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Question about purchasing a used 2010 that had battery replaced multiple times?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by jg4795, Nov 12, 2014.

  1. jg4795

    jg4795 New Member

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    I'm about to buy my first prius, and I've found a nice 2010 with 61,000 miles for $14,800. My only hesitation is that on the carfax, it says that after the car was bought from an auction in 2013 the battery was replaced. My boyfriend sees this as a good thing and has been encouraging me to pursue this particular car instead of other 2010s with higher milage but lower prices specifically because of the new battery in this car.

    What I would like to ask you folks is, do you think that having the battery replaced with only 3 years on the car should be indicative of there being something wrong with the car, something causing it to drain the battery earlier than most? Or do you think it might just have been something done after the car was bought from auction? Although now that I'm reading through the Carfax again, I'm noticing that the battery was reported as being replaced again in April 2014 in addition to being replaced after the auction in December 2013. Is there another battery in the car besides the large Hybrid Battery that could be what the Carfax is addressing? It only says "Battery Replaced".
     
    #1 jg4795, Nov 12, 2014
    retired4999 likes this.
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe it was just the 12 volt battery changed? Very likely, in fact.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Nov 12, 2014
  3. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    It could be the AUX 12Volts battery that it is very common to go bad and it is located in the back " TRUNK" of the vehicle.
    If the interior lights had been left on, certainly will drain the small AUX battery in a couple of days.
     
    #3 mrbigh, Nov 12, 2014
  4. jg4795

    jg4795 New Member

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    Do you think if I called the dealership that changed it they would have records about the work they did to it, even if they do not have the vehicle any longer?
     
    #4 jg4795, Nov 12, 2014
  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    It would be a win win situation, nothing to loose
     
    #5 mrbigh, Nov 12, 2014
  6. jg4795

    jg4795 New Member

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    I called the dealership that serviced the car, they said they replaced the batteries on the key and the 12v battery.
     
    #6 jg4795, Nov 12, 2014
  7. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Three vastly different components, all called simply, "battery." Talk about creating confusion.
     
    #7 GregP507, Nov 12, 2014
    OceanEyes likes this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    perfect, go for it, all the best!(y)
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 12, 2014
  9. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    The 12V battery had to be replaced because, as an auction vehicle, it sat for a month or more not being used. It went dead. Not good for a lead acid battery. It being replaced is a "good thing" (tm). ;)
     
    #9 David Beale, Nov 13, 2014
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    If your car was orginally purchased in MA, you would have 150000 mile 10-yr CARB warranty on the hybrid battery and other hybrid compoments, since MA is a CARB state.

    So far as I can recall we have only had one report of a U.S. Gen3 Prius hybrid battery failure on Prius Chat. The vast majority of hybrid battery replacements discussed on Prius Chat are Gen1 (2001-2003) and Gen2 (2004-2009)models.
     
    #10 wjtracy, Nov 13, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2014
  11. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    There should be a fairly easy way to connect a battery maintainer to the charging receptacle. But it wouldn't be necessary if a decent-quality 12V aux battery were used in the first place.
     
    #11 GregP507, Nov 13, 2014
  12. Okinawa

    Okinawa Senior Member

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    You could go to Toyota Owners.Com and sign up and put the VIN number in for the car and look at the service history.
     
    #12 Okinawa, Nov 15, 2014
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