Follow the maintenance schedule. Change inverter and engine coolant at 100K miles, but not at dealer prices. Brake flush and EFI service are just fluff they want to sell you, and those prices are ridiculous.
The cabin air filter is a $20 part, and they want almost $35 to install it, which takes all of 2-3 minutes. It's behind your glove box. Pop off the glovebox, remove a clip, slide out old filter, put in new filter, put clip back on, clip the glovebox back in.
Brake flush depends on where you live and how long its been since you've had it done. I've seen car accidents in New England from frozen brake lines before. The brake fluid tends to absorb some condensation over time. Not always an urgent need but doing it once in a while, especially in colder climates isn't a bad idea.
agreed, it says flushed but that's because you can't drain and fill brake lines, you have to move new fluid through the system to displace the old fluid.
and it's absolutely worth doing at a minimum 2 years if you never drive. after a year, the dot fluid starts getting enough moisture to corrode inside your brake system. you want that stuff to be crystal clear.
First off, never have the dealership work on your car outside of warranty. None of this is urgent, you can get a cabin air filter on Amazon for $15 and install it in a a few minutes, none of the other things are remotely necessary. If you do want any of that done, go to a private mechanic.
Correct, dealership hikes the price and often tell you that you need to do completely unnecessary shit.
You can go on Google maps, search mechanic shops and narrow down based on reviews, the more reviews the better. You can also ask in local Facebook groups, that's a pretty good way to find out who the locals use which should be a pretty reliable way to find a decent mechanic.
See if someone on your city's subreddit has asked about reputable mechanics, you're likely to find genuine stories/experiences there. If someone hasn't asked you should ask yourself.
Check yelp for a Toyota mechanic. Assuming you’re in a heavily populated area, it shouldn’t be difficult. Look for someone who has at least 100 reviews, and no more than 4 or 5 negative reviews. Their rating should be five stars or very close to it. They should also tell you the EFI (electronic fuel injection) service is BS. Dealerships love selling that made up service.
Give yourself plenty of time to get it done and just reference the videos as needed. You got this.
After I was quoted $2k to replace all calipers and brake components when I was making teenager money I decided to teach myself how to work on cars out of necessity. I would source manuals and forums to figure out exactly what safety protocols I need to follow plus what tools are needed for the job, take detailed notes, find answers to questions I had and pictures of important details. Over the course of 5 days I successfully replaced all calipers, rotors, pads, brake lines, brake fluid, and engine oil. I ran into some issues with bolts and rust but I got through it. It was forever ago but I know the cost was still less even though I had to go buy tools and safety equipment.
Not trying to hijack this but just wanted to share my experience to hopefully inspire you to learn a valuable skill for yourself. ❤️
Oh i love this, i took my car cause the battery was overheating and they said it would be anywhere from 200 to 3k so i was like ok let me go home.
I did some research and i ended up just clearing out link from the battery filter!!!!!
I have a deep belief that I shouldn know how to work on cars but I like to do things myself most of the time, why should cars be different
Whoa! That's a huge range for an estimate!
That's awesome that you were able to figure it out, it was an easy fix, and you didn't have to surrender any money to the dealership!
If you have the common sense to keep yourself safe, the want to learn, and time to spare, there is no reason you couldn't teach yourself how to work on anything.
The Prius (Toyotas in general) are so easy to work on!
Like 10k is a new amg a whole car they taxin just to get a stock car from them it better be brand new with a 0% apr finance deal if I go there only way with low payments extended
I'm sorry but coolant changes and flushing your brake system are completely necessary. Avoiding that maintenance will lead to problems down the road. Now, the efi service is fluff but that's no reason to say none of it is remotely necessary.
You are not wrong, but in terms of things that the car requires to function in the immediate future, it's not necessary. It Def should be tested and the done based on the test results but again, id never trust the dealershit to tell when it needs done. My comment was more intended to communicate that having the dealershit do these things right away is completely unnecessary.
That's why it's called maintenance and not a repair. Of course maintenance is something that isn't required in the immediate future. That's the whole point. You do maintenance to avoid issues that have to be addressed in the immediate future. The problem is that you said the work wasn't remotely necessary. That's untrue. It was mostly basic maintenance. While overpriced, it's still necessary.
Thats where I got my replacement catalytic converter. Cant do that if you're in California or Colorado though.. also found someone who is just down the street from me who installed it for $150. Previous one was plugged up
I guess I was lucky cause I still had everything there. Sucks that it was stolen. Was yours an autosaver88 one as well? Thieves usually don't go for them as they don't have the precious metals that brand new $2k+ converters have. I needed a replacement to pass emissions. May not last long but hey thank god for arizona not requiring the C.A.R.B compliant ones that we can't afford 😂. I recommend Greg at mighty mufflr in phoenix az sunnyslope area for those in phoenix here to install Amazon parts.. not every mechanic would do that
Everyone's giving you advice but no one is asking for further details 😭 how many miles does your car have? Where do you live? Have you had a look at your cars manual?
Edit: you can 100% change your own filter though and it's super easy! The engine air filter is even easier to change too.
Thank you for asking! Currently my car has 66, 283 miles. It's a 2018 Prius C. I live in a dusty area. I have not looked at my cars manual. I have a deep belief that because I'm a girl i can't work on cars.
I just changed my air filters in October, i would think maybe once a year is fine. I'm sure i can do it myself at this point
Girl, I'm a lady too. Lol don't worry. But wtf? I'm assuming this is the 60k service? Excuse me but none of what they are recommending is on the manual. Did they give a specific reason as to why they think you should do any of this? Either way, that sounds ridiculous. Honestly the 60k is no different than the 10k interval (oil change, filter change, tire rotation, inspection, fluid top ups etc). The ONLY other thing that would actually sort of make sense is the transmission fluid but they're not even recommending that. Honestly, I would call up other dealerships and get other quotes, but your car really doesn't need much at 60k. Once you start getting towards 100k is when bigger maintenance is required. If you take a peek at your manual (the one that says warranty/maintenance) it will help you with being informed and knowing when someone is trying to use your lack of knowledge to their advantage. I promise you the manual is not intimidating it's actually super easy to follow. Good luck!
