Posted by Steve on May 23, 2011, 11:52 pm
Has anyone had problems getting their Prius serviced by non-Toyota =
service
shops?
I have an '04 Prius with 85K miles on it. Except for an air conditioning
problem, it has been fairly reliable. However, except for routine oil =
changes,
independent mechanics are very reluctant (read: won't touch it) to do =
anything
major to this car. My own mechanic who works on our Murano will do =
brakes, and
things like that. He even said that they can clean the throttle body, =
but
nothing else.
This is a concern, because here in S. Florida, I cannot seem to find an =
honest
and competent Toyota dealer. I have been to all of them in Miami-Dade =
and
Southern Broward county, and do not care to go back to any of them. One =
dealer
couldn't fix an A/C problem, another dealer wanted to sell me new front =
brakes
at 60K miles (found out later there was nothing wrong with them), at =
major
service intervals they want to load up on the work. And to top it off =
(pun
intended), when one of these guys does an oil change, I have to check the
dipstick because 9 times out of 10 it will be way above or below the =
mark.
Has anyone else had this problem, if so, what do you do? My Toyota =
extended
warranty expired this month and I am getting nervous if something major =
happens
to the car.
Steve
Posted by bwilson4web on May 24, 2011, 12:52 pm
Hi Steve,
> Has anyone had problems getting their Prius serviced by non-Toyota service
> shops?
> I have an '04 Prius with 85K miles on it. Except for an air conditioning
> problem, it has been fairly reliable. However, except for routine oil changes,
> independent mechanics are very reluctant (read: won't touch it) to do anything
> major to this car. My own mechanic who works on our Murano will do brakes, and
> things like that. He even said that they can clean the throttle body, but
> nothing else.
> This is a concern, because here in S. Florida, I cannot seem to find an honest
> and competent Toyota dealer. I have been to all of them in Miami-Dade and
> Southern Broward county, and do not care to go back to any of them. One dealer
> couldn't fix an A/C problem, another dealer wanted to sell me new front brakes
> at 60K miles (found out later there was nothing wrong with them), at major
> service intervals they want to load up on the work. And to top it off (pun
> intended), when one of these guys does an oil change, I have to check the
> dipstick because 9 times out of 10 it will be way above or below the mark.
> Has anyone else had this problem, if so, what do you do? My Toyota extended
> warranty expired this month and I am getting nervous if something major happens
> to the car.
This is a hard problem and in 2005, I bought the maintenance manuals
for our used, 2003 Prius even before I picked up the car. I had always
planned on self-maintenance once the 6/60 and 8/100 warranties
expired. You have really done a good job of showing the problem and I
don't have a golden bullet solution.
There is an independent, hybrid training group that lists independent
shops. I've used their video training and compared to ignorance, they
are OK:
http://www.auto-careers.org/upyourvoltage.html
There are also 'salvage' mechanics, somewhat of a gray market, who
rebuild broken Prius and return them to service:
http://www.autobeyours.com/
One East Coast shop I've been very happy to work with is Taylor
Automotive, Summit, NC:
http://www.re-involt.com/
All I can suggest is to drive around the various auto repair areas and
see if any of them have a Prius parked on the property. Then go in and
introduce yourself and ask if they do Prius work. That is no guarantee
of quality work but a survey to find someone. You might also contact
your insurance agent and ask them if they have any ideas.
GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson
> shops?
> I have an '04 Prius with 85K miles on it. Except for an air conditioning
> problem, it has been fairly reliable. However, except for routine oil changes,
> independent mechanics are very reluctant (read: won't touch it) to do anything
> major to this car. My own mechanic who works on our Murano will do brakes, and
> things like that. He even said that they can clean the throttle body, but
> nothing else.
> This is a concern, because here in S. Florida, I cannot seem to find an honest
> and competent Toyota dealer. I have been to all of them in Miami-Dade and
> Southern Broward county, and do not care to go back to any of them. One dealer
> couldn't fix an A/C problem, another dealer wanted to sell me new front brakes
> at 60K miles (found out later there was nothing wrong with them), at major
> service intervals they want to load up on the work. And to top it off (pun
> intended), when one of these guys does an oil change, I have to check the
> dipstick because 9 times out of 10 it will be way above or below the mark.
> Has anyone else had this problem, if so, what do you do? My Toyota extended
> warranty expired this month and I am getting nervous if something major happens
> to the car.