Hybrid Battery from Toyota - Experiences?

i would stay away from that. toyota experimented with a refurbished program and gave it up. that battery is likely old, unless i'm mistaken.
shop around, some dealers are selling new ones for that price.

if no luck, go with a new aftermarket for $1,600. delivered: newpriusbatteries.com

 

Toyota tried a refurbishing program in California many years ago and stopped due to reliability issues. To my knowledge they never did that in the eastern US.
I believe that dealer is lying. Buy the DIY kit of new cells from newpriusbatteries.com. The link is in my signature.

 

The batteries they are sell are New cells.

They are not Used or refurbished cells.

Their policy with parts over the counter is always 12 months. Doesn't matter if it is a door handle, a pump, or a hybrid battery.

That said, the hybrid batttery you buy is the exact same one that they install at the dealership service department. The 3 year warranty is to encourage you to go there rather than have someone else install it. But again... It is the exact same battery.

$1,900 is a good deal for just walking in an buying the part. Especially since you do not likely have an ongoing weekly purchases with them.

You always must turn in the core to Toyota else you forget the very expensive core fee.

It is the same with other components like say, alternators.

There are different industry standards as far as how the word "refurbished" is used. They are not the same (very loose) wording that hybrid batttery folks use. There is no standard for aftermarket use of the word refurbished when it comes to hybrid batteries.

Anyway, I buy plenty of hybrid batteries every month from Toyota for my business. I have never had one fail. Ever.
They are rock solid and will outlast anything else out there.

Feel free to call if you want to chat about them. 608-729-4082.

 

@Prodigyplace
On Android chrome mobile browser definitely can't see your signature. Maybe it is different on a desktop browser?

Also I was told by a customer last week that newpriusbatteries packs are backordered? Customer said until June. I haven't checked into that.

 

I know it shows up when using a browser. I heard rumors of backordered too. Perhaps @2k1Toaster could confirm.

 

Yeah. That's why I often end up reposting my phone number since signatures are not seen on mobile.
I think of the user has left the option open, you can see signature in the user profile. But many people choose to have closed profiles so signature is blocked as well.

 

Out of interest, what was the part number in the quote? I wish you would have pressed him for more information. Like does he mean that an old core is opened up and the modules and wiring are removed, the case cleaned thoroughly on the inside, new modules (as in factory fresh new) are placed back in with a new no. 2 Wireframe (incorporating the no. 3 wire), new bus bars, new Wiring Harness Protector Cover, No. 1, new Wiring Harness Protector Cover, No. 2 and new terminal nuts. I could conceive this as technically being possibly described as a refurbished battery, but really, to all intents and purposes, it is a new battery. The key thing is the modules need to be factory fresh new OEM modules.

As Eric said, the 1 year is standard over-the-counter parts warranty. I highly doubt you can compare them on the basis of just the offered warranty. Even more so if they are refurbished as described above and this is what the Toyota guy means when he says refurbished. If it is not that, without knowing what is involved in Toyota's so-called refurbishing process, it is not possible to say how they equate.

 

Nearly 3 years ago, I got a new OEM pack for my 06 and it has been perfect as one would expect.

NEVER pay that much for a rebuilt.

 

If you buy a pack the module and pack serial numbers indicate the manufacture dates.

 

IIRC, the "official" refurb had a "-84" affixed to the end of the HV battery parts number.

Atomo, I would check again and see if the parts person just gave you incorrect, or simply, partial info. $1900 for a new Toyota pack would be a decent deal.

 

Replacement of the "big" battery is something I have been expecting -- and dreading -- but the price you quote is way high -- esp. if it really is a refurb.

Here's a new one -- from Toyota....


Toyota Prius Battery assembly, hv supply. Electrical, wiring, cable - G951047031 | Hamer Toyota, Mission Hills CA

 

My invoice from Toyota two weeks ago, shows they charged me $1700 for the battery plus $445 for labor, taxes, shop fees and a loaner car. I think a three-year, nationwide warranty from Toyota (rather than one very grumpy curmudgeon in Colorado) is worth several hundred dollars. Not having to DIY was easily worth several hundred dollars. And I got a free car wash, too!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I always thought when the time came -- gee, this sounds like a funeral -- I would want to replace the traction battery myself.

Does not seem that tough -- and while I had a physical setback last year -- I am back to lifting heavy objects (well, O.K., with lots of pain, some suffering, and even some falls-- EEEKKK).

But, if I were to replace next week, I would pay the dealer to do it. Well, not my local band of pirates, but one of the OTHER dealers nearby.
kris

 

I can assure you that Toyota is NOT sening out Used modules or doing anything like cleaning bussbars.

They are putting New modules in cases with new wireframes, bussbars, positive and negative leads, etc
Some assembly is required. (And for goodness sake get an inch-pound torque wrench so you can propely tighten the fasteners!)
Customer transfers over computer end of things as well as things from their existing pack like rubber vent tubing, plastic temp sensor wire holding endpiece, etc. Then customer sends back their core.


Part #G9510-47031 BATTERY ASSY, HV
Part cost varies depending on your local dealer
Core fee: $1,350

 

Your local dealer is that bad too. I drove 150 miles each way to buy mine from a Gen 1 Prius owner and saved quite a bit of money too.
I returned to that dealer for a recall because there was no way the locals were going anywhere near my wiring harness. I hope your preferred dealers are closer.

 

I'm surprised the service writers at my "very local" Toyota dealer (local being relative) don't have parrots perched on their shoulders and cutlasses strapped to their waists....

So, instead of a 45-minute drive to dealer, it is 70 minutes.

And, while dealers get a somewhat bad reputation, they do have lots of extra expenses (I imagine Toyota corporate dings them pretty good $$-wise), and all that free coffee, cookies, granola bars, bottled water and rides adds up also -- including nice waiting rooms.

Meh, my favorite local independent mechanic has no waiting room, no snacks, no coffee, no ride (well, if you whine and plead and generally make yourself a PIA, Steve or Jack MIGHT throw you into their GMC and drive you somewhere....but you really don't want to take that drive!).

But they are genuine, nice guys and they have often gently suggested that my uneducated "diagnosis" of my rig's problem is:

1) Just wrong -- and the real problem is much cheaper to fix

2) Just live with it -- not worth to fix -- turn up the radio if the noise annoys you.
kris