HV battery failure on 2006 Prius - advice, please!

The new Toyota battery is the best option if you plan to keep the car for more than a year or two.

A Dorman reconditioned battery can't possibility be better than a new battery from Toyota.

 

do not drive car like this, because sooner you won't be able to drive more than 25mph. Replace or fix he battery. I am in Los angeles. I repair he battery for $800 one year warranty. But too bad you are so far. Good luck with your car.

 

+1

New will outlast any rebuilt despite the warranty they throw w/ a used/rebuilt battery. Its possible you might get a defective NEW battery, but very, very, very, rare. You will be hard pessed to find people posting bad experiences w/ a NEW battery here. PLENTY of stories about bad rebuilt/reconditioned/used HV Batteries here.

Another upside if you get a NEW battery, is you might be able to command a little bit more when selling/trading in your Prius. I'm sure everyone here would buy a used Prius w/ a NEW battery vs a used/rebuilt/reconditioned.

The prices you listed are "relatively" small:
NEW $3024 vs Used $2270 ($800 difference), $2500 ($500 difference), $2800 ($200 difference)

I would stay away from Albuquerque Hybrids at Jim's Automotive. He is full of shite! Really, "Dorman reconditioned battery, ... is actually better then a new Toyota."

Whatever you do (new or used), get the HV battery fan cleaned out. Good practice to clean it out every so often too.

 

Toyota only sells 100% BRAND NEW HV Batteries. Absolutely No used/reconditioned/refurb cells!

Everything else that does not come for a Toyota dealer will be 100% used/refurbished/reconditioned.

Ask Jim why doesn't Toy offer New and Used HV batteries? Besides there probably being a contract clause w/ Panasonic saying Toy will only use NEW batteries from Panasonic. I bet Toy doesn't want their brand/reputation for reliability to take a hit if they offered rebuilt HV batteries. Also, they would probably loose money from way more warranty claims.

Ask Jim how many rebuilt batteries have gone 100,000 miles? 200,000miles?
Ask Jim how many New batteries have gone 100,000 miles? A lot of people, you included. 200,000 miles? Not as many. A new replacement should get you at least another 100,000+ miles.

All parts places, Toy dealers included, would have to disclose that the part is NEW or used/refurbished/rebuilt/reconditioned.

 

AC/DC qualified. Yeah, they probably took a class, paid the fee, got a certificate that says AC/DC qualified. But that doesn't mean they are good.

Lots of bad mechanics and contractors around. They all passed a test and pay their annual state license fee. You get the idea.

See if the dealer quote includes tax, labor, and a new HV Battery ECU, if so, that is a very good price. Many here who have rebuilt their HV batteries, simply reuse the HV Battery ECU. If you reused yours, would save $300+. Dealer will recommend replacing and try the convince you otherwise.

EDIT.
More knowledge/education is always a good thing. But it still may not improve the mechanics skills.

 

i would get a second opinion, and have them go over the codes with you before spending any money.

 

10-4.

 

Will this HV Battery ECU fail? I'm sure, just like everything else that gets used. Its just a matter of time, and it may fail at an inconvenient time (just like your original HV Battery on this trip of yours).

Dealers probably replace it as a preventative measure. But, from the people who have repaired their HV batteries or replaced the entire HV battery with a NEW HV Battery, haven't heard of any issues with their original HV Battery ECU being reused with the repair or NEW replacement.

However, given how you are not a DIY person, it may be best to just replace it w/ the new battery. Otherwise, if this ECU were to fail say 5+ years later, you would be paying a labor and part fee at that time.

See if this dealer can't beat/match Camelback Toyota (Phoenix, AZ) prices:
New HV Battery is $2174.48 on-line.
Prices for HV ECU
8998147212 - CONTROL MODULE Prius; From 11/05 = $310.01
8989047092 - CONTROL MODULE Prius (probably 2004-2005) = $544.39

 

Part price only.

Consider updating your profile w/ model year Prius and location.

Assuming you bought the car NEW, are original owner, and always vehicle registration always maintained in New Mexico. IIRC (If I Recall Correctly), New Mexico was a CARB state for model year 2011 and 2012.

Call Toyota and ask for a goodwill gesture. Worst they can say is NO, and you are in the same position you are in. Best case scenario Toyota covers a percentage (maybe 25%, maybe 50%, etc).

 

I would expect them to say NO, but I would still call. Worst case is NO = no change in circumstance. Best case is Yes = a percentage off repair.
One phone call could truly save you HUNDREDS.

 

Don't forget, when comparing pricing, that the Dorman part price includes the ECU. (Dorman's product is a complete, cased battery assembly ready to place in the car and plug in, no parts to swap from the old one.)

I don't really think of electronics wearing out, but I wonder if some of the recommendations to replace ECUs could involve living in a possibly corrosive (if any modules leak) environment.

-Chap

 

Any rebuilder (Doorman included) is not giving you a new HV Battery ECU. They are reusing ECUs that work.

Electronics do fail. They may not have moving mechanical parts, but they fail.
MFD (multifunction display) - the big touch screen. Keep your Prius long enough, it will fail.
Combo meters (speedometer/gear indicator/odometer/trip odometer) that have been replaced under warranty have failed- very very rare though.
HV Battery ECU- haven't seen many failures of those here.