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Is it worth replacing high voltage battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Christine Tylor, Sep 20, 2017.

  1. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    The high voltage battery in my 2007 prius needs replacing. The car has done almost 170, 000 km and has otherwise been reliable. I am trying to decide if it's worth the cost of replacing the battery when there is a risk other costly parts may break down. Wondering about experience of others?
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    There are reconditioned options for maybe $1000. So less than a newer car for another couple of years if that is the plan. Could add resale as well.
     
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  3. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    Reconditioned option sounds very attractive, except I'm not sure so easy to access where I'm am, but still very helpful advice :)
     
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Maybe someone rebuilds there. It is a low startup cost business that could operate out of a home. Check around, could be worth a drive. At least use these prices as a reference. What does a dealer want for the part? A general diy or mechanic could change. Note this company is selling new OEM for 2400 and buys from Toyota somehow.

    Pricing | Hometown Hybrids
     
  5. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    I can ask around, no harm in trying. Toyota service people quoted $2700 AUD, so similar to more costly version you mention, but that is before cost of insalling. Pretty isolated here (Northern Australia) so less choice, but plenty of back yard mechanics so I could be pleasantly surprised.
     
  6. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    It's worth it getting a new factory battery, another 170,000 trouble free miles.
    Don't buy a reconditioned battery, it's a used battery, buy new, have it installed at a toyota dealer, 2,500$ total, and then just new rubber and brakes when needed.
    Do a search for reconditioned battery threads, they all point out.....buy new
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    it's a tough choice. depends somewhat on how long you plan to keep her. most reconditioning is a headache, with multiple replacements under warranty, and then you're on your own.

    a ten year old car is likely to start having issues in the near future, but cannot be predicted.
     
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  8. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    Thank you, that is really encouraging. Just to cover all bases, the advice Iwas given by the service people is they can't diagnose if anything more needs to be fixed until the battery is replaced. It has been running perfectly up till this incident (2 warning lights including red triangle came on while driving close to home, so made it home, after switching off and on I had all warning lights and could only get park or neutral. I had the fault code cleared then all lights came on after a couple of minutes idling). So should I bee concerned? is there anything obvious that could go when the battery fails? I believe they were just trying to cover themselves in case.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    has anyone tested the 12v and printed out the results for you?
     
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  10. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    I've had the 12volt tested and was advised it was working but no results printed. It was replaced less than a year ago so it should be ok. Thanks to information from this forum and the responses to my question I am leaning towards getting the battery replaced, assuming that's the problem. Are there other test results I could or should ask for before I bite the bullet and go ahead with replacement?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what if they replace it, then tell you you need another $2.000. gizmo needed?
     
  12. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    Exactly! I'm trying to get a sense of whether this is likely. I know it's a risk, but do other things commonly go when the battery suddenly becomes faulty
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not because of the battery, but prius has several high cost systems. a/c, brake actuator, transmission, inverter, and etc.
     
  14. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    The serviceman told whenI asked the right questions that they couldn't find anything wrong other than the battery and don't expect to, but mentioned the possibility to cover themselves just in case, as I suspected, and hoped. So I've ordered a replacement. I know it's a small risk in the short term ,and for reasons you mentioned a bigger risk one. Longer term. But thanks to the really helpful advice from you and others on this forum, I feel better about replacing the battery than parting with $20,00 to buy another car right now. I'll let you know how I go. Hopefully next week, thanks everyone :)
     
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best christine, please keep us posted!(y)
     
  16. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    We ship our battery reconditioning system all over the world on a daily basis. Starting at under $400 USD, they enable unlimited in-car battery servicing/reconditioning for as long as you own the vehicle:
    ProlongĀ® Battery Systems FAQ - Hybrid Automotive
     
  17. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Jeff, I'm a believer in the reconditioning. Yet, it still bothers me that you throw this out there without including the fact that it will frequently NOT cure/recondition a battery that already has a failed module or modules. Once the triangle comes into play and the "Block x becomes weak" fault appears, I would venture to say, in many if not most cases, it's too late for the prolong unit to truly help. Following replacement of the failed modules, I'm confident it would be a helpful thing. I think you need to be a bit clear on this when you post about your system.
     
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  18. jeff652

    jeff652 Senior Member

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    I was just answering the OP's question about shipping and gaining access to our products :). Here is a more detailed response I just posted in another thread that describes more specifically what is required to successfully complete the reconditioning process:

    "We have many customers who have extended the life of their battery by a couple years or more by using our products. There are several first person reviews attesting to this on PriusChat (Search 'Prolong Battery Systems'). By correctly load testing your modules (resting voltage is a poor indicator), replacing failed modules with good quality TESTED replacements, and caring for the battery on an ongoing basis multiple years of incremental life can be expected. You can give us a call at 800-589-0730 to talk about the process or read more about it here:
    What causes hybrid batteries to degrade and fail? - Hybrid Automotive

    "Here is one example of the results of our products on a Prius pack with 140k miles:
    [​IMG]
     
  19. MTL_hihy

    MTL_hihy Active Member

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    Since the entire premise of grid charging is to continually ensure all the individual cells are topped up then if one of the cells in a module is either on the verge or has already reversed, you are correct this will not miraculously cure that condition. What it will do is ensure any replacements (either new battery pack or a rebuilt one) are topped up so as to ensure the longest life possible out of your battery pack.

    Assuming Christine has limited to no skills for DIY rebuilding I too would suggest she looks at a new Toyota battery replacement if the original has already indicated a failure (as seen via Techstream voltages and CEL codes).
     
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  20. Christine Tylor

    Christine Tylor Junior Member

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    Thank you so much for all the sound advice. I did order a new battery which has been installed by Toyota. I picked it up on Friday so have tested it for a few days, and certainly my decision has paid in the short term. It has saved the need for a loan so far. Perhaps if I were somewhere like sydney, Melbourne, there might be cheaper options and more choices but I am very pleased with the outcome so far so thank you for all your help. I'm grateful for this forum :)