Need maintenance recommendation for 2014 Prius v with less than 20,000 miles

I think with the low miles that you drive, you should avoid dealer service ripoffs and just get oil changes until your car is over 60000. You should then have your brakes inspected, transaxle fluid changed. Then continue with oil changes until 100000 miles

What was the dealer's answer to what he was smoking? To recommend over $1000 in maintenance is predatory tactics

 

Spark plugs, change those as required. I did not - egr valve got clogged at 150k.

 

It's tricky what to say, with miles so low. Have a look at your warranty and maintenance booklet: the maintenance is spelled out in there, event by event. Which is is a poor presentation, if you're trying to discern the patterns.

I'm just thumbing on a phone right now, but could post a chart translation of that schedule tomorrow.

One catch: the service intervals are miles OR months, whichever comes first. Bear in mind then, the maintenance alert in US Prius is just a miles counter, and with your low miles is technically overridden by months.

Still, with your extremely low miles, some compromise is good. I would suggest:

1. Rotate the tires per the miles, ignore months. This should be around $15~20 if incorporated with an oil change, $30 if stand-alone.

2. Change the engine oil and filter yearly. This should be around $50~60.

3. Inspect engine and cabin air filters yearly, and ONLY replace as warranted. This should be $10~20 at most, plus parts IF needed.

4. Inspect brakes tri-yearly, regardless of miles. (a full inspection, not just visual look-over. This should cost about $250~300, if a thorough job is done.

5. Change transaxle fluid as soon as practical, that should do it for life. This should not cost over $100, $80 would be more reasonable. Note this is not on the US schedule.

You might also consider occasional brake fluid change, shouldn't cost more than $100~125. This is not on the US schedule either.

 

What I do when they try to get smirky, after each item they recommend, "is that free? is that free also? I'll take it, but is it free?" When they reply, "no don't provide any free service" or "it's not free." I reply, "Oh don't buy services I don't need." They usually just end with what payment you will be making haha.

 

These are graph format translations of the event-by-event maintenance, all the maintenance proscribed by Toyota, in the Warranty and Maintenance Booklet*. It's the slim booklet, should have come with the car.

* I worked this up from the regular Prius, 2010 model year, but I believe it to be identical to the 2012 Prius v maintenance. Compare with your booklet if unsure.

 

It should apply to the 2014 Prius v too.
(check the thread title)

 

Not sure I understand. I know the threads about Prius v; was that your point?

 

You said you thought your chart would work for a 2012 Prius v. The OP has a 2014 Prius v .

 

Yeah that was my next guess. I've got a habit of referring to a vehicle of a generation by the first year of that generation. Just in case there's some variation in the maintenance schedule between 2012 and 2014: abject apologies...

 

@Deb Studer do you guys use a battery maintainer for the 12 volt? Good idea, with such low usage.

 

Understood.
The Prius v debuted in 2012 along with the PiP. The Prius v body was refreshed with better crash test results in 2015. My son bought a 2015 Prius v replacing his 2005 Prius.

 

You did say “obviously I don’t drive it much” so that’s why it was recommend with trickle charger in original post so that doesn’t compute.

 

Digital volt meter check, engine off, first thing in the morning is good first step. Anything 12.6 or better you're in good shape. 12.5 is "ok". 12.4 and lower it's likely not going to last much longer.

For more in-depth assesment Dealerships will have electronic load tester, check's voltage plus Cold Cranking Amps (or Cranking Amps, various similar), and will give a verdict on it's health. Or DIY you can get something like Solar BA5.

Smart chargers, 3~4 amp range, are designed so you can even leave them on indefinitely.