My Prius needs a battery, Toyota denies warranty due to EV button

darelldd

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bear68 @ Aug 5 2007, 06:54 AM) [snapback]490839[/snapback]</div>This is the first I've heard this claim (or opinion as you say). Besides it being your opinion, is there ANY other indication that this is so? I can't imagine any logic for it, though that means very little!

diamondlarry

I have a hard time with that explanation. If this were true, why then is the programming still there? If the "designed for the country it was sold in" thing was true it would seem that the programming would be erased for the countries that don't have the button.

Sarge

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(diamondlarry @ Aug 5 2007, 05:51 PM) [snapback]490979[/snapback]</div>I still believe the entire EV button issue is entirely political and not a technical risk. AFAIK, there is not a single Toyota dealer in North America who will endorse installing an EV switch since Toyota Corporate made the decision it is not available in this market (for whatever their reason).

From the viewpoint of a manufacturer, why should they support "black market" modifications of their product and still honour their warranty? I don't know of any manufacturer who would support non-certified end-users making modifications to their product and then be expected to still warranty it...

It really is unfortunate for us since this worldwide feature is not available here, but at the end of the day it boils down to a calculated warranty risk should you decide to override Toyota's decision not to include this nifty feature.

__________________
Kevin

Freshening Toronto's air since April 28, 2006...

My Car
2006 Prius fully loaded with Canadian Package C
Seaside Pearl with Grey Interior

Accessories

• Toyota OEM Hood Deflector
• Disabled Reverse Beep in June 2007!
• Finally added home-grown EV mod July 19, 2009

Swanny1172

Folks, the simple fact of the matter is that the EV button is not installed in the Prius models which are shipped to the US. Toyota Motor Corporation makes the Prius, but Toyota Motor North America is the warrantor for the Toyota cars sold in the US.

FL_Prius_Driver

Bear68

Thanks for the excellent reply. The first hand view you (and at least one notable other) report can only continue to educate me and probably a few others as well.

Bear68

Just as food for thought.... There are other Toyota models which are sold in other countries which are unavailable here. The HiLux, the Avanza and the Hiace, just to name the ones I know of off the top of my head. There are even diesel Toyotas sold in other countries. Why are they not sold here? I don't know.

I guess I will just stick to doing what I do best. Fixing cars. :P

naterprius

It's official, my car is all healthy again. I had been somewhat suspect of my car going down to one bar when I get on the highway after work, but I borrowed a friend's 06 and was able to do it on his as well.

Basically, the gas engine comes up a little short here at altitude, so combine that with high A/C drain, two long left turn lights (no recharging), followed by three agressive uphills, puts the battery at one bar at the top of the last hill at 80 MPH.

My RAV4 Electric Vehicle has no such issues. ;-)

Nate

Frank Hudon

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Aug 10 2007, 03:04 PM) [snapback]493721[/snapback]</div>thanks for the update Nate. It's good to know that you can repeat the BSOC issue in another Prius. Now as long as coming down the hills you get it back up in the green, you can really smile.

fred s

If you do the PHEV where you're replacing the battery pack not just supplementing it, then you have the factory battery pack to swap back in if the PI pack fails and doesn't get some type of warranty replacement. I plan to give my "soon to be" prius a few months to make sure all is well then install the switch. Does anyone know if the ECU logs the usage of the EV button or can it get uninstalled if the stuff hits the fan?



Glad to hear that you got taken care of finally.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jul 19 2007, 11:24 PM) [snapback]481997[/snapback]</div>

Bob Allen

I'm happy you had a good outcome, but I'll bet it was a tense moment when you first got the shock. Thanks for sharing your experience. As for the EV, I never thought the button was worth the effort for what I understand is pretty miniscule performance on electric mode only. It seemed more like a hip, enviro-gimmik than a real advantage. Sooner, rather than later, the battery pack in the Prius will be capable of a reasonable range in electric mode.