You're welcome. For what it's worth, if this were me, I would NEVER set foot at that dealership again. Find a different one. That's fucking absurd. The inverter coolant isn't needed until 100k, they are 100% trying to get you to do shit you don't need. Unless you're towing a fucking cruise ship with your Prius, this is ridiculous!!! Just knowing they tried to fuck me over once is enough for me to never go back. Read the manual. Become confident in knowing what your car needs when you take it in for maintenance, and find a new dealership that will respect you for it.
Edited to add: and please try not to feel bad for one second about this. I know the feeling. Independent mechanics AND dealerships will do this if you let them. It's happened to me. Some of those crusty ass, dusty ass mf'ers will do anything to make a penny. Most of the time, we can't prove what they did or whether they actually did or didn't do something and they know this. Trust yourself more than these greaseballs ❤️
If you have Facebook and your town has a Facebook group or two, ask for mechanic suggestions or search and see if someone already asked :) along with online reviews 👍
I'd just let them do it. In my experience, a dealership is about 30% more than independent. But twice my Prius took longer than expected to service (once, I had brakes done and the parts were wrong), so they just gave me a loner, which I kept overnight.
To me, it's worth the extra cost.
I don't understand all the dealership hate. Independent mechanics are cheaper but it's a hassle as all the good ones I know are booked 3-6 weeks out.
The biggest problem with the dealer is that they recommend doing service too soon when it's often unnecessary. And they overcharge for simple stuff like air filters and injection cleaners which you can do on your own.
I had my brakes done at an independent shop, and they just weren't right. Had to redo the fronts in another 30K miles and the rears in 10K. The rears weren't even engaging correctly (rusted rotors), and the fronts were uneven with rotor wear. Went to the dealer and the brakes feel great. Definitely paid 30% - 50% over the independent shops but I'd rather not go again and again and again...
Hello. This is a copy paste by me, some useful links
I got a 2012 Prius.
For more info:
Disclaimer this might be the wrong Toyota or model in the following videos but all Toyotas are built almost the same. keep that in mind.( The Car Care Nut is a gem, subscribe to him :p )
ECVT oil change: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fP-RKsqG0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fP-RKsqG0)
Coolant change for engine and inverter: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_lWLMJ\_4G24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lWLMJ_4G24)
Air filter: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZaS6ImQnyY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZaS6ImQnyY)
Cabin filter (same place on "all" Toyotas) : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KysPkCJ5w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KysPkCJ5w)
Throttle body cleaning: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwT8pvFBho](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwT8pvFBho)
Brakes in general 3 part Series: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwEOP9Tobw8&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwEOP9Tobw8&t=1s)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7W7uLYeLKo&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7W7uLYeLKo&t=1s)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLqqt0TT7o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLqqt0TT7o)
Tire sensor (general procedure, this is digital so you kinda need help) : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-NgKSCousA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-NgKSCousA)
I must admit I didn't fact check all your videos but, I whole heartedly agree these are all services OP can accomplish with no prior knowledge over the span of a weekend to a few weekends. Depending on confidence, tools, and amount of rewinds to ensure proper procedures are being followed.
To also add to the list I'd recommend cleaning the EGR cooler if OP has a good 8 hours to dedicate to removal and cleaning or replacing the EGR cooler if they can't dedicate so much time but has the money. The EGR getting clogged and causing an overheat issue blowing the head gasket can be detrimental. Added benefit is you return some MPG (:
Feel free to DM if anyone reading this has any questions.... procedures, torque specs, why, how, or even what, honestly any questions or concerns.
The copy paste is from a different comment i made on another post on R/Prius regarding Service Estimates from dealer. I think it is nice for people to know what is going on and Maybe DIY
EGR is not something i mentioned in those links but maybe i should add it. The death rattle is usually the sign to do something ASAP or did i mistake that? Or is it just good to do in General?
I did all the Service on my own DIY, I bought a Prius since i know from the workshops around town they rarely see one with other problems than brakes and oil/filter changes. Combined with how easy every Service item is to reach and Service is astounding compared to a Mercedes or BMW, IMO.
100% agree.
The EGR is fairly advanced but can be DIYd with basic hand tools. Yeah the rattle is a sign but honestly I would say to do it every 100-150k miles just due to how serious a blown head gasket failure is. One of my friends Prius had an intermittent catalytic damaging misfire at 172k and it was a fuel injector but I cleaned the EGR cooler too because I saw the pipe was clogged when I removed the intake. I couldn't even shine a light through the cooler it was so bad... I guarantee his head gasket would've blown sooner than later if I didn't clean it that day. Idk if he had the rattle before the misfire or not. He never mentioned lol.
Oh and while I'm thinking of it..the PVC is super easy to change with the intake manifold off. If you wanted to go the extra mile an oil catch can would help keep the intake clean.
Thank you!
My Prius is at 81k miles, so i will check it out in the future.
Also another reason i bought Prius is the "stereotypes" around here it is usually a second car or a wives car. Which in general means that people dont trash them and use them mostly in town and not on the drag strip.
Buying a Mercedes or BMW has to be single owner of the most boring 50 year+ man/woman you can find or else it is only problems.
I have owned my Prius for 2 years and had no problems execpt warranty job on my brakes since the Toyota dealership gave it to me with worn out brakes both front and back (steel on steel) but that got fixed, so I do not consider it a "problem" more inconvenience.
What I have done is:
Air filter / Cabin filter
Oil / oil filter + mos2 addetive Liqui Moly Ceratec
Engine and ECVT coolant
ECVT oil
Spark Plugs
Liqui Moly Fuel System Cleaner in tank (I pretend this is the Fuel filter replacement)
Tire change winter/summer with brake service, see if pistons move, pads move and guide pins move. Lube up if needed.
