Before I made the appointment, I also searched online to see if Toyota had made any changes to their initial recommendation of 5,000 mile oil change intervals. A while back I’d read that Toyota was considering a 10,000 mile interval for some of their newer vehicles using synthetics. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find anything that looked official or definitive so I called the service manager and headed in.

When I arrived, the person I met with asked me a few questions about what work I would be having done and how many miles were on the vehicle. When he learned that it had only been 5,000 miles since my last oil change, he let me know about the new 10,000 mile recommendation from Toyota Motors. The technician also showed me how to reset the service warning message that had been appearing in my display lately, every time I started my Prius. From memory, I’m fairly sure the steps are as follows:

1) With the Power On, switch the trip-meter to display “TRIPA”
2) Push the Power button to turn the Power OFF
3) (Without your foot on the brake) push the Power ON button while holding in the “km/h” and “MPH” button
4) The display screen will show the progress of reseting of the oil change data.
5) When the reset is complete, release the button and press the Power Off button

Anyway, I asked the tech to send me the official announcement their dealership had received from Toyota, so I’ll copy it below. I didn’t get the free oil change coupon or revised maintenance guide so I’ll have to check on those items next time…

Over the past several months, there has been considerable discussion regarding Toyota and Scion vehicles that have adopted a new engine oil lubrication standard (SAE 0W-20 synthetic) as well as the timeline for the complete integration of this standard. The purpose of this communication is to provide important information regarding the subsequent extension of the oil drain interval for vehicles that have adopted the 0W-20 oil standard.  To that end, I am pleased to announce that TMC has approved our request to move all 0W-20 certified vehicles to a 10,000 mile / 1 year (under normal operating conditions with 0W-20 oil) oil and oil filter change interval effective immediately with the following stipulations:

•         TMS solely bears the cost of Warranty and Maintenance Guide (WMG) revisions (i.e. reprinting and distribution, and scrapping of outdated materials) and any and all owner notifications;
•         TMS works closely with the Dealer organization to ensure that consumers receive real cost of ownership benefit from this change;
•         TMS integrates an updated and TMC approved set of “Special Operating Conditions” (formerly called “severe use”) in all affected WMGs; and
•         TMS helps monitor the impact of this change and report the status to TMC periodically

In essence this change marks a return to the two option format in place several years ago. The good news is that, as mentioned above, the Special Operating Condition criteria and WMG verbiage have been revised to provide greater clarity. The new criteria are as follows:

Special Operating Conditions – In addition to standard maintenance items, the maintenance log indicates services that should be performed on vehicles that are driven under especially demanding conditions. These “special operating conditions” and their required maintenance items are clearly indicated in each chart.

You should perform these additional maintenance services only if the majority of your driving is done under the special operating conditions indicated. If you only occasionally drive under these circumstances, it is not necessary to perform the additional services.

•         Driving on dirt roads or dusty roads
•         Towing a trailer, using a car-top carrier, or heavy vehicle loading
•         Repeated trips of less than five miles in temperatures below 32°F / 0°C
•         Extensive idling and/or low speed driving for a long distance such as police, taxi or door-to-door delivery use

The details of our 0W-20 interval change implementation strategy are as follows:

•         This change will be applied retroactively in an effort to enhance both the current customers’ ownership experience and the marketability of these key products;
•         Consumers who have paid for an oil and filter change at 5,000 miles will be provided a coupon for a free oil change at their local Toyota Dealer;
•         Customer communication will include distribution of a revised Warranty and Maintenance Guide as well instructions on how to obtain and utilize the free oil change coupon;
•         The maintenance reminder lights on these vehicles will continue to illuminate every 5,000 miles even though the nature of these services has changed

When it happened, I was lucky as there were no cars in front of me and none in the intersection. I was traveling a few miles under the speed limit (posted at 25 mph) in a residential area near my home and came to a four-way “stop sign controlled” intersection. It had been snowing earlier that day so I was taking it slow, knowing I could hit a patch of icy road at any time. As I put on the brakes to slow down, nothing happened.

At first I thought it had to be ice (we’ve all experience that before) but as I continued past the stop sign and through the intersection, my speed did not really change. I was sure I had anti-lock brakes and remembered that I wasn’t really supposed to pump them, but since I wasn’t slowing down I tried that too. Again, nothing happened at first – until I took my foot completely off the brake pedal and slammed it to the floor. By this time, I was probably 4-5 car lengths past the intersection. I remember thinking to myself, “that was NOT ice”. In my estimation, the brakes simply did nothing.

Others who have reported similar issues on forums and in the press noted that they hit a pothole or rough area to trigger this braking issue. I don’t recall anything like that when it happened to me. I just pressed on the brake pedal and nothing happened. When I got home I went online and searched to find out what my car had for a brake system. You can see from my 2010 Prius window sticker  it has anti-lock brakes with EBD and Brake Assist, and it also has enhanced vehicle stability control w/ TRAC. I’m not a brake expert, but I assumed both of those were good things.

