About to cry ... '05 Prius battery died ...

They're replacing the 12V today ... for another $300 ... UGH

THEN, to see if this solves the issues, it'll cost yet another $250 or so to re-run the "intensive diagnostic tests" ... Sorry, but this sounds really unrealistic to me. If the diagnostics continue to show hybrid battery failure, we're still out close to $1K ... and we'll still need to get the hybrid battery issues resolved.

This is really starting to get even more frustrating!!! My patience with dealership service is wearing pretty darned thin as I'm feeling more and more taken-advantage-of because I'm not automotively savvy ... grrrr ....

 

Yeah, I'm not thrilled with this dealership either. This is the 2nd one that I've gone to (the first being where we purchased the car and where I didn't feel that they provided good service, but I didn't feel as "ripped off" as I have with this one).

Anyway, I went over there yesterday and tested the battery charge out per the recommendations in this thread ... the 12V was getting low, but not much (unstarted at 13.9, but when car started jumped to 14.4, etc.). Either way, they're changing the battery today so we can pick up this afternoon and bring to NC. At least we have a vehicle to tow it with and the UHaul is only going to be about $60 for 24-hours use. I should have a working Prius again on Friday evening!

I'm just ready for all this "drama" to be over! I'm also thrilled that my 98 Sebring Convertible decided to work again for me ... it's my :hippie:

 

Hi there all,
Sorry it's been so long since I have been able to post an update as to what has happened and what it still happening ... things have been busy but we've gotten some good information

As for the car itself, the 12V battery replacement did not cure all that ails ... we (my husband & son) towed it from VA to NC and had the battery pack refurbished by ReInvolt Technologies (www.re-involt.com) on the morning of Friday, August 27. Hubby was greeted by very courteous and knowledgeable staff, was directed to a place they could go and spend some time which the car was being worked on, and they took *my egg* into their hands. After a few hours (they said it would take 3-4 hours to complete) they contacted him to say that they had fixed the battery pack, but when the mechanic working on the car was reinstalling the battery, he had cut himself pretty bad and needed to go to the hospital ... so it would be just a bit longer as they had someone else come up to speed on the car and take over the installation. Said injured mechanic needed 3 (I think) stitches because he gouged himself pretty good!

Hubby and son went off to the local library to take a bit more time waiting for the shop to call with completion status (glad I sent son with homework books so he could use this time to his benefit).

All the details of the trip I do not have, but the car was returned triumphantly to VA on its own power with an INCREASE IN GAS MILEAGE! Before this procedure, our MPG had been in the 46 - 48 range ... we're now back up to the 53 - 56MPG average we enjoyed when the vehicle was new!! Needless to say, we are EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY pleased with their thoroughness and great work!

As for the "fight" with Toyota and the local dealerships, this still continues. We have several service calls in to Toyota and continue to talk with them about an equitable agreement to the warranty time v. mileage issue ... and we feel that they may be starting to budge a bit on it. We'll see. I'm just so happy to have *my egg* back on the road, purring happily. Now I'm in search of a good mechanic (preferrably one outside a dealership) whom I can trust with all our vehicles ('98 Chrysler Sebring Conv - which needs a new ragtop, '99 Dodge Durango, and the '05 Toyota Prius) so I don't have to go to the dealership any longer ... I'm tired of being taken advantage of the system they've put into place versus providing customer service.