belt and engine filter replacement this weekend. Cabin filter was leafy, but otherwise very clean looking.

 

Thank you for the info
not confusing anymore

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Where can I get one of these?

 

what about shocks?

I got a 2006 Prius to use as a company car and I need to keep up to date with the maintenance. The car has around 71000 miles on it. When do you need to replace the shocks and who makes the best oem replacement shocks out there that's cheap and durable? What do you guys think about the Bilstein? Are they a better value than the oem? I'm looking for value.

 

You need to replace the front struts/rear shocks when you are not satisfied with the ride, or if you see substantial strut oil leakage.

I think Bilstein is great but am not aware that they produce struts/shocks that will fit the Prius. The normal choices would be between the Toyota branded parts made by KYB, and KYB aftermarket.

Bilstein usually costs more than other brands but often will last longer.

 

Re: what about shocks?

Just as Dr. Wong says, ride and wear evidence will prompt replacement. Genuine Toyota Prius replacement parts are the ones to get. They are made to bear the excess weight on the front of the Prius. Bilstein or not, stick with Toyota on this one.

There are original front struts on Priuses over 100K miles.

 

Are you really a doctor Pat?

Bilstein does not in fact make shocks for the Prius, unfortunately, as they're the best shocks I know.

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

I think that Rusty was having fun. I hold MS and MBA degrees and am not a doctor (whether MD, PhD, etc.)

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Apparently not for any hybrids at all.

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Perhaps a Phsd.

Tom

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

But if we call you Master Wong folk will think they're in a Jet Li movie.

 

so I have this in the service records for my new-to-me 2005 with only 45K miles on it. The guy I bought it from took it in that day before I arrived to get the car.


Job Date Operation Operation Details Pay Type
1 03/07/2011 CUSTOMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SI ON CUSTOMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SI ON ~|~CUSTOMER STATES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SI ON ~|~LOW FUEL ~|~REFUEL, HEALTH CHECK OK.

CUSTOMER PAY
2 03/07/2011 CUSTOMER REQUESTS PERFORM BRAKE SERVICE CUSTOMER REQUESTS PERFORM BRAKE SERVICE ~|~CUSTOMER REQUESTS PERFORM BRAKE SERVICE ~|~ ~|~LUBED SLIDE PINS ON FRONT BRAKES AND LUBED/CLEANED REAR BRAKES

Parts
CUSTOMER PAY
3 03/07/2011 CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IN INVOLVED AON--LSC--2004 THROUGH CERTAIN 2007 MODEL YE CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IN INVOLVED AON--LSC--2004 THROUGH CERTAIN 2007 MODEL YE ~|~CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE IN INVOLVED AON--LSC--2004 THROUGH CERTAIN 2007 MODEL YEAR PRUIS VEHICLE--ELECTRIC HYBIRD WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT ~|~CAMPAIGN A0N ~|~REPLACED THE ELECTRIC HYBRID WATER PUMP

Does that last part mean the inverter coolant was replaced as well? I'm assuming so if it is the same as the engine coolant system.

 

Yes, the inverter coolant should have been replaced as well.

 

Re: What services you need and what you don't

Thanks! My 2006 Prius (125000 miles on it) had a lengthy service record, with the owner doing all this stuff mostly at shorter intervals than recommended here. (For example, he had the fuel injector system flushed every 15k.) He clearly did everything the dealership sold him.

Now, the car is in beautiful shape. It runs quieter than any other Prius I've driven or ridden in, including much newer/lower-mileage ones. Even accelerating uphill to highway speed, the gas engine just purrs as it picks up. (I've heard others go "rrrrRRRR" accelerating uphill, sounding like it's a bit of a struggle.) My mechanic confirmed that the engine was very clean inside and all systems were in great shape.

I was therefore inclined to stick to the previous owner's maintenance schedule, since it obviously worked to keep the car in great shape. But maybe it isn't necessary to do everything quite so often (and spend quite so much of the accompanying $$). It sounds like the 15k interval for fuel injector flush is overkill.

I'm sticking to oil changes every 5,000 miles, though. It's a cheap service, and I have a good independent mechanic who doesn't use oil changes as an excuse to upsell.