I couldn’t find anyone else who reported the same type of issue on Prius websites and forums, so I came to the conclusion that I simply hadn’t pressed hard enough on the brakes. I know the brakes are different from other cars (regenerative braking to recharge the battery) and they sometimes feel a bit squishy, so I convinced myself that it was an isolated incident and that I’d need to be more firm in future braking.

This incident occurred about 6 weeks ago and thankfully it has never happened again, but now I see others coming forward with similar stories. I guess I just didn’t want it to be true, since I am a big fan of the 3rd generation Prius. Now I have to decide what to do. In my opinion, we will be seeing a recall on this problem soon.

From the Toyota Pressroom:

Statement Regarding 2010 Model Year
Toyota Prius Inconsistent Brake Feeling

In certain 2010 model year Prius vehicles, Toyota has received reports that some customers have experienced inconsistent brake feel when the vehicle is driven over potholes, bumps or slippery road surfaces.
 
Toyota is currently in the process of confirming these reports and investigating the vehicle driving conditions under which the reported phenomenon occurs. It would be premature to comment until the investigation has been completed. 

Worries Over Prius Brakes from MSNBC.com
New York Times article regarding Japanese government ordering investigation of braking issues.
CNN article covering complaints with malfunctioning brakes and unexpected acceleration

December 21st is the first official day of winter but somebody forget to tell Mother Nature. Here in the Midwest, we’ve already seen over 17 inches of snow. That is more than half of our average annual snowfall (32″ where I live) and it seems we are just getting started. For the past few years, I’ve owned several different all-wheel drive sport utility vehicles during the winter driving season, but with the purchase of a 2010 Toyota Prius this past summer – I’m now getting used to driving a front-wheel drive car again.

Most of you who live in New England are also relearning how to drive on snow and ice. With this weekend’s snowstorm dumping 10 to 20 plus inches in Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states – road conditions are poor at best. And with well over one million Toyota Prius on U.S. roadways, I have lots of company sharing my hybrid driving experience.

I’ll admit that I debated even buying a new Prius because I wasn’t sure how it would handle the snowy roads, but it had nothing to do with it being a hybrid-electric vehicle. My concern was mainly about moving from a 4 wheel drive truck with 10″ of ground clearance to a 2 wheel drive car with about 5″. Right before the blizzard hit, I decided to do a few online searches to see what others were saying. That’s when I discovered there is a lot of debate surrounding how the Prius does in snow and in cold weather driving.

On sites like PriusChat.com and GreenHybrid.com, most of the negative comments center around poor traction from the Prius’ stock (factory OEM) tires, a big drop in fuel economy, and issues with the traction control reportedly causing the Prius to stop on slippery hills. Comments are all over the board, ranging from those who claim the Prius is one of the best FWD small cars they have driven in snow to those who say it’s nearly useless. The majority of people commenting on these forums own a second generation Prius (2004-2009 model years) but my guess is the experience is similar in the 2010 Prius 3.

Although I have less than 2 weeks of history driving my Prius in the snow, I’ve been impressed with how well it’s done so far. I don’t see any major traction issues yet, but I haven’t had to climb any large hills either. Most of my winter driving with the Prius has been in town as well. What I have noticed more than anything is the big change in gas mileage. For the first 10,000 miles I averaged 50 m.p.g. in my 3rd generation Prius. Driving on snow and in temperatures ranging from zero to 32 degrees (Fahrenheit), I am averaging only 37 miles per gallon. Again, some of that has to do with the fact that I haven’t been on the highway during this time, but it is still about 10 mpg less than what I got during the summer and fall. From what I’ve read, a 20% drop in fuel economy is normal for most cars under these driving conditions.

If you own a Prius, we’d love to hear how yours handles in the snow!

The 2010 Prius warranty can be broken down into several areas of coverage. Like most vehicles on the road today, it starts with the popular 3 year or 36,000 mile “basic warranty”. Most likely in an effort to instill trust, Toyota adds additional warranties to cover the hybrid system and other systems.

Basic Warranty: 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Covers repairs and adjustments to correct defects in materials or workmanship of parts supplied by Toyota. Wheel alignment and wheel balancing are an exception to the rule, only getting covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Hybrid System Warranty: 96 months or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This warranty includes the Battery Control Module, Hybrid Battery, Hybrid Control Module, and the Inverter (with converter).

