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

naterprius · 07-19-2007, 11:24 PM

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

dogfriend · 07-20-2007, 12:11 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(naterprius @ Jul 19 2007, 08:24 PM) [snapback]481997[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

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.

Nate
[/b]

Bummer. But at least you got the new battery.

I want to install an EV button, but I was wondering if they might try to deny warranty claims based on modification of the system. Now we know.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-20-2007, 12:19 AM

There's always one guy who goes and ruins it for the rest of us!

Just kidding. Wow. So they seriously were denying the warranty on the grounds of the button. How come this is the first I'm hearing about it? Did you intentionally keep it hush hush until you had a resolution?

I suppose I'd have to ditch the button in the same situation. Though I admit that I would spend the next year poking the dashboard from time to time.

galaxee · 07-20-2007, 12:26 AM

who would've guessed? well now we know... and if we do have trouble guess what's coming out of the dashboard?

glad they worked something out with ya but damn, that was an unexpected story.

naterprius · 07-20-2007, 12:28 AM

Yes, Tony, I kept it quiet until they installed the new battery and gave me back the car. I have already signed off on the Repair Order, so they can't change their mind.

I was prepared to enlist the help of PriusChatters if things went south.

There is now a blank where my EV button used to be.

Meh.

Nate

**TonyPSchaefer** · 07-20-2007, 12:41 AM

OH oh oh. That would be a great place for an \ \ \ EJECT / / / button.

I'm willing to bet that you can find/buy a plug somewhere but you're sure as shootin' not getting mine (just in case).

naterprius · 07-20-2007, 12:46 AM

Yes, I have a plug in there now. A blank plug. So very sad.

Nate

jrmgkia · 07-20-2007, 01:20 AM

Nate,
How did they discover that you had the EV mod? I realize that the button is in plain sight but most Prius techs aren't smart enough to know what the EV button is and where to find it. Did you disclose the EV button up front or did they notice it? When did they notice it?

naterprius · 07-20-2007, 01:25 AM

The District Tech asked the Dealer tech to check for one, then declared the warranty void, then flagged my VIN so I couldn't take it to another dealer.

Nate

**Tideland Prius** · 07-20-2007, 01:35 AM

ouch!

Well, glad to hear Toyota came through for you. $4,500 eh? Must've been after labour and taxes...(that's a lot of labour and taxes!).

Well, I mean it could very well mean they're just covering themselves, you know? "just take it out and we'll replace it".... unless I'm being naive

07-19-2007, 11:24 PM	#1
naterprius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,830 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	.. 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 Last edited by efusco; 12-11-2007 at 01:53 PM.

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-main-forum/35245-my-prius-needs-battery-toyota-denies-warranty-due-electric-vehicle-button.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Prius P&G - "Failed Glides" - CleanMPG Forums	This thread	Refback	06-23-2008 05:45 PM
Prius EV Mode Button - EAA-PHEV	This thread	Refback	05-14-2008 12:58 PM
Prius EV Mode Button - EAA-PHEV	This thread	Refback	05-14-2008 11:12 AM

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07-20-2007, 12:19 AM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	There's always one guy who goes and ruins it for the rest of us! Just kidding. Wow. So they seriously were denying the warranty on the grounds of the button. How come this is the first I'm hearing about it? Did you intentionally keep it hush hush until you had a resolution? I suppose I'd have to ditch the button in the same situation. Though I admit that I would spend the next year poking the dashboard from time to time.

07-20-2007, 12:26 AM	#4
galaxee running WOT until out of fuel Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 9,081 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 21	who would've guessed? well now we know... and if we do have trouble guess what's coming out of the dashboard? glad they worked something out with ya but damn, that was an unexpected story.

07-20-2007, 12:28 AM	#5
naterprius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,830 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, Tony, I kept it quiet until they installed the new battery and gave me back the car. I have already signed off on the Repair Order, so they can't change their mind. I was prepared to enlist the help of PriusChatters if things went south. There is now a blank where my EV button used to be. Meh. Nate

07-20-2007, 12:41 AM	#6
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,439 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 16	OH oh oh. That would be a great place for an \ \ \ EJECT / / / button. I'm willing to bet that you can find/buy a plug somewhere but you're sure as shootin' not getting mine (just in case).

07-20-2007, 12:46 AM	#7
naterprius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,830 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Yes, I have a plug in there now. A blank plug. So very sad. Nate

07-20-2007, 01:20 AM	#8
jrmgkia Wish I was cycling Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 38 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Nate, How did they discover that you had the EV mod? I realize that the button is in plain sight but most Prius techs aren't smart enough to know what the EV button is and where to find it. Did you disclose the EV button up front or did they notice it? When did they notice it?

07-20-2007, 01:25 AM	#9
naterprius Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,830 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Package: N/A Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	The District Tech asked the Dealer tech to check for one, then declared the warranty void, then flagged my VIN so I couldn't take it to another dealer. Nate

07-20-2007, 01:35 AM	#10
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,920 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	ouch! Well, glad to hear Toyota came through for you. $4,500 eh? Must've been after labour and taxes...(that's a lot of labour and taxes!). Well, I mean it could very well mean they're just covering themselves, you know? "just take it out and we'll replace it".... unless I'm being naive