2004 in CT, Hybrid Battery bad, please help with my options

First off, get the codes that the dealer pulled. That's the only way to verify what problem(s) exist. If the car is in overall great condition - meaning well maintained and serviced with NO engine / CVT problems and MINIMAL rust, I would go with the NEW Toyota battery. Stay away from rebuilds and swapping out and rebalancing cells.

The Prius is a good reliable car. I am now at 263,000 miles and still going. The rust, however, is beginning to take its toll on the rocker panels and wheel well areas in 2 spots. I never expected it to last this long...

Please post the codes.

 

welcome! check with jdenenberg. he's in ct and got a rebuilt from someone that he's very happy with. another thought is to go with the new toyota battery, (shop around for best price) then, if you decide to sell it, buy a newer prius and swap batteries before selling. all the best!

 

It was reliable and had a low cost of ownership when you consider the first 170K miles. A car near its end of design life is likely to experience more problems.

Investigate a Dorman pack at NAPA. You get to kick the can down the road for 3 years for about $1,500.

The most relevant portion is bolded. IIRC, most fleeces I mean leases require something down. A lease is absolutely, positively the most expensive way to buy a car.

Consider a Dorman for $1500 w/3yr warranty. That's $42/month, and you actually have an asset at the end of it.

A new battery will likely outlast the car. Should that prove to be the case, and you decide you really like the prius, you could buy another with a bad battery for the prescribed $1000 and then put your new battery in it.

Also, call around. $3,500 is on the high end. You can likely get closer to $3,000.

 

I don't know how the Dorman warranty works. Check their website and check with your local parts stores.

Installation is not included. It is something you could easily do if you are reasonably handy and can watch/follow youtube videos.

Looking again at new Toyota... $3000 over 3 years is only $83 a month for 3 years, and you don't have to give it back to the leasing company when done.

 

If you're going to buy a 10 year old car then buy a Corolla.

 

If this car is for daughter, buy the new battery from Toyota. See if you can get any good will warranty from Toyota corporate. You don't want a car that keeps breaking down in her college years. A new battery should go 10 years and the car will always sell for more money if the next buyer knows the car has a reliable battery in it

SM-N900P ?

 

You can always call Toyota USA to try to assistance you might get a discount.

But the other thing we just learned yesterday is Toyota has a new cheaper refurbished battery option we assume is all new guts but we don't know for sure. Dealers are only just hearing about his, and is only available in certain states and for certain Gen2 VINs, we hear. We are clueless why it won't be the same fit for all Gen2s.

 

what about these new toyota rebuilt batteries, are they available in all states?

 

We don't know but it gives an excuse to call Toyota USA and bargain for lower price on batt replace assist. I think I'd first not mention that option, if not successful use that question as next try.

 

I'm right behind you with just under 248,000 and will echo that the Prius is a great car. Mine has never been wrecked and I would love to see the car hit the half a million miles mark.

For the OP, you may want to look around and see if you can find someone to come to your location and put in a reconditioned battery in your driveway. I'm guessing you can find a company/mechanic in your area that does that.

 

2 years and 20k over? not likely. call toyota and ask, then go from there.

 

Sorry to hear this happened to you after only a year and a half of ownership. It definitely skews the cost of ownership. Every day I work with customers that are faced with this same dilemma.

If you decide you want to install a battery yourself, I have had batteries shipped to customers across the country and helped them through the install process. It's not for everyone, but it is less expensive than the dealer. The shipping process is easy enough to deal with.

There are scammers out there preying on Prius owners, so be careful. If the deal seems to good to be true, walk away.

I'd be happy to talk through things with you. Feel free to give me a call.

 

Going to the dealer with your credit card out asking, "Is there anything you think I should fix...?" is a service writer's dream!
So take whatever they say with a grain of salt.
Hard for them to really check anything else when the battery is failed.
Changing fluids for inverter or tansaxle would be good if it has not been done.

 

HV Battery Goodwill Warranty Listing - Toyota Prius USA | PriusChat

Usually you should call Toyota USA but sometimes a good dealer can make the case for you. I agree iffy in this case but you are going to shift to the newer rebuilt battery question maybe that is easier do not know. If you see my last post in the above thread I give an 2016 assessment seems like we are getting less goodwill assistance here in 2016 but still worth a shot especially with the new rebuild batt option, if you have time to fiddle...they usually take a few days to decide.

 

What we always say is best practice is new battery if you can swing it. The rebuild options are shorter term solutions, but many are going that way to save costs. You will find many thread to DIY cells and you can purchase cell balancer in the Shop. Or find someone to do it.

Maybe Toyota realizes a Gen2 permanently fixed today means one less Gen4 sale tomorrow. Some of the battery fixers on PriusChat offer nice price on new batt, but they live in TX!