Powertrain Warranty: 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This includes the Engine (cylinder block, head, internal parts, timing gears & gaskets, the timing chain/belt, valve covers, oil pan, oil pump, engine mounts, engine control computer, water pump, fuel pump, seals and gaskets). It also covers the Transaxle, Motor, and Generator (case, all internal parts, transaxle mounts, seals and gaskets). It covers the Front-Wheel Drive System (drive house and internal parts, axle shafts, drive shafts, CVJ, front hub and bearings, seals and gaskets).

Restraint System Warranty: 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This covers the vehicle for any repairs needed to correct defects in materials or workmanship on seatbelts and/or air bag systems.

Corrosion Perforation Warranty: 60 months regardless of mileage. This one is for repair or replacement of any body panel that develops perforation from corrosion (aka rust through).

Towing: No time line or mileage limitation noted. If your Prius is inoperable due to failure of a warranteed part, Toyota Motors will pay for towing service to the nearest authorized Toyota dealership.

Tires: Tires are warranteed by the tire manufacturer, not Toyota.

In addition to the new vehicle limited warrantees outlined above, Toyota also meets or exceeds Federal Emission Control Warranty requirements.

If you purchase a 2010 Toyota Prius in California or any other state that has adopted their warranty provisions (currently there are 12), several other warrantees and warranty periods are offered by Toyota. I’ll pass on going into the details, since they don’t apply to every state.

Lastly, please use this as a reference only. I would encourage you to double check these warrantees with an authorized Toyota dealer before making any decisions based on my interpretation of the owner’s manual.

For example, the luggage space in the 2008 Prius did not appear to be wide enough to fit even two sets of golf clubs (inside golf bags). I tried to research how large this space is for Gen II and found a couple of numbers. While a few sites claim it is 16.6 cubic feet, most of the trusted sites (Edmunds, Cars.com) show 14.4 cu. ft. Let me tell you, 14 cubic feet is not extremely large!

According to the official Toyota Prius website, the luggage capacity for the ‘10 Prius is 21.6 cubic feet. In my opinion, it is as big or bigger than the trunk space of any sedan I’ve owned. In fact, compared to the 2010 Camry hybrid, it is down right huge. This is mainly a result of the Camry losing cargo space to the hybrid battery…bringing it all the way down to 10.6 cubic feet. Even so, the non-hybrid Camry only has 14.5 cubic feet, in case that helps you to understand how roomy the suitcases have it in the all new Prius.

On a recent trip, I was able to easily fit 3 full-size golf bags in the 2010 Prius hatchback area, along with golf shoes, balls, jackets, and much more. Now, in terms of rear visibility…that is an issue all it’s own, and one I will address in another post.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. I am excited to tell our readers that when my odometer hit 1,000 miles – my average fuel economy was 51.6 mpg. And, while using Trip A to track my overall (long term) Prius mileage, I also started using Trip B to keep track of my fuel economy for each tank of gas. With roughly 60% of my time spent on the highway and 40% in the city, my last tank was my best so far – 54 m.p.g.

No doubt, gas mileage is important…but I have lots more to tell you about the first 1,000 miles behind the wheel of my Prius. Be back soon!

When you spotted a VW Beetle (Bug) you slugged your brother, sister, or which ever kid was next to you – usually in the arm or leg. At the same time you said something like, “slug bug” and if you were smart you followed it with, “no slug backs”. Basically that meant that that VW Bug was now off limits, and the person you just smacked could not hit you back.

I don’t know if that game regained popularity when the new Beetle was released several years ago, but since you can now go weeks without seeing the older style VW Beetle, I assume it either did or the game died out.

Now that I’m driving a Prius, I’m starting to become more aware of other Prius that I see when out and about. My kids and wife are the same way, and we seldom travel more than 20 miles without spotting one (I imagine that distance would be much less in a state like California, but there are still more farms than Prius in Iowa!).

Anyway, on a recent 50 mpg trip I told my wife that it would be fun to start playing the Slug Bug game when we saw a Prius, but we’d need to come up with a catchy name for it. We tried out the following:

1. Prius Punch
2. Prius Pinch
3. Prius Poke

Of the three options, I found out the hard way that Prius Punch, No Punch Backs! became the favorite…and I have the bruise to prove it. So, if you are up for trying out this game that’s sure to become a nationwide sensation, I’d like to hear your input. Are there some better options we should be considering? In either case, let me know if you’re playing.

You can click on the  image to get a closer look (in some cases, clicking again on the larger image will enlarge it even further). Depending on how far you are able to zoom in (I tried to make this a high resolution image) you should be able to see that mine is a Prius III model. I’ll explain the main differences between all of the models in another article/post. The only options this vehicle had were carpet floor mats and a cargo mat which came to $200. With the $750 delivery processing and handling fee, the total cost of my ‘10 Prius was $23,950.

If there is any part of this window sticker that you can’t read, just leave me a note in the comments section below and I’ll be happy to clarify it.