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

Winston · 09-12-2007, 12:39 PM

In my mind it seems pretty clear why Toyota does not want to warrant a Prius with an EV switch in the US. Here is my reasoning.

1. One of the main worries of US customers is that the batteries will wear out, necessitating an expensive replacement.
2. The more that you charge-discharge (cycle) the battery the quicker it will wear out. Toyota has done a lot of things to increase battery life in the Prius. Mainly they restricted the battery charge range to 40-80 percent, and the computer actually tries to keep it in the middle.
3. Using the EV switch can cause you to increase the level of charge-discharge when driving the prius. That WILL make the battery wear out a bit sooner. It won't make it fail right away, but the batteries life WILL be reduced.
4. By trying to deny warranty coverage on cars with EV switches, fewer people will install the switches. Thus, overall, Prius batteries will last longer. ie. longer "mean time between failure" (MTBF).
5. The fewer Prius batteries that fail, the better reputation the Prius car has.

My 02.

sparkyAZ · 09-18-2007, 12:44 AM

Toyota USA makes no secret of it's view of the EV button:

Reference http://www.toyota.com/prius/faq.html

" 25. Does Toyota support the modification of my Prius to be a plug-in Hybrid and run on electric mode only with a switch?

Any such alterations, modifications or tampering with the vehicle voids the warranty and is likely to be counterproductive for air quality and Prius’ durability and safety."

Still, for most it's not a matter of air quality or trying to get a higher mpg. There are times I don't want the ICE to kick on unnecessarily when moving the vehicle short distances. I plan on adding it to mine even though it's still under warranty. I'm putting a quick disconnect connector behind the EV button and popping it out before it goes in for any dealer service. If anyone wants to donate a JDM button for my mod, let me know.

jk450 · 09-18-2007, 01:37 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Sep 12 2007, 10:28 AM) [snapback]511249[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

All Prius sold in NA are Cal emission certified even the ones sold in Canada.
[/b]

Which is not common in the automotive world, though it does happen more and more since the introduction of OBD-II. Do remember, though, that Prius vehicles with EV buttons are from other countries, which have different emissions cycles.

wogue · 09-18-2007, 06:58 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusmaybe @ Jul 20 2007, 12:32 PM) [snapback]482137[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have 1200 miles on my car and have been getting in the high30's. I do a lot of short trips. I sure hope my mpg improves.
Isn't there a way to check the battery or run code to see if it is "bad"?
[/b]

well well well. lucky you!

i always thought the ev button we have here in the EU is nice but may damage the battery.
how often did you use it? and even more important: how intensive did you use it? meaning: did the system have to activate the ICE after a "long" electric ride or did you just use it to drive a few silent meters?

thx and kind reg.
wogue

Virodeath · 09-18-2007, 08:18 AM

WoW reading the first post I am left wondering... When I bought my 2005 Prius the dealer said a replacement battery was $500 when it goes bad......

**efusco** · 09-18-2007, 08:21 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Virodeath @ Sep 18 2007, 07:18 AM) [snapback]514213[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

WoW reading the first post I am left wondering... When I bought my 2005 Prius the dealer said a replacement battery was $500 when it goes bad...... [/b]

LOL! Add it to the list of made up stuff/lies told by dealers.

Virodeath · 09-18-2007, 08:44 AM

Well that BS I didn't go with the extended warranty because the battery was so cheap to replace should it go bad (not the only reson ofcoarse) and was told that it would be good for 150k miles atleast...... Now I am pissed...

Viro

HeyKB · 09-18-2007, 12:34 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Virodeath @ Sep 18 2007, 08:44 AM) [snapback]514221[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Well that BS I didn't go with the extended warranty because the battery was so cheap to replace should it go bad (not the only reson ofcoarse) and was told that it would be good for 150k miles atleast...... Now I am pissed...

Viro
[/b]

The extended warranty wouldn't help you in any case. Do you know that the standard battery warranty is 100,000 miles and 7 years?

So you made the right decision for the wrong reason.

mcbrunnhilde · 09-18-2007, 01:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HeyKB @ Sep 18 2007, 09:34 AM) [snapback]514329[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The extended warranty wouldn't help you in any case. Do you know that the standard battery warranty is 100,000 miles and 7 years?

So you made the right decision for the wrong reason.

[/b]

No, the standard battery warranty is 8 years/100,000 miles, except in California and other CARB states, which have a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty. I think you're confusing it with the Platinum Extended Warranty, which can be up to a maximum of 7 years/100,000 miles (but covers more than just the battery).

Bob Boyce · 12-17-2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naterprius

Lo and behold, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the first Prius in need of a battery. Mine.

