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2001 Prius Main Traction Battery Failure/Replacement

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Smidgen, Jan 1, 2012.

  1. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    2001 Prius
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    2 wks ago, my 2001 Prius with 113,500 miles suddenly failed...no power steering, no acceleration, engine seemed to die. I coasted into a parking lot. Dash warning lights were dire...triangle of death, red car w/ !, main battery, power steering. After powering the car off and on 3 times, everything reset and it drove fine. Took it to dealer next day...ICE not getting fuel and 12v reading low. Cleaned throttle, replaced 12V...things ran perfectly over Christmas weekend...over 400 miles driving all types of roads/conditions other than snow. Dealer had said there was a power steering recall...so I took the car the next week for that work. Car failed within 7 miles...same warning lights but an entirely different feel to the failure...felt like the transmission was bumped into neutral...no acceleration...but retained PS and was able to steer car easily to a pull-off spot as engine(s) didn't die. Restarted w/ no problem...we limped home, having to stop and restart car 2x in 20 miles as the feeling of transmission in neutral returned. Returned car to dealer next day...they say hybrid battery has failed. I can drive the car short distances but every few miles, I must stop and start it...almost like re-booting a computer...so I'm driving it very little. I do not have the codes from the 2nd failure...I was too shaken up to ask...but will get them ASAP.

    Dealer says new traction battery is a $3000+ repair but, as a gesture of good will, they and Toyota will comp everything except $200 labor. Part of me thinks this is a good deal and worth the $200 gamble...another part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop...a bad computer, sensor, etc. that we'll find half-way through the battery repair or 500 miles out of town.

    Up until last week, the car ran great...it's been an excellent car and I'm made sure it's been well-maintained. I did the battery-sealing recall when I received the notice.

    What are the chances that the replacement will solve the problems? I need a car I can trust, cannot play the game of "Hmmm...well, let's try this and see if it might work" and cannot buy another car right now. $200 is very affordable but not if it's not going to fix the real problem.

    Any gut feelings or mechanical insights? It's just me dealing with this...I know no one else with a Prius.

    Thanks so much!
     
  2. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    "Dealer says new traction battery is a $3000+ repair but, as a gesture of good will, they and Toyota will comp everything except $200 labor."

    WOW. Agree right now.

    Sorry I did not read most of your post. One very long sentence interspersed with .... ... ... exceeded my annoyance threshold.
     
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  3. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    Thanks for your reply. :)

    (There are 20 sentences and perhaps hyphens would have been less annoying than ellipses. Sorry!)
     
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Can you get the DTCs? We have repair experts here.

    If they concur w/that of a failed HV battery, then only needing to pay $200 for a new HV battery is an EXCELLENT deal.
     
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  5. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Unheard of. Take it!
     
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  6. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    Thanks so much for your input. I plan to try to get the diagnostic codes tomorrow. Will post as soon as I get them.

    I did agree to the $200 battery 'deal' just on general principle. I was astounded since I did not buy the car from this dealer but have used them exclusively for the 8+ yrs I've owned the car. I just want to know that this battery is all it's going to need to restore it to health. I don't expect a similar break on any other major repairs this 'system failure' might entail and don't want to be taken totally by surprise if I'm asked to cough up a lot more money for 'unforeseen' issues.

    I'll get the codes and post them ASAP
    .
     
  7. fthorn

    fthorn From gas hog to greenie to gas hog

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    Uggh. I should not have read this post. I am looking at $2,500 replacement cost tomorrow. Give me your dealer info, and I'll take that deal.
     
  8. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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  9. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    THAT'S GREAT Grab that deal immediately. :cheer2:
     
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  10. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    OK...these are the codes the service dept has given me: P3006, P3017, and P3020.
     
  11. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Even if the dealer has the diagnosis completely wrong, it is still way worthwhile to replace the traction battery in a 10 year old car for $200.
     
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  12. fthorn

    fthorn From gas hog to greenie to gas hog

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    I'll give you $400 for it.
     
  13. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    Just got the Prius back from the battery replacement. We also had to replace plugs and 2 main battery cables which had corroded.. My cost was $100.00. The rest was charged back to Toyota. Somehow they got Toyota to do the repairs as though the warranty was still in effect. I did not buy the car from this dealer...I bought it used in 2003...but this dealer has done every bit of service to it for over 8 yrs so they knew my service history. They said this was their first main battery replacement. Hope it's their last. :)
     
  14. Smidgen

    Smidgen New Member

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    Repairs done. 1 hybrid battery, plugs, 2 hybrid battery cables..$100. The rest was charged back to Toyota who agreed to treat the warranty as still in effect. I'm thrilled.
     
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  15. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Awesome! Even if the repair turns out to not fix the problem, a semi-working 1st gen w/new HV battery is worth a lot more than even $400.

    Kudos to Toyota for the goodwill!
     
  16. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

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    This sounds like the dealer replaced just the bad modules in your battery. Do you have a part number for the "2 hybrid battery cables"

    Brad
     
  17. NinnJinn

    NinnJinn Member

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    Update? Prius back to normal running well?
     
  18. fthorn

    fthorn From gas hog to greenie to gas hog

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    I have to rescind my above offer.
    Toyota gave me a far superior deal on my NHW11's Prius traction battery service/replacement.

    :rockon::cheer2:
     
  19. B. Roberts

    B. Roberts Hypah Milah! Ayuh.

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    Wondering if the battery was at fault. Corroded wires allowing battery not to be charged as well as it could for how long would eventually degrade it?
     
  20. moni92105

    moni92105 New Member

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    I couldn't find date when your car failed or the date of these posts BUT I have an '01 Prius that did the exact same thing a few months after the ten yr warantee was finished. I only had 47K miles (retired granny so was babying it along in hopes that this car would last me 'til I drop dead )
    Tried to get some sympathy from 2 different dealers but they wanted full price for repairs. Like you said, only one yr guarantee after repairs was offered (OUCH).
    I'm asking all the experts 2 different questions ... Would there be any point of contacting Toyota directly to get a better deal on repairs? I am NOT going to spend those kind of bucks on my SS retirement pay. Especially since the guarantee after complete is short term. (I purchased this car when I first retired and had a lump sum retirement bundle & paid cash for the Prius.)

    That leads to question 2 ... since I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place is there a way to bypass the electronics and just turn it into a gas engine car? When this car was running good I got supreme mileage. Any trip to and from Los Angeles (from San Diego) I was getting between 50 to 57 mpg ! I am dead serious about this option(?) as I am desparate for a car.

    If they would have offered me that $200 deal I would have grabbed it in a split second, before they changed their mind.

    Other than this major problem the only complaint I had was that the AC worked lousy (not as cold as any other car I had owned before). Toyota always told me it was my imagination and the AC checked out fine. I hate dismissal by car dealers.
    I should park this car with a big sign on it near a busy intersection. Maybe that would get a Toyota reaction. Would that be illegal to do (grin)?

    Grateful for any kind of answer.
    Granny92105 (Skype)

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