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2009 Prius Staggering Repair Costs!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by scienceexpert, May 2, 2009.

  1. scienceexpert

    scienceexpert New Member

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    Did you know that a 2009 & 2010 Prius Battery costs $4,800 in the box at the parts counter or that the 2009 transmission is $6800 in the box?

    I asked about the regular battery in the trunk, its $300 plus installation and its not covered by an extended warranty. Oh, and nobody else's will fit.

    The dealer said they have been lasting 3-5years. However the 2010 has no external belts so it can be a wash on the battery. Now the Lithium in 2012 will fit the 2009 and 2010 and my local dealers said a difference upgrade when it dies under warranty could be arranged.

    If you are keeping this car over 7yrs or driving over 150k miles, part costs can eat the savings.

    Any comments?

    :eek:The suspension is tons stronger with the 2010 changes so with new parts all we have to go on is the current replacement costs.
     
  2. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    Guess you never owned a benz or BMW :(

    a 2003 mini cooper tranny is 8K for auto, a brake job on a BMW is 1200 + and the tires on my crossfire are 1300.00
     
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    That is why you shop around...... ;)

    I just replaced my 12v battery in my 2005 Prius for the first time and I upgraded to an Optima yellow top with the conversion parts and it only cost me $169 with shipping and tax.

    If you purchase anything through the dealer without checking other sources first then you deserve to get shafted IMO. lol Not you in particular but everyone should know that dealers will get you for every penny they can.

    Do some searching on this forum or ask about a specific part and I'm sure someone can direct you to a cheaper source for the part you're looking for. :)
     
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  4. flatline16

    flatline16 New Member

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    The yellow tops are wonderful batteries! good call
     
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    For reference, my 2004 with nearly 114k miles has only required about $1200 in maintenance or repairs since the warranty outside of regular oil/fluid changes and tires. $800 or so for struts and alignment, and about $400 or so when the inverter coolant pump went at 101,000 miles.

    Yes, my Hybrid battery is showing signs of age (SOC drops more quickly in the lower range), but I'd expect the replacement cost to be less than what you're quoting. There's also other options - either pulling a salvage HV battery from a front-end damaged Prius and swapping, or pulling a salvage and rebuilding your unit by finding the bad cells.

    For the average owner, the dealer is probably the best option though. Ideally, a dealer would be willing to install a salvage battery, but would be unable to warrant the part (or the work in most cases).

    Look at the sticky "Transaxle Failure" thread in the Technical forum. You'll find an owner who did his own transaxle swap w/ a salvaged unit with success.
     
  6. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    4 people like this.
  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    +1

    Piercey quoted me $2,588 for 09 Prius hybrid battery w/o tax or installation.
     
  8. bac

    bac Active Member

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    Troll much? :rolleyes:

    ... Brad
     
  9. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    No offense, but I think your post is misleading.

    First of all, the hybrid traction battery retails for around $2600 and is available for around $2100 at discount.

    Secondly, it's warrantied for 8 years/100,000 miles in most states, and 10 years/150,000 miles in California and CARB states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont ... maybe others).

    Thirdly, I believe that Toyota anticipates that the hybrid traction battery will last a lot longer than the 100,000 or 150,000 miles it's warrantied for.

    * * * * *

    Fourthly, the OEM 12 volt battery retails for around $140 and is available for around $112 at discount.

    Fifthly, I think that others here have replaced the OEM 12 volt battery with a cheaper battery (after some adaption).
     
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  10. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    see my answer above. But the transaxle (there really isn't a transmission) is about $3000 as well...and lots of salvage products available.

    It's about $170-220, you can install it yourself for free, but many places will do it for free. There are adapter kits to fit 3rd party batteries...look up the Optima for one example.

    The 12V battery? Yea, that's probably accurate, same as any other car.
    I guess, there's only one belt on the 2G and I don't think it has to be replaced before about 100k.
    Complete fabrication.

    Please name a car where a major part replacement isn't exactly the same situation. List transmission and engine replacement costs for your examples.


    Above are the only ones that are PC enough to post.

    ? No idea what you're getting at here.
     
  11. hampdenwireless

    hampdenwireless Active Member

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    If that were true (but its not!) I would be parting out the Prius for a living. I could get $11,900 just for two batteries and the tranny. Then I would have the engine($$$), airbags ($$), doors, glass, electronics and controllers ($$$), suspension, tires, catalytic converter, MFD($$) and every other piece to sell as well. WOW!
     