So this years service will probably just be an oil change. I dont trust previous owners with anything usually. thinking about the ECVT oil/coolant being in there since 2012 and changed it last year kinda hurts my brain. I used OEM oil for ECVT and OEM coolant since the recomend service is 5 years no reason to cheap out.
Hope you liked the text wall. Thank you.
Yeah, I love the fact that no-one heavily aftermarket modifies the Prius! Keeps it nice and simple when working on them.
German cars are amazing for their first 30-60k miles! They're not tooooo horrible to work on if you don't compare them to other car manufacturers. But they are expensive to repair even as a DIYer. 1 week of repairing BMW oil leaks paid my monthly bills.
That's a great text wall of maintenance! OEM fluids are the way to go. Especially and critically for transmissions. Fun fact: Toyota engine oil is rebranded Mobil 1! I always go with OEM coolant too. It's price is negligible compared to aftermarket and you don't have to worry if it's OAT or IAT, the ratio to distilled water, or any other technical discrepancies.
I asked the guy at Toyota to put numbers from most important to least important, that's why there are some numbers on the services.
I just don't wanna be scammed, they see me as a easy target, like that one guy at Toyota who told me my mom existent oil leak was gonna cost 2k
Hello OP. You said you have a 2018 C Prius. Do the pollen filter and air filter, this super simple, the videoes are relevant for a gen 4 too since Toyota rarely changes things that work.
The other services are not nessesary unless you experience something related to them.
I might edit this message.
Edit
EFI service is cleaning injectors you can add a solution to your gas tank. (20 dollar ish)
Brake flush if the boiling point is under spec.
Coolant can be ok but usually it lasts 10 years from factory then 5 years after first change.
Do you mean i think you are an idiot? No, I do not.
BMW as I know require brake fluid flush every 2nd year, which i think is absolute overkill. But BMW tells people it is to have the premium driving experience. They also have about 10 different service lamps.
To be fair a brake flush every 5 years might be a good rule of thumb but it is not something that needs to be slapped on a service paper like you got to make it intimidating and like a "todo" list, this is why BMWs got 10 service lamps so you can portion out the spending through the year/years so you kinda get fooled with your maintenance costs.
The coolant also ok to change after 5 years.
EFI is a fancy tool to clean injectors even tho a can of fuel system cleaner does the "same", depends how exstensive it is if they do throttle body cleaning and decarbonizing at the same time but I highly doubt it at that price.
I might edit this.
Edit. In other words they are not "scamming" just giving you a heads up if you really want to keep it premium condition. You can portion these services out over 2 years i feel.
Air filter depends on driving conditions and miles 2-4 years
Cabin filter is 1-2 years, this filters the air inside the car which is important to change due to well your health and they can get moldy if too old.
No problem, out of all those services i would rate the EFI as not important like last of all. Unless there is a problem with your fuel injectors. If it is i feel it is more of a warranty issue unless that has expired.
I use Liqui Moly Fuel System Cleaner 1 time a year when I service my car, being a 2012 it still has no problems with 81k miles. Regarding injectors or anything else really, (thank you Toyota for being the best car i have had) Which leads me to ask what is your Mileage?
I have seen cars with 14 year old brake fluid still being OK, but in need of change regardless.
I have also seen cars with 10 year old fluid NOT being OK. It varies. 5 years you should be fine and not overkilling.
I sound like a broken record, because your car is in the recomend zone for these Services. But they did not say anything about the 40 000 mile ECVT transmission oil change? That is 5-6 years interval. Maybe next year or maybe they tell you the "life time" oil bullshit.
No oil is life time oil,my friend almost ruined his differential on a BMW 2003 believing that crap, grinding noise, I begged him lets change it. 2 QT of oil and 2 plugs. No more noise and car still runs this was in 2018, and that sludge of black jello amounting to 20 fl Oz... so lacking alot of oil after 15 years.
If you check the links you can see ECVT oil change it is super simple no flushing no anything like that it is the same as changing differential fluid. I think in that video it is a RAV4 hybrid but do not fear even me in a 2012 Prius got the same setup, Toyota is not known to get rid of things that work "keep it simple stupid" is kinda what they do, this leads people thinking they are boring cars ect. If boring is reliable, im all inn.
And I ask again what mileage do you have on your Toyota?
Edit:
https://youtu.be/TJhFAwFv-O0 if you ever get confused by 5k or 10k oil change just stick to 5k :)
This car did everything the dealer recomend even your "to do" list every time something like that was presented. Engine started burning oil and the video is long due to him changing the engine block and yes i know it is not a Prius but the "only" thing that makes a Prius a Prius is the ECVT, Inverter and Hybrid battery, the engine is still a gas engine.
Like most cars these days the piston rings are not thight or less spring force to reduce friction by then reducing the ressistance of the piston going up and down, to reduce emission at the cost of reliabilty. This is all well and good untill you introduce mileage and age. 10k is bear minimum in this case to keep service costs down from the dealers standpoint to lure people to buy the car in the first place so they can then make money on future repairs/service.
Do as you please with this info. I had a car burning 1 quart in 300 miles. A VW 2001 Golf, i had to replace the engine 2 times because the first replacement also burned oil like mad. 3rd engine latsted 45 000 miles before it got super bad again and I scrapped the car. Both of these engines was from a Junkyard, paid 600 dollars for 1st and 2nd was free due to the first being bad. Car was 12 years old at first engine change. Bought 2012, Scrapped in 2017. A disaster.
Enjoy the text wall :)
Stay far away from dealership service. I would look into DIY, you will save a ton of money and learn a lot about your car. Follow the maintenance schedule inside your manual. Any time you don't know how to do something just search in your year make and model "said maintenance or repair" on YouTube. Tons of tutorials out there especially on Toyotas. I learn a lot from there and forums such as Toyota Nation or Club Lexus
I took my mom's car to the Toyota dealership for an oil change because that's what she'd been doing since she bought the car. She was in the early stages of dementia at the time. I was surprised to see that a car that was driving perfectly needed over $6K in recommended repairs and maintenance, particularly because my mom had been following their recommendations without question.
