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Toyota Prius - - Best car on the road
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Posted by mrv@kluge.net on May 31, 2007, 10:25 am
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> Because with the HSD, you can go over 100K miles on a set of brakes.
Careful, there. If you do a lot of driving, then I'd agree with that
statement. However, if you are a low mileage driver, you'll have
issues with brake rust scoring down your brake pads for an early
replacement... (The brakes just don't get used enough to prevent rust
buildup!)
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Posted by mrv@kluge.net on May 31, 2007, 10:36 am
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wrote:
> Wondering if DIY maintenance might void the warranty
> if this is not done by a dealer tech?
Look into the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act if you're in the USA.
Essentially, a manufacturer cannot require for warranty coverage any
specific brand name part or service, unless that item is provided for
free. (Sales tie-in prohibition...)
As long as you can provide proof that all expected preventative
maintenance work has been done (date/mileage record and receipts),
then the warranty should be fine.
Considering how many dealerships have been known to overfill the Prius
oil and to not properly inflate the tires, among other grievences, a
DIY service may actually be better for the car than a dealer service...
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Posted by mrv@kluge.net on May 31, 2007, 10:44 am
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wrote:
> Do the new(er) Prius's require the "brake inspection" as the hybrid Camry's
> do every 5,000 miles?
My 2001 US Prius only lists the inspections under the services for
Special Operating Conditions (Driving on Rough, Muddy or Snow-Melted
Roads, or Driving on Unpaved or Dusty Roads, or Extensive Idling or
Low-Speed Driving for Long Distances), or the 15,000 mile/12 month
services (where the regular schedule and the special operating
conditions schedule meet).
My former 2004 US Prius does list a "Visually inspect brake linings/
drums and brake pads/discs" at the 5000 mile/6 month services (with
the oil/filter change and tire rotation). If you do the tire
rotation, you can look at the brakes then (yep, they're still there!).
http://smg.toyotapartsandservice.com/ for the US Toyota Maintenance
manuals.
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Posted by Bill on June 1, 2007, 11:19 pm
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G-Man wrote:
> Is regular maintenance a nightmare to do yourself? I want to be able to
> change the oil, and fluids without taking it to a dealer. Do it on all my
> Hondas, but wonder if there are Gotcha's with the Prius (no access to
> filter, etc.) ?
>
> My newer Hondas don't have a "Major" service until after 100k. What about
> the Prius? If I have to take it in every 15k for $500 worth of work, it
> won't be worth it.
>
> I want honest answers, not SALESMAN answers :-)
>
> Thanks.
>
> G-Man
>
>
I always look at the oil filter location when considering a car for
purchase. The 2004 and newer Prius is easy. Open the hood an you can see
the filter which is removed straight down. My oil changes at 5000 miles
are a cinch with the fumoto valve I put on it. See
http://www.fumotovalve.com/ I use only synthetic and I don't want to get
ripped for $45 for a synthetic oil change at JiffyLube so I change it
myself. Pennzoil recently introduced their new synthetic and it can
sometimes be found on sale 2 quarts for the price of 1 so I bought
several cases of 5W30. I change the cabin and air filters myself. My
cabin filter material cost is less than 25 cents per filter change. I
bought a large hepafilter from the sale bin for a buck at Lowe's and cut
the size I need with garden shears. It is fanfold and wired, so it
stretches or compresses if you are off a little. I put this in the
plastic cabin filter frame and voila. If this stuff filters the air you
breathe at home, why not use it to filter the air in your car is my
thinking. I used to rotate the tires myself, but Costco's lifetime
rotation on the 90,000 mile warranty tires I bought has made that
maintenance unnecessary. My total dealer profit on service from me was
only for inverter fluid change on my 2001 at 60,000 miles, only because
I didn't know where to get replacement inverter fluid back then. So far
at 65,000 miles on my 2004, the dealer has made nada from me on service.
Having owned several Toyotas, I usually wait until 100,000 miles for any
major scheduled service, even if the guide states 60,000. As other
posters have said, the maintenance outlook is a another plus for buying
this car.
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Posted by Michael Pardee on June 2, 2007, 11:50 am
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> I always look at the oil filter location when considering a car for
> purchase.
A wise man! The oil filter on my '85 Volvo requires swinging the PS pump out
of the way just to get it out (the filter has to be turned sideways, too),
and there is no tool that will fit on the filter except a pair of
Channelocks. I understand in following years the turbo oil return tube was
made with a dogleg so the filter can be removed out the back.
I agree - the Prius filter is the easiest I've ever seen. That vertical
mounting also makes the removal remarkably clean.
Mike
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