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Drive battery discharges over 7 days of no use

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017.

  1. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    So what! You seem to be fixated on the warranty. The warranty on a new part is not an indication of how long it will last, but a consumer protection to guard against the possibility there is a defect in manufacture or materials. Statistically, if there were such a problem then this will manifest in the first twelve months. If no problems develop within the first twelve months then there is a high probability that the part will last the projected lifetime.

    In relation to HV battery rebuilds, that is a totally different ball game. You cannot compare new vs second-hand, which is what a rebuild/remanufacture is.
     
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  2. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    It's a cost vs. risk ratio. Many of the $500-$1000 rebuilds are only lasting about a year and a half. So, the question is: how many thousand$ would it cost to buy ~5 years worth? With an all new Toyota battery, you get 3 years backed Toyota's famously great warranty service (and likely many more--there isn't much data from Gen 2s replaced with new Toyota batteries past their 3 year warranty).
     
  3. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    Sure is! These are NEW batteries, as in the same pack make up of what came out, that ALL lasted more than 3 years and I would say most more than 5 and a very significant number more than 10 years. Few PC members report pack failures before 8 years, it happens, but rarely.

    Means the cost for a new pack, presuming an 8 year replacement cycle is on the order of $500/yr. Therefore, anything you get that is "rebuilt", better cost less than $500/year, or it is no deal at all.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    from everything we've been able to discern, the toyota replacement warranty is one year. no one has seen able to find any official public toyota documentation to the contrary.
     
  5. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

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    I want to hang onto the car for another 5 years and I understand and agree with the economics of getting a new battery. The rebuilts are risky. Some last, some don't. I want to fix this thing once.
    My local dealer wants $4000 to replace the battery. They want $2600 for just the battery. $1400 just to install seems high. I'm a mechanical engineer by trade and have a healthy respect for electricity. I've been over the installation videos and it doesn't look hard or tricky. I've seen lots of videos of guys rebuilding their own batteries and, no, I don't want to do that.
    Unless you guys tell me I'm insane I'm tending towards doing my own install of a new unit. So the next question is where to buy. Is Toyota the only source for new batteries? I live in Washington state where we have a 10% sales tax so I am open to getting a battery shipped in from somewhere that doesn't. I see lot's of websites for batteries but they don't actually say new. Some say new cells.
    Any advice is appreciated.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's not a hard swap, plenty here have done it. and most aren't engineers. there are some parts that have to be swapped out from old to new. i'm sure there are youtube video's.
    there are a few non dealer places around the country that sell new, but i think they only install.
    it might be helpful if you put your location in your info.
    i don't know if anyone will ship, the best price seems to be in cali for $2,100., so $2,600. isn't too bad.
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The price is probably $2600 for the battery and $1350 for the core charge (which is refundable).
     
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  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I think that @ericbecky sells new batteries among other options. I seem to remember others, but can't remember now. Maybe @Texas Hybrid Batteries?

    Edit to add: it's not hard to replace the traction battery, but it will affect your warranty and I don't think many (if any) dealers sell them without installing them. Not sure, though.
     
  9. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    1400 to just install?

    I bought two modules off ebay for 50 free shipping, followed all the info on the youtube videos as to balancing, testing and rebuilding the pack and did the install. mine has been working fine for a year now. all you have to lose is 50 bucks and your time.. or you can go with the ones sold by advanced auto I think they are 1599 then install it yourself
     
  10. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I know both of these folks will not ship nor will most Toyota dealers but you can always ask. The OP's 10% tax for a local purchase would probably still be cheaper than paying to ship a nearly 300lb container across country anyways.

    $1400 for installation is very, very high. My installer did it in two hours and that was with me slowing him down talking to him. :)
     
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  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    $1400 is unreasonably high for the install. If the dealer does the sale and install of the battery, the core refund will be invisible to the customer. Can you get prices from other dealers and then play them against each other to screw the price down?

    Any batteries sold by anyone other than Toyota is a rebuild/remanufacture so you cannot compare. Apples vs oranges.
     
  12. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    $600/FRH is unreasonable?

    SURE IS!!!!!
     
  13. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

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    $1400 is way too much. The job usually pays around 3 hours. Anything more than that, they are ripping you off, or they just don't want to do it. If their labor rate is anywhere close to ours, that's like 10 hours.


    iPhone ?
     
  14. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    That's just BS, because you are comparing new with old. What you say has validity if you are comparing several second-hand batteries aka rebuilds. You cannot compare a second-hand battery in the same light as a new one. Each scenario has it own set of criteria to weigh up.
    I guess it is just convenient to ignore the millions in the field, that were fitted with this very same battery at manufacture, that have lasted at least 5, if not 8 years or more and the many 2004's still running well on the factory fitted battery. Statistics say there are 85% of Prius still running on the original battery. If that isn't enough to give confidence, then nothing will satisfy you.
     
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  15. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    As you have already been told, that seems high.
    Do you live within reasonable access to any other Toyota Dealerships? If so I'd call around.

    I would recommend OEM Toyota replacement.
    If you go any other route be careful. As some people have been confused, or mislead by terminology when "new" cells, mean-New Refurbished.
    And while re-manufactured batteries can be initially cheaper, and sometimes come with longer warranties, much of that benefit is entirely contingent on the skill of the refurbisher and also how dedicated they may or may not be to supporting their warranties.

    I don't think it's impossible to get a good refurbished battery installed and get good value, but I've read too many bad outcome stories, so now my recommendation is just get a real NEW OEM Toyota battery.
     
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  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I know that it's discharging more rapidly after sitting idle.
    But have we reached the point where Hybrid Battery Replacement is absolutely necessary?

    If the vehicle is otherwise operating fine?
    I'm wondering how long you could go....by just adjusting the expectations of it being more discharged.

    Seems like we all just kind of jumped on the "Replace Hybrid Battery Now" train.

    As long as it is OPERATING SAFELY-this is key and primary....and not throwing codes, my first move might be just to live with it. Might as well research, and be prepared for replacement, but I'm not necessarily convinced you need to replace it ASAP.
     
    #36 The Electric Me, Aug 2, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2017
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  17. johnnyb588

    johnnyb588 Member

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    This. This forum seems to be full of a lot of gloom and doomers. Sometimes they're right, but more often than not, I find these problems to be a lot less significant than many here seem to suggest.