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Toyota HV Battery Replacement Info?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by f.s.prius, Apr 1, 2016.

  1. f.s.prius

    f.s.prius Junior Member

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    Hello Forum,

    My first post, we have a 2004 Prius with 110k and the HV battery has just died. I have a Dorman battery on order from Rockauto for 1200 but found the thread about quality issues and Rockauto hassles and am reconsidering getting a Toyota replacement. Found a dealer close enough to pick up for 2070+tax after core. Catch is they want 1200 for installation, seems high.

    What I am concerned about is what is exactly involved with swapping the Toyota part as I've read that they are more involved than the Dorman. Dorman describes their batteries as "plug and play" and mention not having to "reflash" the battery.

    Dorman does offer 3 yr. warranty but pulling an HV battery isn't a small issue nor shipping
    across the country if there is a problem. I've looked but haven't found any detailed descriptions for installing what Toyota sell you to know if I would feel OK with the extra steps.

    Has anyone here done this swap and what exactly do the Toyota batteries require compared to the Dorman or Cardone rebuilt units?

    Thanks
     
  2. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    It would be a reasonable thing to let Toyota do the install, as you would then get a 3 year warranty on the new battery (not that you would need it IMHO).

    However, someone is having a laugh with that $1200 installation price, as it should be no more than $3-400 in labor.

    I wonder whether they juggled the pricing to give you the $2070 price on the battery, but then upped the labor price so the job was still $3270+tax.

    I definitely call them out on that labor charge.
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you buy the battery for 2k and look for an installer?
     
  4. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    He could, but the warranty is only 1 year on a non-Toyota installation.

    I would just get them to charge the correct amount of labor. ~$2500+tax would be very reasonable.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if they will do that, great. if not, the extra warranty isn't worth it. the likelihood of a new battery going bad in years 2 & 3 is almost nil.
     
  6. PensacolaPrius

    PensacolaPrius Junior Member

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    Hi f.s.Prius,
    Sorry to hear your prius battery is taking a dump at such low millage. I had a battery failure at about 170k and rebuilt the battery successfully with replacing 2 modules and balancing the modules. I also had a battery failure on a prius caused by a oil change at walmart where they over filled the oil just a bit. That caused oil to foul the airflow sensor that in turn shut down the ICE and without warning till the last seconds ran the High-voltage batteries down to nothing. Walmart paid for the new batteries and install.

    I did not install the New battery pack from Toyota but I did R&R the pack when it first failed. Really was not that big of a job, for me it was diffrent but no more difficult then doing something like brakes or waterpump change. There are plenty of resources here and on YouTube that will take you thru it step by step. As I remember tools required for R&R are regular metric sockets and wrenches, the little forked screwdriver like tool to remove the interior button clips. Just be mindful of Hi Voltage connections when working with them. I was able to lift the pack out myself but would be nice to have a little help when you actually pull and reinstall the pack.

    When I pulled mine I had it out for a few days while I determined what modules need to be replaced, then ordered used ones on ebay, then had to ballance the pack when the modules arrived. Actual time to pull and reinstall including the interior pull and reinstall was maybe 4 hours?

    When I did mine 2 yrs ago there were quite a few folks to be found on Craigslist that would preform this type of service at a very reasonable price.
     
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I agree with you that the $800 is not worth the extra 2 years warranty, which is why I phrased my reply the way I did. The OP should haggle on the install price and get the extra warranty for no extra charge. I also 100% agree that the likelihood of a new battery going bad in years 2 & 3 is almost nil.

    There are people who take solace in warranties, and I was just making the 1 vs 3 year situation clear for all.
    Hi PensacolaPrius,

    A lot has changed since you did your work.

    Craigslist is full of charlatans that promise the earth but don't deliver.

    eBay is full of modules where the seller makes various claims but, rarely do you find a seller who knows what they're on about and can give meaning metrics that allow you to judge the quality of what they have to offer. Most seller's technical ability is to measure the standing voltage, which means diddly squat. Further, there is such demand for modules that rarely are quality modules to be had on eBay (or amazon for that matter).

    The current thought is that the most value for money R&R is a new pack from Toyota. They can be sourced for around $2000+tax and installed for $400+tax by Toyota, hence the previous advice to the OP.
     
    #7 dolj, Apr 2, 2016
    Last edited: Apr 2, 2016
  8. f.s.prius

    f.s.prius Junior Member

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    Decided to go rebuilt Dorman pack sourced through NAPA. Realize its not the best option but couldn't see putting the cost of a new Toyota battery into a car only worth around 5k or so. Found local source for Toyota battery 2070 before tax and a better dealer that would install for 550. If the car was newer would have gone that direction.

    Crossing fingers with Dorman, originally had ordered through Rockauto but cancelled after reading issues. Found a pack at a local NAPA so if any issues at least its local.

    Never found details on what is involved with the Toyota battery swap. In any case the Dorman is going in tomorrow.
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good move i think, all the best!(y)
     
  10. f.s.prius

    f.s.prius Junior Member

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    HV battery went in April 4th. Took an afternoon since it was first time and being extra cautious. If ever have to get back in there would take 1/2-1/3 the time per usual with these things. Cleaned the fan as well.

    Cleared the codes and have had no issues since but its only been a few days. We did make a trip to Santa Barbara and back from Inland Empire had no problems.

    If ever there is an issue I'll post for posterity regarding the Dorman/NAPA rebuilt unit.

    Cheers.
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats!(y)