  12. JimboK

    JimboK One owner, low mileage

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    My thoughts too.
     
  13. sluday

    sluday New Member

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    Why is this even in the 2010 prius forum ??? Mr moderator please move or lock down this nonsense thread.
     
  14. DeadPhish

    DeadPhish Senior Member

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    Find another dealer. Toyota announced earlier this year that the full retail price ( over the counter in the Parts Dept ) of a new Gen 2 battery was $2588. For a Gen 1 it was $2299.

    Next issue.

    Transaxel. Personally I've never heard of one breaking down non-issue as far as I'm concerned. Next.

    I'm at 112,000 miles and nothing has ever broken down. A friend is at 240,000 miles with similar results...his original shocks are pretty much shot now at this level. His 2010 can't get here fast enough.

    The 2010's aren't even here yet. Trolls belong under bridges out of sight.
     
  15. scienceexpert

    scienceexpert New Member

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    Fletcher Jones Toyota Las Vegas price quote!

    The prices I quoted were direct from the parts counter and the service writers at the Las Vegas Fletcher Jones Toyota. I guess the old adage, "Fletcher the Fleecer" may still apply.

    If modifications are available great. I know things can always be modified. I had a semi-truck battery in my Toyota pickup and Nissan Maxima seats.

    As for the 2009 & 2010 battery, the factory rep and literature stated since the Lithium battery is smaller, it will fit in the same area.

    I wanted a 2010 Lithium model, so I had several sources check it out for me. Only 150 in US later this year. Plus, I represented the Teamsters, and worked the Toyota Dealer Event, in October. I had 4-days to see, talk to, and sit in all their future cars, including the hydrogen fuel cell car.

    Looks like some good sources for info here. Thanks for the feedback.
     
  16. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Re: Fletcher Jones Toyota Las Vegas price quote!

    Welcome to PriusChat.

    It really is the best public place on Earth for info on the Prius. And I'm sure it will continue to be for the 2010 / Gen III Prius.

    Good luck with your 2010 Prius when it comes in. But my guess is that with nine prior years (spanning two prior generations) of Priuses earning the highest reliability rating of Consumer Reports, you won't need much luck at all.
     
  17. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Re: Fletcher Jones Toyota Las Vegas price quote!

    Good luck w/that. Yes, in reference to the 150. See the first few minutes of the 2nd video at http://priuschat.com/forums/2010-toyota-prius/60002-prius-technology-video.html for more about the Li ion plugins.
     
  18. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Toyota parts are expensive!!
    Ho hum, who cares any way?
    I have only been driving Toyotas for the last 25 year, I haven't had to buy all that many parts.

    Don't get sucked into thinking after market parts are always cheaper. I replaced the timing belt, idler pulleys and water pump on my Camry at 300,000km just because I thought it was a good idea at the time, none of these had failed or were making noise. I priced a water pump and pulleys from an after market supplier and from Toyota. The after market pulleys looked like trash and would have failed early because the bearings were tiny, the genuine pulleys were forged and ground finish with huge bearing, the genuine pulleys were cheaper! So was the water pump and the timing belt was within a dollar of the same price. I also replaced the AC/Alt belt and the PS belt. The new belts were silent where the non genuine belts I had on it before were noisy from new.

    All that cost me about $300AU in parts, big deal!

    Sorry I can't give you any other examples, my oldest Toyota I currently own was only manufactured in 1968 so it hasn't broken down yet and neither have any of the other 3. I just sold my Celica.

    Would you rather buy a Nissan or GM and have to repair it every couple of years with cheap parts or a Toyota and drive it trouble free for 10s of years?

    scienceexpert, Lithium batteries won't be in the 2010 which is available to the general public at least, Toyota do very extensive testing to ensure their products are supremely reliable before they release them to the public.

    Hydrogen was only ever a distraction, it won't amount to anything. That car was a concept car and although it does run on hydrogen it will not be commercially viable for a very long time if ever. I've ridden in a GM fuel cell vehicle but that didn't convince me they will be viable any time soon.
     
  19. edmcohen

    edmcohen Member

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    Major component prices have always been high, relative to the first cost of any car. The Prius does have more high tech than most others; that is true. But not hugely so. That's what extended warranties are for!
     
  20. CharlesJ

    CharlesJ Member

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    May want to guy another car?:eek: