Requesting suggestions about how to proceed with 2006 Prius with HV battery issues

Welcome to Prius Chat .

If comfortable with repairing the hv battery, I’d go for the toaster kit:

NewPriusBatteries.com | Home

You’ll be good for a long time and get some more mileage out of the 06 with only 120 k miles.

That’s what I’d do.

 

I'd be pretty surprised if you found one from a dealer for less than that $2,600 you found. But you might get lucky. The new batteries from the dealers use all new cells.

Another option is getting a 2-3 year old battery (not a rebuild) from a wreck. There's a guy here in Tampa who specializes in hybrids who sells them, so there might be someone like him up your way.

But, actually, the kit @Raytheeagle mentioned is probably the best bang for the buck if he has them in stock.

A more likely second issue than the transaxle would be the brake accumulator pump. The transaxle is expensive, but failures, while not unknown, are pretty rare from what I've read here and heard from my hybrid specialist friend. Inverters can also fail and that ain't cheap either. But at only 120,000 miles, you should be safe for quite a while.

 

They are indeed in stock!

 

How much stock do you have these days?

I know the current shipping challenges have hindered inventory .

Good to hear that is improving .

 

The previous owner of my vehicle liked to drive hard and fast, and he was able to pop the transmission at 110k (while driving up the Sierras on hwy 50). Alas, he had never changed out the fluid. Would've changing the fluid once or twice before 100k prevented such? Hard to say, though one might argue it wouldn't have made a difference given his driving style and that particular long uphill drive.

If you've never drained and filled the transmission fluid before, then now would be the time and its not that difficult or expensive.

You might have luck finding a better price on new battery in Oregon, and you could save a little on the sales tax.

Another option might be Hybrid Car Battery Repair & Replacement | Hometown Hybrids or @Hometown Hybrids

 

I try to keep 20-30 minimum in stock nowadays.

 

1) While OEM batteries are good, there are lower-cost replacements that are "as good".
2) I am pretty sure the OEM HV modules are NEW, just the cases, wiring, interconnects and "computers" are re-used/re-built/re-conditioned
3) YES - NewPriusBatteries!
4) Condition, Condition and maintenance. If it is in good or better condition and has had ALL of the Toyota reccomended maintenance and you like the car, FIX IT.
5) No, lucky to get $1k for a non-running G2, although there are more than $1k worth of HV modules in it, even at "core" price. :shrug:

 

Hi @dctrip, I'm an hour south of you and would be willing to help if you want to talk more on the phone or private message. In general, Prius that are sold on the cheap with bad batteries sell super fast, so fast you rarely see them because those who know how to repair battery packs snap 'em up real quick.

The main battery pack repair person in the area is down by the airport in Burien and is on Craigslist selling rebuilt packs with a warranty, which I'm pretty sure is the most common way people with bad batteries repair before selling.

The Toyota dealer down here in Tumwater quoted me a brand new set of battery modules for ~$1900 once you return your core. You could probably get the same price in Oregon without sales tax to save a little bit more. An experienced person could swap out the modules in few hours and add a few more hours to that if you have basic mechanical skills but it's new to you.

Myself and my friends, work on repairing these packs occasionally and would also be happy to make you a deal for the car as is, or work on your pack while you use a loaner pack if you want the least expensive fix.

The primary issue with getting a year(s) out of a repaired pack is how thorough you are with repair and reconditioning. As you mentioned you did swap out a module, which got you through the Summer, which is a good sign of the health of the pack overall because hot weather is brutal on these things when they get old. But key to swapping out a module is reconditioning all remaining modules, which massively improves their capacity, as well as gives you data on which modules will likely fail next so you aren't in the position you're currently in.

Being thorough in rebuilding packs is a time consuming endeavor, but usually the least expensive solution... Of course if you're ready to sell and want a max warranty a new pack is good for a one year warranty if you install yourself ($2K) and three years if Toyota installs it (closer to $3K)

Anyways, I'm near by so get in touch if you need help or want to discuss further options...

