Dorman Battery Warning

I write them so seldom that I sometimes have to ask my wife for advice.

 

Definite

Like a used Prius, sometimes the starter wife has to go, Ray.

 

We have a pretty good setup.

She lets me make the money and ensures all the funds are distributed appropriately .

Then on the first of every month, she prints out all the accounts so we can look at how we are doing .

A good check and balance system.

 

A lot of discussion here, but no one seems bothered that it's built with Gen 1 modules. IF this was done by Dorman, I would be pretty upset.

 

It most likely wasn't. This is a home hack job from junkyard parts. That's what I think.

 

Difficult to understand why anyone would tinker with a Dorman pack with an active warranty - the pack was remanufactured only 18 months ago. Something doesn't add up. Unless the owner sold the car and the warranty is non-transferrable.

 

For most owners the Warranty is 3 years, unlimited miles and is transferable.

(For fleet vehicles it is decreased to 12 months)

 

It is not clear if all these parts belong together. The Dorman case may not go with the rest of the pictures. It looks like the car may have been in a fire, which likely is a warranty killer.

 

That looks like a Dorman case by the colors of the case and associated parts. Orange top. Speckled grey/black bottom.

The title of the thread "Dorman Battery Warning" followed by pictures of a burned up battery is kind of ominous.

At first blush some people may have gotten the impression that the Dorman pack arrived fresh out of the crate like that. I don't think that is the situation given the age of when it was built, but I suppose these could be old photos?

Still waiting to hear the details.

Is the implication that Dorman batteries start on fire?

That Dorman batteries are poorly built?

That Dorman doesn't do any Quality Control?

What is the warning?

It isn't clear.

TampaPrius.com is a reputable guy, not just a troll dropping random criticism then never coming back.

There more details to the story that will help explain what is going on in the photos.
I'm genuinely curious.

I like a good story. I've got my popcorn ready for an engaging tale of woe.

 

Well, if he is a reputable guy he hasn't shown it by explaining the story behind these photos. I suggest his reputation is subject to some clarification. Which should be sooner than later.

 

I'm sure a lot of you know, but for those that don't....
Dorman® Products, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Re-Involt Technologies and Launch of New OE Solutions™ Hybrid Drive Battery Program

 

He does have an actual business to run. And a family. I'd hate to work the hours he puts in. And he's always been there for me. Which I think is more important that hanging out here like the rest of us. But I'd guess he makes time for PC about once a week or something like that. There are only so many hours in the day.

 

Nothing to see here. Launch of a branding of old technology. Also, four years old. I was expecting to see a rebuilt battery with new cells, which is how a re-manufacturing should be done. Instead, used cells are cobbled together to make a "used" battery. If I were faced with a replacement need I would go one of three ways: trade in for a new car, replace the battery with a low mileage donor unit from a wrecked car or go with a new battery from Toyota. I just can't see these "rebuild" batteries as being a viable alternative since they used scavenged parts. The fact that Dorman is now hiding behind a new name (OE Solutions™) just confuses the consumer. An "original equipment solution" does not suggest, to me at least, that used parts are being graded and combined to make the replacement unit. But, alas! That is what Dorman is doing, it seems.

 

Fair enough.

 

I was pointing out to new members that the Dorman batteries come from the old Re-Involt facilities and is not something new. OE Solutions is also not something new with Dorman hiding behind it. As a matter of fact, I have a couple of their window regulators installed in my Buick.

 

Tampahybrids.com

 

Nothing else I can see on Dorman's website is made the same way as these "re-manufactured" batteries are, which if I am correct, is sorting through used cells from a pile of cores until a sufficient number of "similar" used cells are found to fill a newly painted housing with seals on it. Not new cells. Used ones. This is like picking through a pile of used tires, finding four that are similar and installing them on your car.

You mentioned window regulators from Dorman. None of them is made in the same way the hybrid battery is made. I worked for a couple of years rebuilding electric motors. In most cases only the rotor, frame, case stator and end caps are saved. New bearings, new windings, with new starting switch and capacitor (for single phase). When finished, the motor was better than new. We never called a used motor with a coat of paint re-manufactured. That was a used motor.

 

Unfortunately "Used battery with a coat of paint" doesn't have the same ring to it as "remanufactured battery". It is more truthful, but probably less attractive in the marketing blurb.

 

TampaPrius,com is TampaHybrid's user name here on PC. Incidentally TampaPrius.com is also a valid website address that forwards to TampaHybrids.com. So, the differentiation is moot, they are one and the same to all intents and purposes.

 

like so?