What services you need and what you don't

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

True enough, in Europe the interval for changing rock oil is 10K, however, the interval for changing 100% synthetic oil is 20K.

At least it was in 2008.

 

The interval for oil change in Europe using 100% synthetic in a Prius is 10K miles or 1 year witch ever comes first. The interval has never been 20K miles, for VW I believe yes but not for the Prius. Perhaps some other European member will confirm this. My Prius is a 2008 Tspirit.

 

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

To re-inforce - straight out of the UK "Service and Warranty" booklet for an '08 (58 reg) T4:
Full service 20k miles or two years.
Intermediate Service 10k miles or 1 year.
Oil and Filter to be replaced at every full and intermediate service.

And in the manual it gives 6 grades of oil which can be used but 0W-20 is labelled "preferred"...

Some diesels get up to service intervals in the 15-20k range, I think, but I don't believe I've seen it on a petrol engined vehicle. Can't claim to be an expert, though.

 

I'm new to this priuschat. Bought a 2004 Prius last Nov. 2011. Just a month with me
I got this red triangle warning on my dashboard at cold start and a warning on the MFD says; 'Caution: The transmission P lock mechanism is abnormal. Park in a flat surface and apply Parking brake.' I search on the internet regardnig this warning and found solutions and suggestions here in Priuschat forum. Many suggested to put a new 12v battery. From this forum I also learned how to get into the onboard diagnostic to find the condition of my 12v battery. I checked yesterday morning before starting my IG-ON and find my 12v battery running at 9.8 & 9.7. So I think this could be the reason for this red triangle warning. I search on the internet for a battery replacement for a 2004 Prius and found from on-line car parts suppliers with different Amp-hour battery ratings, 45Ah, 52Ah and 60Ah. Now my question is which one should I buy. What is the original amp-hour 12v battery of a 2004 Prius T4. I wanted to buy the same amp-hour battery as the original one. Your answer is very much appreciated.

 

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

Any of the batteries above should be OK but the higher the amp/hr battery should give longer service when parked listening to radio etc it would also stand up to lights being left on better. Make sure the battery will fit in the small space and also check that the battery pole are correctly positioned (positive on the left when posts are closest to you. I have looked at many suppliers of batteries for the Prius 2003/2009 in the UK and more than half show the poles the wrong way round. The poles are also smaller than standard battery poles, but if you buy one with larger poles you can easily change the lugs on the vehicle. The battery should be an AGM but any 12v lead acid battery will work OK but with small risk (in my oppinion) of acid splash in the event of an offside rear collision.
The OEM battery is expensive from the dealer as is the yellow top Optima. Bosh Varta and Exide do batteries that fit but they are all flooded acid types, this would not personally put me off at about £45 Hope this helps. The OEM battery is 40amp/hr.

John.

 

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

Optima YTS 2.7j

 

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

Yes I agree except in the UK that battery is £160, the others I have listed are £45 and have a 4 year guaranty and greater amp/hr capacity.

 

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

But they are flooded. And, they are not deep cycle presumably? Anyway, this is a risk/reward question, where the risk of something bad is pretty small, compared to the modest reward of 115 GBP.

 

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

It does not matter if they are not deep cycle they are guaranteed for 4years, agreed they are flooded but so is the battery supplied buy Toyota new in my Prius that also is not deep cycle. There is a 60 AMP/HR deep cycle battery available in the UK that is only £65 so why go to the very good but over priced Optima in the UK. Remember in the UK the Optima is £160 that is approximately $266.

Just checked the Optima web site UK price for yellow top 2.7 is now £173.88 close to $300

 

The Optima is the ideal PbA battery for Prius, being both AGM and deep cycle. In the US, there is not much difference in price between it and Toyota OEM, making it the best bang for the buck. If there is a significant price difference, then it is up to your own personal utility function as to which to buy, but it is important to know that the Yellowtop is the best match for the application, while non-deep-cycle and/or non-AGM leave something to be desired.

 

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

I cannot understand how the Optima at 41 AMP/HR and £173.88 is a better deal than another battery at 60 AMP/HR £65 with 4 year guaranty both being AGM deap cycle batteries.
The other batteries I have listed at £45 if they fail for whatever reason provided they are fitted to the correct vehicle will be replaced free of charge up to 4years. The Optima has only 1 year guaranty.
Lucas now do a battery no price yet but believed to around £80 with a lifetime guaranty. I am not knocking Optima's product just saying that in the UK we have better choices. All the batteries I have listed are marketed by large companies as replacements for the Prius with correct size posts and with vent tube.

 

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

This is awesome - thanks! What about

1. oil changes- I have traveled little miles= have a 2008 and it only has 14,4000 miles. How often should the oil be changed?

2. tire rotation - same question.....

3. I now have an issue - the car has been taken into Toyota - I have their five year 'cover all' - haha - - warranty -

it 'appears' as though the 12 volt battery has gone out - got all kinds of squirley messages - any info on this battery - and known issues for this model year?

Thanks so much!


JO

 

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

5000 miles or 6 months, which ever is first.

5000 miles, I can't think why months would be important.

A) On any 12 volt battery ever in any car, after 4 years you are on borrowed time.
Because the 12 volt battery does not start the engine in a Prius, Toyota sized it very small, perhaps too small. It is easy to drain it overnight with a dome light. Once completely drained, it never really recovers. A better battery is the Optima Yellowtop, It recovers from draining more than once, but sadly it is not cheaper.
Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 +

 

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

The battery in my RAV just had its 8th birthday. Generally, a flooded Toyota OEM battery (mine came from Japan) is of exceptionally high quality. This leads to complacency with the Prius, and its hopelessly inadequate AGM battery from Panasonic or Yuasa.

 

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

FOB?????????

Do ever need to replace the battery (how long) and does it charge when inserted into the dash? If we do what is the battery number?

Thanks,

 

Yes, you need to change the 2G fob battery periodically, every two years or so. It is a CR 2032 which you can buy at any drugstore. You will need a very tiny Phillips screwdriver to remove four screws securing a plastic cover over the battery.

No, the fob battery does not charge when inserted into the dash.

 

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

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280834009564&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:US:1123

 

2004-9 Prius Keyfob Battery Change

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280834009564&ssPageName=ADME:L:COSI:US:1123

 

I got my FOB batteries at walmart, you can literally buy one in any drugstore, chainstore, etc that carries batteries.

 

got a 2008 Prius about a year ago & did not gave service records (its about 150K miles now.. i know its a lot when I bought it but i got a grt deal).. so far, the car is doing fine & i am happy withit. When I took it to the dealer for some service, he recommended a major service..
I plan to do most of it myself..
In the list given by the dealer, he had two items I don't know anything about:
- Install Fuel conditioner - what is this? how to do this?
- Install oil conditioner - same?
I tried searching for the above two - could not find relevant discussions.
thanks,
-m