 

Hey everyone
I also have a 2006 Toyota Prius with 210.000
miles. The cars Hybrid battery is dead. I tried a few local places but they were over $1500 for reconditioned battery with a 6 month warranty. Plus now that the car has been sitting for 6 months the small battery has died. So I can’t even get into the car. Tried using the key in the key fob but I can’t get it to turn. Does anyone know of a mobile repair service that would come to Las Vegas? Should I just tow to a dealership to sell it as is. Was running great before this mess with the batteries.

 

There's 28 modules in your hybrid battery pack... Each module can be purchased online in a refurbished condition for $30. But if you just swap a module and don't recondition the remaining modules you won't be certain that you got all the bad modules out of the pack and the modules might not match, which means more warning lights on the dash.

A thorough reconditioning of all modules will likely point out the next ones likely to fail so you can replace them. Catch is quality servicing of a bad battery pack is very labor intensive, upwards of 20+ hours if it's done right. So trick is to find someone who is charging $1500 for quality work and not just profiting off of a quick fix.

Alternatively if you or a friend want to pull the pack yourself and do this work, you'll only have spend $30 bucks a piece on the modules and $100 on some charging and discharging gear, but it takes time to learn about it all and do the work correctly... Let us know how we can help you further?

 

Well, problem #1 is getting the doors open so you can work on it. If the mechanical key won't work, your cheapest option is probably a locksmith. And then getting the key to work if it's the right one or getting the right one if you bought the car used and the seller gave you the wrong key.

Next is getting the car running. Once you get the doors open, you can crawl into the back and release the hatch from inside. That's explained in the manual, so I won't repeat it.

12V might survive if you put it on a charger, but getting that low will have shortened its life expectancy and might have killed it outright.

As to the 500 pound gorilla in the corner, I don't recommend a rebuilt battery. They almost always amount to buying expensive problems because they don't last very long. For a car as old as yours, a two or three year old HV battery from a wreck should get the best bang for the buck. But new batteries have come way down in price so that's another option, especially if the car is otherwise in great shape. And, if you're a reasonably competent diy, it's not hard to change it yourself. More work, but save a bunch of money.

Edit to add: I just found this great how-to: A Chris Fix YouTube Video | PriusChat

 

Odd how the key won’t work. With zero use those things should always work. Do you have another fob with the key? Spray some WD40 in the lock cylinder, and try that one. How are your mechanical skills? Could you do any type of traction battery work yourself?

 

@dctrip. FWIW...Even with only 120,000 miles on the meter, it's still a 12 year old Gen II Prius with a bad HV battery. You could repair/replace the battery for anywhere between $1,800 and $5,000 depending on your mechanical ability or agility to grab your ankles, but even then, the car will not sell for $3,000...and trade in for even less. I say donate it to the local public high school auto shop. You still have two vehicles, you make room in the garage (or what ever space it's currently taking up), you get a tax write off and get to feel good about helping students with their future careers. YMMV

 

Spray some lubricant in the key hole and then try the key again. You can try wiggling it a bit when you're turning.

 

Gosh if the Prius is mechanically sound and I’d keep the Prius and upgrade the battery to a newer pack. They’re great cars and keep on going. I just past 276,000 miles on mine. I think if you know the car and the transmission and engine are good you could have another few years of service on the car if you changed the battery. You can potentially equal the cost of the battery in 10 months of a new car payment.

 

Did you find out what was the knocking sound in your engine?

 

Coil pack failed lol. Still burns about 1 qt ever 5k miles but it’s fine. I’m ok with the oil loss. I’ll do an engine swap if I ever needs another engine. I love pilling on the miles and not giving a fuccccc lol. I pulled 20k miles in 9 months!!! I just got the car detailed inside and it doesn’t have a funk anymore lol.

 

Less than $1800. @2k1Toaster pack is $1600 shipped and then you can sell any good old modules to recoup part of that.

 

Couldn't get my key to turn either, spray some WD40 in lock and on key and work it back and forth (don't force it) it will free up.