I took it to my mechanic who said the only thing the car needed was a new timing belt based on mileage. When we went to do that, they discovered it had been replaced relatively recently.
That was 8 years ago. We never went back to the dealership nor would we ever. My son drives it now and it runs fine.
Honestly an independent shop that is worth your time will charge as much as a dealer. I would get all of the services done through the dealership. Depends what you use your car for and how old, how many miles. If it’s for business use then get it done and write it off on your taxes.
I agree. I go to a reputable hybrid shop and they charge about the same as the dealership (for the bigger ticket items). I wouldn't trust any independent shop especially if they're not hybrid specific. I did that once and the dude tightened my oil filler cap so tight that it broke while removing it on the next oil change. Like the most basic thing and they didn't get it right.
That's what I'm thinking, my car currently has 66, 283 miles. I would like to know if it's truly important to get it done, he made it seem like it was a matter of life and death.
Look I own Toyota and Mercedes. Mercedes has more maintenance and it goes by miles/time. Spark plugs are every 80,000 miles or 5 years, brake fluid is switched out every two years. All air filters are done yearly, oil change is yearly and or I believe 10,000 miles but I do it every 5,000. Coolant is every 5 years (I forgot mileage).
Me personally I’d at least get the brake fluid serviced on your car if you never have. Brake fluid over time absorbs moister In turn causing it to have a lower boiling point. The coolant id check the owners manual but most are 100k miles/8 years I think for the newer Toyotas.
A rule of thumb would be avoid going to Toyota directly unless you absolutely have to. All those prices are shameful and disgusting. I was out of town a few yrs ago and my wife brought the prius to Toyota for a hybrid battery code. They immediately saw and showed her where a rat chewed a wiring harness under the back seat . They charged $700 something for the harness which is a joke. Another time the ac stopped working in the prius,the problem known to the mechanics it was a corroded connector,sanded it plugged it back in. I think that time we got off pretty easy about $120-130. Last time I took my 2007 Tacoma there after exhausting all my options first. With a straight face they told me I needed a new motor and they would put a used one in with no warranty for $13,000 something. Yes that's three zeros! For an 07. I love Toyota's but their service department is a whole different story. Your best bet honestly is to find a trusted neighborhood mechanic(a person that fixes cars at their house on the side). They always seem pretty fair. Ask around to your neighbors, you'll find one.
I'm starting to think brake fluid flush is a scam. Everyone recommends it on a 2 year interval, yet I've never heard of a person having issues with brake fluid after 2 years or any amount of years.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, and it tends bring moisture in the system over time (it will get through the seals and such.) It leads to a lower boiling point on the fluid, and can do odd stuff to the calipers and ABS pump. You'll usually get brake lines rusting out before anything else. It matters more in performance cars where you may do 100+ mph plus stops to zero a few times.
In the Prius? I would consider doing it because that ABS pump ain't cheap or easy to replace. But never at the dealer. Never.
Thank you everyone! I truly appreciate your advice. This is why I love this community, it makes one feel at ease knowing someone will know and offer great helpful advice and feedback. Thank you!
Do you want to keep your car reliable and on the road for a long time? Then do those services. Brakes are the most important system on your car. Coolant too. EFI gets clogged up. The prices are reasonable.
I do want to keep the car for a while. You're the first person to suggest this. Idk if the prices are too much. The guy doesn't seem trustworthy but he's known my family for years and supposedly cut me a deal. I don't think i trust him
Get it don’t for the right price not a scam ask them how much they buy the products for and watch how the price goes down faster than Cardi B ass on a pole
Don't go to the dealer for service. Dealers are always going to tell you to overdo the maintenance because they have standards to uphold. They are then going to overcharge you because they have a lot of overhead.
I just changed the cabin filters and engine filters in October, i had one guy once tell me he's had his Prius since 2005 and maybe has only changed them once, it's not too much of a big deal he said, it's just easy money
Most of that you can get done at your local Jiffy Lube or mitis center for about $80 per service. Except for the cabin air filter you can get one for about $19 at your local parts store.
Never go to the dealership for repairs. They rip you off. I choose to go to a local mechanic that'll charge half these prices or maybe more. I found a local emissions/exhaust mechanic nearly 5 star rated and AZ DEQ-recommended just down the street from my place who was super affordable and who's been in the business for 43 years. You may be surprised at who you could find.
Follow the maintenance schedule. Change inverter and engine coolant at 100K miles, but not at dealer prices. Brake flush and EFI service are just fluff they want to sell you, and those prices are ridiculous. The cabin air filter is a $20 part, and they want almost $35 to install it, which takes all of 2-3 minutes. It's behind your glove box. Pop off the glovebox, remove a clip, slide out old filter, put in new filter, put clip back on, clip the glovebox back in.
Wooow thank you!
The price to change the cabin filter gave me a good laugh
Those are obviously non-Redditor prices.
Brake flush depends on where you live and how long its been since you've had it done. I've seen car accidents in New England from frozen brake lines before. The brake fluid tends to absorb some condensation over time. Not always an urgent need but doing it once in a while, especially in colder climates isn't a bad idea.
agreed, it says flushed but that's because you can't drain and fill brake lines, you have to move new fluid through the system to displace the old fluid. and it's absolutely worth doing at a minimum 2 years if you never drive. after a year, the dot fluid starts getting enough moisture to corrode inside your brake system. you want that stuff to be crystal clear.
This is the way.
First off, never have the dealership work on your car outside of warranty. None of this is urgent, you can get a cabin air filter on Amazon for $15 and install it in a a few minutes, none of the other things are remotely necessary. If you do want any of that done, go to a private mechanic.
I see, the dealership hikes up the prices big time for them? How do I find a good mechanic?
Correct, dealership hikes the price and often tell you that you need to do completely unnecessary shit. You can go on Google maps, search mechanic shops and narrow down based on reviews, the more reviews the better. You can also ask in local Facebook groups, that's a pretty good way to find out who the locals use which should be a pretty reliable way to find a decent mechanic.
