My 2002 Toyota Prius was gradually sounding more and more like a schoolbus in low gear, and losing gas mileage in December. I had the front and rear brakes replaced by a mechanically inclined friend, but that didn't solve the problem, so I concluded it was the transaxle (the Prius' automatic transmission). I checked online, and indeed there seems to be an extensive history of Prius transaxle trouble.
I made an appointment with Sloane Toyota, because they were the closest, and I thought I might have to walk home - no previous repairs done there. I told them I thought it was the transaxle, and they said they would check. About an hour later, they called me and said it was NOT the transaxle, but rather the BRAKES (the rotors specifically). Hoping against hope that this was indeed the problem and that Tony had missed something when he changed the brakes, AND figuring that these people were the experts, and should know what they were doing, I said "OK - fix the brakes".
Two and a half hours later, they called me up to the counter, and said "the brakes will be $300, but the sound is still there, and NOW we recognize that you DO need a new transaxle." I informed them that somebody else would be doing that work, paid the bill, and left. I can only conclude that that the brake work was a totally fabricated, unnecessary repair they did to improve their cash flow in these hard times. Nonetheless, I consider this out and out (though probably unprovable) fraud, so I would recommend AGAINST anyone making use of this company's services.
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