Need Advice Gen 2 187K miles Is it worth it to replace Batt

maybe take it to a dealer for a second opinion. if it really does need all that, it's a tough call. you could get another 100k or, or maybe your a/c will go, or engine, or brake actuator. who knows?

 

An hour, a day, a week, a month; probably not any longer than that.....

Get all the codes from your mechanic friend and call other shops (especially independent hybrid specialist shops) for more estimates. $2700 for a NEW TOYOTA battery would be a good deal as it should last another 10 years in the Florida heat. Aftermarket (refurbs) batteries are a crap shoot but cheaper. If it's within your means, you could always sell the Toyota battery for $$$ when you send the old horse to the soap factory.

 

Because you are a good Toyota customer with several Prii, there is a chance Toyota will assist you on the 2007 batt replacememt, assuming they agree it is needed.

HV Battery Goodwill Warranty Listing - Toyota Prius USA | PriusChat

 

I don't see a hybrid battery code on your post #1

 

Assuming you like the car...

The car you own is virtually always cheaper than the car you don't own. That's the advice given by the financial advisor in me.

The cheapskate in me also wants to give the advice that you don't necessarily have to replace the entire pack. Swapping out just the bad module/s is also an option, and it is significantly cheaper. If you want more info on that process, the forums have tons of info. Basically, it takes very little mechanical know-how whatsoever, $50/cell (usually one or two are bad), and I would recommend getting something like the Prolong charge/discharge system from Hybrid Automotive (they're around on these forums, you could also search for them) to balance once the bad cells are replaced.

Ultimately, if you could not find a replacement car with around 100k for $6k or so, I think it is worth it to fix. In my area, the deal I am describing is not possible, but your used vehicle market may be a little different.

 

If it's $2700 for a refurb, then there's absolutely no way would I consider it. You could go to a dealership and get a brand new battery installed for about the same amount.

 

Does your mechanic want to buy your car?

If you're close to Tampa, there's a hybrid car dealer there that will sell you a brand new battery for that price. Or sell you a non refurbished newer battery from gen3 cars for around $2000 or less

 

What are your alternatives for purchase? And what do you expect for the sale of your vehicle? My guess is that buying another vehicle won't make as much sense financially as you are currently assuming. Hopefully you find a good deal somewhere though.

 

I've got a 2005 Prius here in Bartow that has the dying battery, and so far it has lasted over two months. It unfortunately sat for about six weeks without being driven, and for that old battery I think that was the cause of it failing. It has the Triangle, and the fan runs all the time, and it goes from discharged to charged within 30 seconds, and it will go into the slow mode but it is still going. I'm at least trying to get into September or October when it will be cooler, and I'm still trying to figure out the different replacement options.

Also, isn't $1200 a bit much for the "pump & valve issues?" I'm assuming it is the inverter coolant pump, which is yes a bit expensive and then you've also got to change the special coolant, but I've installed several, all the Prius I've put them in are still running, and if Tillo is close he can come by and pay me a bit to install his. I've never heard of the "Water Control Valve," or of it going bad, but I haven't been reading on the forum lately.

We have not even considered getting rid of the 2005 Prius, it still has under 100K miles and should be good for 400K more.

 

Maybe you can try and ask Toyota for a goodwill warranty? Your car is very low mileages

 

With gas prices expected to skyrocket, I'd look for hybrid shops near there and have them quote you what it is to repair. If you mpg is till in the mid to upper 40s you still may have life left on that battery still unless you have been hearing the battery fan on a lot and the engine running most of the time. It should give you enough time to either save up for a battery by delaying or have those cells replaced by a professional hybrid shop. It's a gamble! I'd be hesitant shelling out that much at once unless you are a high roller. If you could convince your dealership to give you at least 1500 credit, you could have a 5500 dollar car, and it's debatable a prius that age and mileage matches that value.

 

News from 2008......