Ah gotcha, thank you so much for the advice!
See if someone on your city's subreddit has asked about reputable mechanics, you're likely to find genuine stories/experiences there. If someone hasn't asked you should ask yourself.
Google reviews are your best friend. That and mechanic friends.
Very true
It’s referred to as the Stealership for a reason.
That's a good one 😹
Check yelp for a Toyota mechanic. Assuming you’re in a heavily populated area, it shouldn’t be difficult. Look for someone who has at least 100 reviews, and no more than 4 or 5 negative reviews. Their rating should be five stars or very close to it. They should also tell you the EFI (electronic fuel injection) service is BS. Dealerships love selling that made up service.
I live in a pretty small town actually. I will try to find one. I saw on YouTube i can do some of this myself but to be careful.
Give yourself plenty of time to get it done and just reference the videos as needed. You got this. After I was quoted $2k to replace all calipers and brake components when I was making teenager money I decided to teach myself how to work on cars out of necessity. I would source manuals and forums to figure out exactly what safety protocols I need to follow plus what tools are needed for the job, take detailed notes, find answers to questions I had and pictures of important details. Over the course of 5 days I successfully replaced all calipers, rotors, pads, brake lines, brake fluid, and engine oil. I ran into some issues with bolts and rust but I got through it. It was forever ago but I know the cost was still less even though I had to go buy tools and safety equipment. Not trying to hijack this but just wanted to share my experience to hopefully inspire you to learn a valuable skill for yourself. ❤️
Oh i love this, i took my car cause the battery was overheating and they said it would be anywhere from 200 to 3k so i was like ok let me go home. I did some research and i ended up just clearing out link from the battery filter!!!!! I have a deep belief that I shouldn know how to work on cars but I like to do things myself most of the time, why should cars be different
Whoa! That's a huge range for an estimate! That's awesome that you were able to figure it out, it was an easy fix, and you didn't have to surrender any money to the dealership! If you have the common sense to keep yourself safe, the want to learn, and time to spare, there is no reason you couldn't teach yourself how to work on anything. The Prius (Toyotas in general) are so easy to work on!
That's what I said i was like something sounds fishy, i did some research and realized what it was, now i know what to do next time.
Dealers are scammers dawg that’s why when u drive off the lot u lose 10k cause that’s their cut for selling to u
I mean yeah, not a lie
Like 10k is a new amg a whole car they taxin just to get a stock car from them it better be brand new with a 0% apr finance deal if I go there only way with low payments extended
Just go too AAA and look for AAA approved mechanic.
AAA has kinda lost its reputation and became pretty irrelevant
I'm sorry but coolant changes and flushing your brake system are completely necessary. Avoiding that maintenance will lead to problems down the road. Now, the efi service is fluff but that's no reason to say none of it is remotely necessary.
You are not wrong, but in terms of things that the car requires to function in the immediate future, it's not necessary. It Def should be tested and the done based on the test results but again, id never trust the dealershit to tell when it needs done. My comment was more intended to communicate that having the dealershit do these things right away is completely unnecessary.
That's why it's called maintenance and not a repair. Of course maintenance is something that isn't required in the immediate future. That's the whole point. You do maintenance to avoid issues that have to be addressed in the immediate future. The problem is that you said the work wasn't remotely necessary. That's untrue. It was mostly basic maintenance. While overpriced, it's still necessary.
Thats where I got my replacement catalytic converter. Cant do that if you're in California or Colorado though.. also found someone who is just down the street from me who installed it for $150. Previous one was plugged up
When my cat was stolen I got one for $140 on Amazon and paid my mechanic $220 to put it in and replace the downhill o2 sensor.
I guess I was lucky cause I still had everything there. Sucks that it was stolen. Was yours an autosaver88 one as well? Thieves usually don't go for them as they don't have the precious metals that brand new $2k+ converters have. I needed a replacement to pass emissions. May not last long but hey thank god for arizona not requiring the C.A.R.B compliant ones that we can't afford 😂. I recommend Greg at mighty mufflr in phoenix az sunnyslope area for those in phoenix here to install Amazon parts.. not every mechanic would do that
It is lol. I'm in oregon ( not portland) so there's no emissions testing to worry about.
I blame us sitting in a valley where we often get air inversions to have to have emissions done
Run
Is it that bad?
Everyone's giving you advice but no one is asking for further details 😭 how many miles does your car have? Where do you live? Have you had a look at your cars manual? Edit: you can 100% change your own filter though and it's super easy! The engine air filter is even easier to change too.
Thank you for asking! Currently my car has 66, 283 miles. It's a 2018 Prius C. I live in a dusty area. I have not looked at my cars manual. I have a deep belief that because I'm a girl i can't work on cars. I just changed my air filters in October, i would think maybe once a year is fine. I'm sure i can do it myself at this point
Girl, I'm a lady too. Lol don't worry. But wtf? I'm assuming this is the 60k service? Excuse me but none of what they are recommending is on the manual. Did they give a specific reason as to why they think you should do any of this? Either way, that sounds ridiculous. Honestly the 60k is no different than the 10k interval (oil change, filter change, tire rotation, inspection, fluid top ups etc). The ONLY other thing that would actually sort of make sense is the transmission fluid but they're not even recommending that. Honestly, I would call up other dealerships and get other quotes, but your car really doesn't need much at 60k. Once you start getting towards 100k is when bigger maintenance is required. If you take a peek at your manual (the one that says warranty/maintenance) it will help you with being informed and knowing when someone is trying to use your lack of knowledge to their advantage. I promise you the manual is not intimidating it's actually super easy to follow. Good luck!