Okay, so here's the story. At 3,900 miles, in the fall of 2004, the ICE shut down on my Prius. I drove it to the dealer on electric, and they flashed the ECU with new code, and told me it was all beter. After that, I noticed the car drove differently, and that the MPG was never quite as high. I concluded that it was the new software to blame, and there was nothing I could do about it. Over the next two years the car continued to behave reasonably well, but would suffer sometimes in the heat. It would get sluggish, the battery would drop to one bar (normally six, with a high of 8) and I would hear the battery cooling fan running. This would cause the MPG's to drop into the high 30's. I assumed it was the heat because it was only there in the summer. I had the dealer check it out in 2005 and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. Two months ago, the car really started giving me trouble, MPG's in the 30's all the time (even a whole tank at 38!), one bar on the battery, and the cooling fan running to cool the battery pack even when the interior of the car wasn't hot. I brought it to the dealer, who couldn't find anything wrong with it. I insisted that they keep checking. Finally, they concluded that I needed a new battery. I was shocked. 20,000 owners on PriusChat.com, and not one has needed a battery.

Then the bombshell: Toyota corporate denied the warranty claim because I had added the "EV" button from Japan which gave you about a mile of all-electric operation. They claimed this damaged the battery, even though they supply this button in Japan and Europe!

Anyway, I proceded to appeal my case with Toyota corporate, explaining that the trouble started at 3900 miles, through no fault of my own, and they finally came back and agreed to buy me the $4500 battery if I would take out the $40 button. I did, and finally got new battery today.

I now have a new battery and a full warranty. On the way home the car got about 56 MPG. We'll see what happens on the daily commute.

I donated my EV button to Hybrids Plus, who does PHEV conversions and kisses the warranty goodbye.

I suggest the rest of you take out your EV button. It has really sucked the last two months.

Nate

Hello Nate

Pardon me for the question, but where were you able to find and purchase the factory EV mode button from? I would like to install one if I can get it, as I really want this to look factory for aesthetic reasons. If I have to, I know I can just drill a hole for a pushbutton in one of the blank cover plates, and run a wire to the ECU connector. But I know it won't look as good ;-)

I just aquired this 2003 Prius on sunday, and it is out of warranty at 110K miles. I hate to have the engine start and warm up for short trips to the mailbox and back, and I know that the battery bank would get plenty of charge from the once or twice weekly Dr appt trips. Being disabled makes walking to the mailbox and back something that I just can't do.

I have plans to convert this to a plug-in hybrid, so I will be doing a lot of reading. Would love to charge this car from the PV solar power system that runs my house.

Thank you in advance
Bob

09-18-2007, 12:44 AM	#122
sparkyAZ übergeek Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 311 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 9	Toyota USA makes no secret of it's view of the EV button: Reference http://www.toyota.com/prius/faq.html " 25. Does Toyota support the modification of my Prius to be a plug-in Hybrid and run on electric mode only with a switch? Any such alterations, modifications or tampering with the vehicle voids the warranty and is likely to be counterproductive for air quality and Prius’ durability and safety." Still, for most it's not a matter of air quality or trying to get a higher mpg. There are times I don't want the ICE to kick on unnecessarily when moving the vehicle short distances. I plan on adding it to mine even though it's still under warranty. I'm putting a quick disconnect connector behind the EV button and popping it out before it goes in for any dealer service. If anyone wants to donate a JDM button for my mod, let me know. __________________ 2005 Driftwood Pearl Package #6 Current mods: Curt (U-Haul) square receiver hitch :: Privacy tint front/rear :: Dual ScanGauge :: "Batteries Included" license plate frame :: Scosche AXIPTA Ipod interface :: JDM EV button :: Fog Light mod :: LED Turn signal mirrors :: Cyron interior lighting :: 3M CAF Upcoming mods: LED license plate and interior lighting :: HID Fog Lights :: PHEV

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/35245-my-prius-needs-battery-toyota-denies-warranty-due-electric-vehicle-button.html
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09-12-2007, 12:39 PM	#121
Winston Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SF Bay Area, California Posts: 578 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 0	In my mind it seems pretty clear why Toyota does not want to warrant a Prius with an EV switch in the US. Here is my reasoning. 1. One of the main worries of US customers is that the batteries will wear out, necessitating an expensive replacement. 2. The more that you charge-discharge (cycle) the battery the quicker it will wear out. Toyota has done a lot of things to increase battery life in the Prius. Mainly they restricted the battery charge range to 40-80 percent, and the computer actually tries to keep it in the middle. 3. Using the EV switch can cause you to increase the level of charge-discharge when driving the prius. That WILL make the battery wear out a bit sooner. It won't make it fail right away, but the batteries life WILL be reduced. 4. By trying to deny warranty coverage on cars with EV switches, fewer people will install the switches. Thus, overall, Prius batteries will last longer. ie. longer "mean time between failure" (MTBF). 5. The fewer Prius batteries that fail, the better reputation the Prius car has. My 02.

09-18-2007, 08:18 AM	#125
Virodeath Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 93 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	WoW reading the first post I am left wondering... When I bought my 2005 Prius the dealer said a replacement battery was $500 when it goes bad......

09-18-2007, 08:44 AM	#127
Virodeath Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 93 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Well that BS I didn't go with the extended warranty because the battery was so cheap to replace should it go bad (not the only reson ofcoarse) and was told that it would be good for 150k miles atleast...... Now I am pissed... Viro