Hi Everyone, I took my '09 Prius in to the dealer for servicing today because it was making a strange noise...turns out the wheel bearing needs to be replaced (what I was hearing). I just passed the 100,000 mile mark. While there, they also informed me that the drive belt is cracked ($121), the engine water pump is leaking ($356), and 2 side lights are out ($51). The wheel bearing (with alignment) will be $506. All together, it adds up to $1074! Hence the reason for my first post on PriusChat. Do these prices seem normal? My poor baby. It seems like everything is needing to be replaced at once. Two weeks ago, my hybrid water pump went out...thankfully it was a recalled part! The 12v battery was replaced 2 weeks before that. Ay yi yi.
What city are you located? There are good independent repair shops that specialize in Hybrid that can save you money. Not much but some money.
A drivebelt is a $15 item and any mechanic is qualified to replace it. It's also an easy DIY job. Side lights, even more so. They are so easy that the owner's manual generally shows you how to do it. Those other two jobs, the wheel bearing and the front end alignment are routine automotive repairs. None of this stuff is Prius specific and hence does not really need to be done at top-of-the range parts and labor rates, as provided by your dealer. The forum can advise you, if you give a general idea of your location, or you can ask family and friends for recommendations on locating a good independent mechanic. Once you establish a relationship with one, they often throw in little things like bulb replacement, at least the labor.
Ok...Thanks for the feedback. I'm in Alabama and will ask around for a recommendation. I'm not sure about the battery...I've been overseas doing mission work so my grandfather has been caring for my car. I believe he said the battery was around $350.
Dealer cost on the battery is around $150 and normal retail is $199 so they must have charged $150 for installation. (20-30 min. job for experienced tech)
Always check on dealer website for coupons. Possible 10-15% savings if you decide to let the dealer do the work. Good luck!
certainly seems legit for 100,000 miles, question is whether you want to shop around for better labor rates. any competant mechanic can do the work. all the best!