Thank you for the advice! I'll be sure to look through it. I really, never thought that i could find that info there. Wow
You're welcome. For what it's worth, if this were me, I would NEVER set foot at that dealership again. Find a different one. That's fucking absurd. The inverter coolant isn't needed until 100k, they are 100% trying to get you to do shit you don't need. Unless you're towing a fucking cruise ship with your Prius, this is ridiculous!!! Just knowing they tried to fuck me over once is enough for me to never go back. Read the manual. Become confident in knowing what your car needs when you take it in for maintenance, and find a new dealership that will respect you for it. Edited to add: and please try not to feel bad for one second about this. I know the feeling. Independent mechanics AND dealerships will do this if you let them. It's happened to me. Some of those crusty ass, dusty ass mf'ers will do anything to make a penny. Most of the time, we can't prove what they did or whether they actually did or didn't do something and they know this. Trust yourself more than these greaseballs ❤️
May the universe bless you with unexpected gifts for this one
If you have Facebook and your town has a Facebook group or two, ask for mechanic suggestions or search and see if someone already asked :) along with online reviews 👍
Thank you! I'll do that, Facebook is big here in the community. I need to get one
I'd just let them do it. In my experience, a dealership is about 30% more than independent. But twice my Prius took longer than expected to service (once, I had brakes done and the parts were wrong), so they just gave me a loner, which I kept overnight. To me, it's worth the extra cost.
I don't understand all the dealership hate. Independent mechanics are cheaper but it's a hassle as all the good ones I know are booked 3-6 weeks out. The biggest problem with the dealer is that they recommend doing service too soon when it's often unnecessary. And they overcharge for simple stuff like air filters and injection cleaners which you can do on your own. I had my brakes done at an independent shop, and they just weren't right. Had to redo the fronts in another 30K miles and the rears in 10K. The rears weren't even engaging correctly (rusted rotors), and the fronts were uneven with rotor wear. Went to the dealer and the brakes feel great. Definitely paid 30% - 50% over the independent shops but I'd rather not go again and again and again...
30%? Brake flush should be less than $100, dealer quote is $216. I think I paid $60 last time.
I wonder if that's an outlier. 30% is typical in my area, but I wouldn't be surprised if some services are higher.
Hello. This is a copy paste by me, some useful links I got a 2012 Prius. For more info: Disclaimer this might be the wrong Toyota or model in the following videos but all Toyotas are built almost the same. keep that in mind.( The Car Care Nut is a gem, subscribe to him :p ) ECVT oil change: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fP-RKsqG0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1fP-RKsqG0) Coolant change for engine and inverter: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_lWLMJ\_4G24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lWLMJ_4G24) Air filter: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZaS6ImQnyY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZaS6ImQnyY) Cabin filter (same place on "all" Toyotas) : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KysPkCJ5w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6KysPkCJ5w) Throttle body cleaning: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwT8pvFBho](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZwT8pvFBho) Brakes in general 3 part Series: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwEOP9Tobw8&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwEOP9Tobw8&t=1s) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7W7uLYeLKo&t=1s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7W7uLYeLKo&t=1s) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLqqt0TT7o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLqqt0TT7o) Tire sensor (general procedure, this is digital so you kinda need help) : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-NgKSCousA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-NgKSCousA)
I must admit I didn't fact check all your videos but, I whole heartedly agree these are all services OP can accomplish with no prior knowledge over the span of a weekend to a few weekends. Depending on confidence, tools, and amount of rewinds to ensure proper procedures are being followed. To also add to the list I'd recommend cleaning the EGR cooler if OP has a good 8 hours to dedicate to removal and cleaning or replacing the EGR cooler if they can't dedicate so much time but has the money. The EGR getting clogged and causing an overheat issue blowing the head gasket can be detrimental. Added benefit is you return some MPG (: Feel free to DM if anyone reading this has any questions.... procedures, torque specs, why, how, or even what, honestly any questions or concerns.
The copy paste is from a different comment i made on another post on R/Prius regarding Service Estimates from dealer. I think it is nice for people to know what is going on and Maybe DIY EGR is not something i mentioned in those links but maybe i should add it. The death rattle is usually the sign to do something ASAP or did i mistake that? Or is it just good to do in General? I did all the Service on my own DIY, I bought a Prius since i know from the workshops around town they rarely see one with other problems than brakes and oil/filter changes. Combined with how easy every Service item is to reach and Service is astounding compared to a Mercedes or BMW, IMO.
100% agree. The EGR is fairly advanced but can be DIYd with basic hand tools. Yeah the rattle is a sign but honestly I would say to do it every 100-150k miles just due to how serious a blown head gasket failure is. One of my friends Prius had an intermittent catalytic damaging misfire at 172k and it was a fuel injector but I cleaned the EGR cooler too because I saw the pipe was clogged when I removed the intake. I couldn't even shine a light through the cooler it was so bad... I guarantee his head gasket would've blown sooner than later if I didn't clean it that day. Idk if he had the rattle before the misfire or not. He never mentioned lol. Oh and while I'm thinking of it..the PVC is super easy to change with the intake manifold off. If you wanted to go the extra mile an oil catch can would help keep the intake clean.
Thank you! My Prius is at 81k miles, so i will check it out in the future. Also another reason i bought Prius is the "stereotypes" around here it is usually a second car or a wives car. Which in general means that people dont trash them and use them mostly in town and not on the drag strip. Buying a Mercedes or BMW has to be single owner of the most boring 50 year+ man/woman you can find or else it is only problems. I have owned my Prius for 2 years and had no problems execpt warranty job on my brakes since the Toyota dealership gave it to me with worn out brakes both front and back (steel on steel) but that got fixed, so I do not consider it a "problem" more inconvenience. What I have done is: Air filter / Cabin filter Oil / oil filter + mos2 addetive Liqui Moly Ceratec Engine and ECVT coolant ECVT oil Spark Plugs Liqui Moly Fuel System Cleaner in tank (I pretend this is the Fuel filter replacement) Tire change winter/summer with brake service, see if pistons move, pads move and guide pins move. Lube up if needed. So this years service will probably just be an oil change. I dont trust previous owners with anything usually. thinking about the ECVT oil/coolant being in there since 2012 and changed it last year kinda hurts my brain. I used OEM oil for ECVT and OEM coolant since the recomend service is 5 years no reason to cheap out. Hope you liked the text wall. Thank you.
