100k Service and my Prius is worse off for it

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PeterPrius, Sep 9, 2010.

  1. PeterPrius

    PeterPrius Hers is a 2009 Prius, non-SKS

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    I had the 100k service done 2 weeks ago and my 2005 Prius isn't driving the same. The BP no longer charges the way it used to, and I don't get the same MPG - it's off by 5mpg.

    What gives? Can I take it to a different dealership (I was warned about the one I went to) and they can undo what the bad dealership did?

    Specifics:
    - On the mtn passes going uphill, the engine would effortlessly start charging the BP with no loss of power. That one bar became 2 over a few miles or so and as soon as it wasn't so steep, it always got back into the 3 to 4 bar range.
    - Now it just stays at 1 bar and the power transfer is jerky. The cars herky jerkies back and forth and works extra hard. Didn't do that before. At all.
    - Although minor, it really annoys the hell out of me when people ignore me when I say "Don't touch the tires, the wheel, don't check the pressure, don't do a single damned thing with the tires, okay?" The let the nitrogen out of the front tires only and gave it some air to balance the pressure.

    - I have received several replies from the Dealership asking me to take their survey about my experience. If they didn't listen to me the first time, why would they even care about my experience.
     
    #1 PeterPrius, Sep 9, 2010
  2. Guy in WNY

    Guy in WNY Junior Member

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    Sounds to me like you've answered your question yourself!
    I had the same problem.
    I don't go there any more.
     
    #2 Guy in WNY, Sep 9, 2010
  3. ksstathead

    ksstathead Active Member

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    What's the air pressure now?
    Wonder if they contaminated the MAF sensor or introduced an air leak at the throttle body.
    What's the oil fill level?
    What all did they do?


    Patrick? Oh, Patrick...
     
    #3 ksstathead, Sep 9, 2010
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Please list exactly what was done to your car.

    I am wondering whether you had the parking brake adjusted, for example, so that it is now dragging even when the brake is released.

    Or, maybe you had the wheel alignment adjusted and now there is excessive toe-in, which causes drag.
     
    #4 Patrick Wong, Sep 9, 2010
  5. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    Without knowing the specifics of what else they did, I'll assume they did change the oil, so the first thing you should do is:
    Check your oil level.
     
    #5 Bob64, Sep 9, 2010
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  6. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    For the benefit of other PC'ers in your area, state the name of the Dealership.:mad:
     
    #6 andyprius, Sep 9, 2010
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  7. PeterPrius

    PeterPrius Hers is a 2009 Prius, non-SKS

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    Stevinson Toyota in West Denver (Golden really)

    Oil change with synthetic
    Balanced front tires though I told them not to.
    Check all under hood fluid levels, set tire pressure (though I told them not to do a thing), reset main light, modify accelerator pedal per the recall and change out the floor mats,clean and adjust brakes, service battery & install anti-corrosive pads.

    Did they actually do all that? When they do these services, don't they check the computer somehow? Aren't they able to reset the computer??

    I'm still new to this.
     
    #7 PeterPrius, Sep 9, 2010
  8. PeterPrius

    PeterPrius Hers is a 2009 Prius, non-SKS

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    Excessive toe in could be the case. I'll know more Saturday when I drive up the the Big O in Evergreen. I mention them because they are the model of how a tire place should be run.
     
    #8 PeterPrius, Sep 9, 2010
  9. JOS

    JOS New Member

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    I second the "motion" by Patrick Wong to have your brake adjustment checked.

    I had our brakes done a little while ago by a local dealer on our '06. The brakes were badly out of adjustment AFTER the service. I could tell immediately after driving the car a short distance that they weren't right. I could actually feel the increased drag. I also noticed that when applying the E-brake, (after selecting "Park" of course), the travel was way different after the service than before the service. Once the brakes were adjusted correctly, the E-brake travel returned to what it was before the service.
     
    #9 JOS, Sep 9, 2010
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that is the oddest 100,000 mile service i've ever heard of. how much did they rock you for:confused:
     
    #10 bisco, Sep 9, 2010
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I have no idea whether all of those services were done, you'd have to inspect each item to verify whether it was done or not.

    As part of the accelerator pedal recall work, the car is supposed to be tested to make sure that it works properly and that no DTC exist. (You mentioned "computer" above; note that Prius has multiple ECUs including engine, hybrid vehicle, traction battery, skid control, transmission control, steering, immobilizer, body, etc.)

    A very important item that needs to be done at 100K miles is to replace the engine coolant and inverter coolant. Also, if the transaxle ATF fluid was not previously replaced that should be done now.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, Sep 9, 2010
  12. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    I wonder if they disconnected the 12v battery during the "service battery" part... Perhaps your computer lost the optimizations it learned in the past years? Did you lose your radio presets?

    Another possibility is that the accelerator pedal modification has altered your control such that your throttle position is no longer in the optimal position that you think your foot is at.
     
    #12 Bob64, Sep 10, 2010
  13. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    +1 on brake dragging.

    Once it's resolved/concluded go to DealerRater.com to write about your experience for other readers' benefit. Good luck! :)
     
    #13 2009Prius, Sep 10, 2010
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sounds like the hundred dollar service, not thr hundred thousand mile service.:cool:
     
    #14 bisco, Sep 10, 2010
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