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True Start Battery Warranty

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JC91006, Oct 26, 2014.

  1. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Does anybody know what Toyota's policy is in replacing a True Start battery under warranty? I found one of my car's have a bad True Start battery produced 10/12/2012, has a dead cell. I brought this into the dealer but they refuse to replace it because I didn't have a receipt. Wouldn't the product date and True Start battery be enough information for them to warranty the battery? This is an OEM product.
     
  2. ilikethempgs

    ilikethempgs Junior Member

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    You would think so.
    I just put a new battery in my girlfriend's 07 Today. More steps than a normal battery change but pretty easy job.
    I got the battery from the dealer yesterday for %20 off with a coupon.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    after some serious googling, all i can find is a bunch of complaints because the 'pro rated warranty' is: free in the first two years, 50% cost in the second two years and 75% cost in the last three years. only thing i can find beyond that is 'ask your dealer'. i've been kind of promoting these batteries, but now i'm starting to wonder.
     
  4. budrow56

    budrow56 Junior Member

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    Did you use a debit or credit card
     
  5. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I bought the car with that battery installed. I first couldn't understand the low voltage readings I was getting when the car was on. It would show 13 volts without load. Finally removed it and did a load test. Showed bad cell. Now it all makes sense
     
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If you check the cars service history you should find the dealer that fitted the battery.
    I do not know how this works in the US, but in the UK if you buy a service part for a Toyota from the dealer "in this case a battery" that item shows up on the cars records with the date even if you fit it yourself.

    John (Britprius)
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I tried looking up the history, but it's not on there. This must have been purchased over the parts counter and not at the service department.

    The guys at the parts department also said if the battery was installed on the car, it has to be on the car when claiming warranty. It can't be taken out and brought in. I felt that was a ridiculous requirement too.
     
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I can think of three reasons why a receipt is reasonably required:

    1. If you have a purchase receipt, that documents the date of purchase, and that you are the battery purchaser.
    2. The battery warranty does not promise to be transferrable to subsequent owners of the vehicle.
    3. A given battery manufactured in 2012 may have been a warranty replacement for a battery originally purchased in 2007, so a receipt is required to establish exactly what warranty credit (if any) you are entitled to

    I don't think it is reasonable to expect that the failed battery must be installed in the vehicle when you are trying to obtain a warranty credit under the program. But if this is the local Toyota dealer's requirement, then a jumpstart could make that happen.

    Well, this doesn't seem so terrible to me. The advantage to the Toyota warranty is the pro-rata feature up to 7 years. Whether this is better or worse for you depends upon when the battery fails.

    Optima is one alternative: 36 months free replacement warranty, nothing after that period. So the Optima warranty would be better only if you happened to have a failure within the 25-36 month window.
    Support - Warranties - on or After 2-1-2009 | OPTIMABATTERIES

    Following is an excerpt from the Optima website: "OPTIMA® Batteries, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser that the battery is free of defects in material and workmanship for the time period indicated below. The warranty period for a battery is calculated from the original battery purchase date. The original sale receipt is required to establish proof of purchase and warranty date, and must be provided to an authorized OPTIMA distributor or dealer for all warranty claims."

    The Exide AGM battery for Prius is warranted for four years free replacement and no pro-rata coverage after that period. I recently was able to get a free replacement under that policy.
    http://www.exide.com/Media/files/Downloads/TransAmer/Products/Consumer%20Warranty%20Schedule%20DPS%207-1-13.pdf
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, Oct 26, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2014
    JC91006 likes this.
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Patrick the Exide battery you bought had a better guaranty if I am not mistaken. A 4 year full replacement or is it 5.
    I do agree with your 3 main points. Again things work very differently in the UK with guarantees where the consumer seems to have much greater rights than in the US under the sale of goods act. This often does not stop retailers trying to get out of there responsibilities, but just mentioning "trading standards" a government body that oversees such matters quickly brings them into line.

    John (Britprius)
     
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I agree, the Exide AGM battery is covered for 48 months free replacement, then nothing beyond that period.
     
  11. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    That's a pity. In the UK no matter where at the dealers you purchase a part or even oil it shows up on the car service history.

    John (Britprius)
     
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I wasn't aware the battery warranty is for the original purchaser only. That would make sense in this case.

    As far as the battery needing to be in the car, I wonder if this is a tactic for the dealers to warranty the battery but not the labor? Charge again to switch it out
     
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Well, I believe that if the battery was originally installed via dealer labor, then labor would also be included during the warranty period. However it is not clear what would happen during the pro-rata period. I haven't bought any GS Yuasa batteries recently enough to have TrueStart stickers on them so I don't know the details of the Toyota TrueStart warranty.
     
  14. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    I'd buy this Duracell one at Batteries Plus.

    They have a four year FREE replacement warranty, and their stores are everywhere.

    A warranted battery needs to be replaced is ONLY as good as getting it replaced udder warranty. If you can't get it to them, the warranty is as good as NONE.
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    someone at toyotanation mentioned they got the 50% warranty at 3-4 years so half the list price ($80.) plus labor, plus tax, plus they weren't very happy.
     
  16. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

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    Batteries Plus even has FREE installation.


    I haven't used them, but that's were I'm going, if and when I need one.

    Exide probably makes them under he Duracell label anyway.