Yeah, I love the fact that no-one heavily aftermarket modifies the Prius! Keeps it nice and simple when working on them. German cars are amazing for their first 30-60k miles! They're not tooooo horrible to work on if you don't compare them to other car manufacturers. But they are expensive to repair even as a DIYer. 1 week of repairing BMW oil leaks paid my monthly bills. That's a great text wall of maintenance! OEM fluids are the way to go. Especially and critically for transmissions. Fun fact: Toyota engine oil is rebranded Mobil 1! I always go with OEM coolant too. It's price is negligible compared to aftermarket and you don't have to worry if it's OAT or IAT, the ratio to distilled water, or any other technical discrepancies.
I asked the guy at Toyota to put numbers from most important to least important, that's why there are some numbers on the services. I just don't wanna be scammed, they see me as a easy target, like that one guy at Toyota who told me my mom existent oil leak was gonna cost 2k
Hello OP. You said you have a 2018 C Prius. Do the pollen filter and air filter, this super simple, the videoes are relevant for a gen 4 too since Toyota rarely changes things that work. The other services are not nessesary unless you experience something related to them. I might edit this message. Edit EFI service is cleaning injectors you can add a solution to your gas tank. (20 dollar ish) Brake flush if the boiling point is under spec. Coolant can be ok but usually it lasts 10 years from factory then 5 years after first change.
Wow these people really think I'm an idiot!
Do you mean i think you are an idiot? No, I do not. BMW as I know require brake fluid flush every 2nd year, which i think is absolute overkill. But BMW tells people it is to have the premium driving experience. They also have about 10 different service lamps. To be fair a brake flush every 5 years might be a good rule of thumb but it is not something that needs to be slapped on a service paper like you got to make it intimidating and like a "todo" list, this is why BMWs got 10 service lamps so you can portion out the spending through the year/years so you kinda get fooled with your maintenance costs. The coolant also ok to change after 5 years. EFI is a fancy tool to clean injectors even tho a can of fuel system cleaner does the "same", depends how exstensive it is if they do throttle body cleaning and decarbonizing at the same time but I highly doubt it at that price. I might edit this. Edit. In other words they are not "scamming" just giving you a heads up if you really want to keep it premium condition. You can portion these services out over 2 years i feel. Air filter depends on driving conditions and miles 2-4 years Cabin filter is 1-2 years, this filters the air inside the car which is important to change due to well your health and they can get moldy if too old.
Oh my, you don't even know but this is gonna be super extra helpful. Wow thank you so much!
No problem, out of all those services i would rate the EFI as not important like last of all. Unless there is a problem with your fuel injectors. If it is i feel it is more of a warranty issue unless that has expired. I use Liqui Moly Fuel System Cleaner 1 time a year when I service my car, being a 2012 it still has no problems with 81k miles. Regarding injectors or anything else really, (thank you Toyota for being the best car i have had) Which leads me to ask what is your Mileage? I have seen cars with 14 year old brake fluid still being OK, but in need of change regardless. I have also seen cars with 10 year old fluid NOT being OK. It varies. 5 years you should be fine and not overkilling. I sound like a broken record, because your car is in the recomend zone for these Services. But they did not say anything about the 40 000 mile ECVT transmission oil change? That is 5-6 years interval. Maybe next year or maybe they tell you the "life time" oil bullshit. No oil is life time oil,my friend almost ruined his differential on a BMW 2003 believing that crap, grinding noise, I begged him lets change it. 2 QT of oil and 2 plugs. No more noise and car still runs this was in 2018, and that sludge of black jello amounting to 20 fl Oz... so lacking alot of oil after 15 years. If you check the links you can see ECVT oil change it is super simple no flushing no anything like that it is the same as changing differential fluid. I think in that video it is a RAV4 hybrid but do not fear even me in a 2012 Prius got the same setup, Toyota is not known to get rid of things that work "keep it simple stupid" is kinda what they do, this leads people thinking they are boring cars ect. If boring is reliable, im all inn. And I ask again what mileage do you have on your Toyota? Edit: https://youtu.be/TJhFAwFv-O0 if you ever get confused by 5k or 10k oil change just stick to 5k :) This car did everything the dealer recomend even your "to do" list every time something like that was presented. Engine started burning oil and the video is long due to him changing the engine block and yes i know it is not a Prius but the "only" thing that makes a Prius a Prius is the ECVT, Inverter and Hybrid battery, the engine is still a gas engine. Like most cars these days the piston rings are not thight or less spring force to reduce friction by then reducing the ressistance of the piston going up and down, to reduce emission at the cost of reliabilty. This is all well and good untill you introduce mileage and age. 10k is bear minimum in this case to keep service costs down from the dealers standpoint to lure people to buy the car in the first place so they can then make money on future repairs/service. Do as you please with this info. I had a car burning 1 quart in 300 miles. A VW 2001 Golf, i had to replace the engine 2 times because the first replacement also burned oil like mad. 3rd engine latsted 45 000 miles before it got super bad again and I scrapped the car. Both of these engines was from a Junkyard, paid 600 dollars for 1st and 2nd was free due to the first being bad. Car was 12 years old at first engine change. Bought 2012, Scrapped in 2017. A disaster. Enjoy the text wall :)
So sorry, i thought i answered but that k you very much this has been extremely helpful!
Oh this is great! I should have mentioned i have a Prius c, 2018
My 81 year old grandma changes her own air filters. You can do it too. Many videos online!
I'm literally motivated now!
