Inevitably, this brings us back to the question about hybrid vehicle serviceability and what owners must know and do, in order to avoid complications and a higher cost of ownership. Let's face it, while maintaining a hybrid vehicle is generally affordable, repairing is entirely a different matter altogether.
Lets see what advantages hybrid vehicles have over their conventional counterparts:
- Less engine and power train wear-and-tear. Thank the "live-for-ever" electric motors along with their simpler transmissions for this.
- Less brake pad and shoe replacements/repair. Thank the "live-for-ever" regenerative braking for this.
- Most systems are electrified such as Power Steering and climate control. This renders these operations more reliable and efficient.
- For many hybrids there are longer lasting oil change intervals.
- Battery packs have long warranties and the vast majority have proven to last the useful life of the vehicle. This is something hybrid detractors do not like to hear.
Yes, since their entry into the market almost 10 years ago, hybrid electric vehicles have been found to be more reliable than their gas powered counterparts. In fact, hybrid vehicles have become the models of reliability across manufacturers and even across vehicle classes to such an extent that many industries have adopted HEV's in their fleets not only because of the gas savings but also because of the significantly lower wear and tear incurred.
But as we said before: nothing lasts forever. And it is on this note that we will once again delve into the intricacies of maintaining and even servicing your HEV.
Maintenace: What is it and why?
Maintenance relates directly to the preventative servicing we perform on a vehicle. The long standing wisdom is that any maintenance we perform on the basis of a recommended schedule, the greater the assurances of trouble free operation. The typical maintenance items that we can all relate to range from the usual oil and other fluid changes, tire rotations and replacement, brake checks, to tune-ups, and so on.
On this matter hybrid vehicles have proven to be very frugal and therefore very enticing and one of the reasons they have such a good TCO index in this industry. Sure, some hybrids require special fluids and even special maintenance procedures that are more expensive than that of a traditionally powered vehicles, and there not denying this helps reduce (but not eliminate) the cost benefits of hybrid vehicle ownership.
Nevertheless, you should keep the bigger picture in mind especially when picking among your options. We perform maintenance so that we can avoid the possibility of a serious failure which more often than not, will be far more expensive to repair. So, regularly scheduled maintenance is good, repairing a is preventable problem is bad. Agree?
Repairing your Toyota or Honda hybrid vehicle:
In the event that a repair is required then you must ponder carefully about your options.
- Where to repair your hybrid vehicle. You may or may not like going to your dealer for repairs but so far they are your best option. They are the only ones who are expected to have the training and service support needed to safely and successfully perform the repairs. If you already have a good and trustworthy dealer then you have a great deal of good will at your disposal that may even pay you back in the form of lower repair bills and other warranty accommodations. If you don't have a good dealer then start looking for one if you have that option. Independent shops may want your business and even offer you a price to match but very few will actually be able to do the work with the knowledge and safety your vehicle requires. But if the statistical evidence is of any comfort, then as the owner of an HEV you are already less likely to face a repair bill than the average person. Just make sure you have your vehicle properly maintained and up to date with the latest control software.
- How much will it cost. It depends primarily on what is broken. But as we all know, it also depends on the shop and the pricing they offer you. In any case, always seek a second opinion if you suspect the price is too high. Better yet, visit any of the online forums for your particular vehicle and ask the question. Chances are that someone will quote the nominal cost of the repair procedure and that should be all you need to move forward with a particular service department. Also, do not forget to look for the significance of this repair. If the repair bill is high but it will give you another 100K miles or more then maybe that's not too bad. It becomes another story entirely if this becomes a frequent and recurring expenditure.
- Can I drive with a broken sub-system and postpone the repair to a later date? Only do so, if and only if, your qualified technician says it is safe and harmless. But, chances are that if a system is off-line or broken, a warning has been issued and likely to be important if not critical. Again, do not compromise your safety and that of others by delaying a critical repair.
In any case, if you already have a good service relationship with your service department then maintain it well. It may actually serve you well if you ever need it as leverage for warranty or even post-warranty work. This is called "good will" and it is amazing how many folks ignore it even dismiss it.
If for whatever reason you do not yet have a good dealer, then I suggest you do some research and locate one just in case you ever need it.
If you prefer to use the services of an independent shop, then I suggest you ask them for confirmation and proof that they are not only trained to service advanced hybrid platforms but they also have access to the same technical resources and parts the dealers use. If an independent service shop cannot comply with your request then look elsewhere.
You certainly would not go to a witch doctor if what you really need is a brain surgeon, now would you?