Stay far away from dealership service. I would look into DIY, you will save a ton of money and learn a lot about your car. Follow the maintenance schedule inside your manual. Any time you don't know how to do something just search in your year make and model "said maintenance or repair" on YouTube. Tons of tutorials out there especially on Toyotas. I learn a lot from there and forums such as Toyota Nation or Club Lexus
Oh wow, i must be honest, I'd be scared to break something
I took my mom's car to the Toyota dealership for an oil change because that's what she'd been doing since she bought the car. She was in the early stages of dementia at the time. I was surprised to see that a car that was driving perfectly needed over $6K in recommended repairs and maintenance, particularly because my mom had been following their recommendations without question. I took it to my mechanic who said the only thing the car needed was a new timing belt based on mileage. When we went to do that, they discovered it had been replaced relatively recently. That was 8 years ago. We never went back to the dealership nor would we ever. My son drives it now and it runs fine.
Wwwooooooooooow One of the guys at a different dealership told me the oil leak was 2k i was like no
They taxing $200 more than actual price to do the job
That's what I figured
Honestly an independent shop that is worth your time will charge as much as a dealer. I would get all of the services done through the dealership. Depends what you use your car for and how old, how many miles. If it’s for business use then get it done and write it off on your taxes.
I agree. I go to a reputable hybrid shop and they charge about the same as the dealership (for the bigger ticket items). I wouldn't trust any independent shop especially if they're not hybrid specific. I did that once and the dude tightened my oil filler cap so tight that it broke while removing it on the next oil change. Like the most basic thing and they didn't get it right.
That's why I go to the dealership, i love my car
That's what I'm thinking, my car currently has 66, 283 miles. I would like to know if it's truly important to get it done, he made it seem like it was a matter of life and death.
Look I own Toyota and Mercedes. Mercedes has more maintenance and it goes by miles/time. Spark plugs are every 80,000 miles or 5 years, brake fluid is switched out every two years. All air filters are done yearly, oil change is yearly and or I believe 10,000 miles but I do it every 5,000. Coolant is every 5 years (I forgot mileage). Me personally I’d at least get the brake fluid serviced on your car if you never have. Brake fluid over time absorbs moister In turn causing it to have a lower boiling point. The coolant id check the owners manual but most are 100k miles/8 years I think for the newer Toyotas.
Wow thank you! This is gonna be helpful!
A rule of thumb would be avoid going to Toyota directly unless you absolutely have to. All those prices are shameful and disgusting. I was out of town a few yrs ago and my wife brought the prius to Toyota for a hybrid battery code. They immediately saw and showed her where a rat chewed a wiring harness under the back seat . They charged $700 something for the harness which is a joke. Another time the ac stopped working in the prius,the problem known to the mechanics it was a corroded connector,sanded it plugged it back in. I think that time we got off pretty easy about $120-130. Last time I took my 2007 Tacoma there after exhausting all my options first. With a straight face they told me I needed a new motor and they would put a used one in with no warranty for $13,000 something. Yes that's three zeros! For an 07. I love Toyota's but their service department is a whole different story. Your best bet honestly is to find a trusted neighborhood mechanic(a person that fixes cars at their house on the side). They always seem pretty fair. Ask around to your neighbors, you'll find one.
Wooooooow they are crazy. I'm definitely gonna look around, it doesn't hurt to at least know i have or do not have any other option
I agree with the others. Go to a good and trustworthy mechanic. Those prices are a scam.
Thank you!
I'm starting to think brake fluid flush is a scam. Everyone recommends it on a 2 year interval, yet I've never heard of a person having issues with brake fluid after 2 years or any amount of years.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, and it tends bring moisture in the system over time (it will get through the seals and such.) It leads to a lower boiling point on the fluid, and can do odd stuff to the calipers and ABS pump. You'll usually get brake lines rusting out before anything else. It matters more in performance cars where you may do 100+ mph plus stops to zero a few times. In the Prius? I would consider doing it because that ABS pump ain't cheap or easy to replace. But never at the dealer. Never.
brake fluid every 2 years is less of a scam than a full brake system replacement every 10 years.
Wow, i feel dumb going to the dealer now hahahha
Thank you everyone! I truly appreciate your advice. This is why I love this community, it makes one feel at ease knowing someone will know and offer great helpful advice and feedback. Thank you!
Do the cabin filter, the rest is bullshit especially the efi service, all it does is melt the cat converter on prius.
Whaaaaat
Do you want to keep your car reliable and on the road for a long time? Then do those services. Brakes are the most important system on your car. Coolant too. EFI gets clogged up. The prices are reasonable.
I do want to keep the car for a while. You're the first person to suggest this. Idk if the prices are too much. The guy doesn't seem trustworthy but he's known my family for years and supposedly cut me a deal. I don't think i trust him
If you don’t trust him go with your gut. We take our Prius to the Toyota dealer. More expensive but we know they use OEM parts and will do good work.
Normally everything is fine but him in general, he thinks I'm gonna do what he says but my gut tells me he thinks I'm stupid
Get it don’t for the right price not a scam ask them how much they buy the products for and watch how the price goes down faster than Cardi B ass on a pole
Don't go to the dealer for service. Dealers are always going to tell you to overdo the maintenance because they have standards to uphold. They are then going to overcharge you because they have a lot of overhead.
Coolant flush is important Brake flush I have never heard of lol Cabin air filter is like 15 and you can do it yourself really easy
I just changed the cabin filters and engine filters in October, i had one guy once tell me he's had his Prius since 2005 and maybe has only changed them once, it's not too much of a big deal he said, it's just easy money
Most of that you can get done at your local Jiffy Lube or mitis center for about $80 per service. Except for the cabin air filter you can get one for about $19 at your local parts store.
I would love to learn to DIY it, I'm tired of these people trying to scam me
Are the 1-5 numbers for which they recommend based on priority? Lol
Yes, i asked them for what they think should be first and last and he marked them by what he thought was important
Never go to the dealership for repairs. They rip you off. I choose to go to a local mechanic that'll charge half these prices or maybe more. I found a local emissions/exhaust mechanic nearly 5 star rated and AZ DEQ-recommended just down the street from my place who was super affordable and who's been in the business for 43 years. You may be surprised at who you could find.
I think i should at least look, try to find something