1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Well, my 2010 just lost it's hybrid battery at 105K mileage

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Alphawolf, Dec 7, 2018.

  1. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,908
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I can understand how you feel. But there are other dealerships.
    You should contact Toyota. Tell them your story. Corporate Toyota doesn't like it when their dealers
    make their customers unhappy. Worth a try.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,717
    38,247
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I suggested the same, fell on deaf ears.
     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,908
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    HUH? WHAT? SAY WHAT??? :) :) :)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. Tande

    Tande Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2006
    498
    301
    0
    Location:
    Mich.
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    II
    See post #1......what am I missing??
     
  5. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I went straight to Toyota USA immediately on getting a repair quote from the local dealership. Corporate Toyota is who said "Sorry for the we're not helping you out" (paraphrased).
    At this point, another dealer can't possibly give us a suitable resolution. My daughter has decided that we're going to swap the battery pack get it ready and sell it..No dealer in the country can give us a Toyota battery for the $1500 or whatever it is to swap packs myself. If she wanted to keep her car, then that would be a good reason to try for a factory battery from different dealer. But, right now, she just wants it on the road minus the dreaded triangle and "Check Hybrid System" warning. Then she'll detail it and sell it, telling any prospective buyer "Hey the traction battery was just replaced!" That's actually a pretty solid selling point on a 9 year old Prius.
     
  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,476
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    If that’s the tact you’ll take, I’d buy the toaster kit, then sell the good modules ;).

    Makes the most sense and makes the most profit (y).
     
  7. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yup, that's what I was thinking too I'm just trying to decide if it's worth the time to dissect and rebuild the battery. My daughter thinks I should just buy a ready to swap one and call it good. But I like the idea of being able to sell my modules and recoup some of the investment for her. I've got to research a bit more to see how to test my old modules for resale and how much to sell them for. A bit of eBay time needed I guess .
     
  8. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    She's just eager to get it over. She's really afraid it's going to just quit and leave her and her kids stranded roadside because the light's on, the warning is on and now she knows the battery is bad. So, she's guessing it's going to quit running at any moment, and probably at the worst time.
     
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,476
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Meh, $25 a module and they’ll get gone;).

    And a multimeter will show the voltages of the modules.

    A bad one will be at least 1.2 volts below the others.

    Good luck and keep us posted (y)
     
    #69 Raytheeagle, Dec 9, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2018
    Bill Norton likes this.
  10. wanderso

    wanderso Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2018
    54
    22
    0
    Location:
    Portland
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    It’s understandable to be frustrated on this story. A different dealer might be able to negotiate something out of Toyota. The catch is that they may not have much incentive to do so as you’ve not been using their services. We recently purchased our ‘06. Due to how these cars become immobile with this kind of failure, I purchased the more expensive AAA option that has 200 miles of free towing for some peace of mind. I have the receipts from the prior 1-owner. 100% of the service was done at their dealer. They traded it in on a Honda Clarity shortly after seeing a trouble code and the dealer couldn’t replicate the issue.

    For me, I’ve found when going to meet someone face to face and being friendly in sharing your case that it is harder for them to say “no” to at least giving some sort of break. On the phone or email always yields a lesser result for me.


    2006 Prius Base
     
  11. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I sure wish I could have been "face to face" with Toyota USA when they said "No" I was Face to face with the dealership 3 times in the last week over this and did me no good. I even discussed it in person with the salesman (who's been there for a hundred years) who sold the 2 of them to us that night..i hoped with his seniority he might have some pull. Nope
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,837
    16,073
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Except oil changes have nothing to do with the hybrid battery.

    The inverter coolant gets its first change at 100,000 miles IIRC.


    So.... after the basic 3 year warranty, what can they legally say is the cause of the hybrid battery failure? Now, on a technicality, they can decline because it is after the warranty period. However, as decent human beings, sometimes they can cover it if it's just outside the warranty (like yours is...)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2012
    1,822
    595
    0
    Location:
    MONW, Ks.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    There you go !!
    That's the Can Do Attitude!
    It's not Rocket Surgery. Also search YouTube for the procedure. (Hoovies Garage is a funny one!)
    It may only be one or two modules.
    (My bank courier bud did this years ago and +100k miles ago and the pack is hanging in there. He bought 3 - $40 modules but only needed 2)

    Tell your scaredy cat daughter if she had bought that Corrola and the old school, complicated, automatic transaxle had gone out at this range the bill would be similar, (from the dealer).
    When a car is in the +100k mile range you are on your own. Period. And the Prius has an excellent record.

    There you go!
    First step!
    Go for it !!

    Can she rent a car for a week while you perform Rocket Surgery? (easier than Brain Science)
    It will be fun !! Wear gloves. Cover the bus bars you are not working on with duct tape.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,908
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    IF you want to replace the battery, contact
    2k1Toaster
     
  15. Bill Norton

    Bill Norton Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2012
    1,822
    595
    0
    Location:
    MONW, Ks.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    That's $1600 for new cells that need to be installed.
    Or just replace the current bad cells with ebay cells and 'hope'. May be less than $50 in parts to get the car going again,,,,,
    especially if she wants to sell it. But she may be surprised how long it lasts with replacement cells!
     
  16. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,908
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I guess they are set on getting rid of it. If I had the money, and was closer, I'd buy it.
    Apparently money is not a problem for them because they are going to buy NEW cars!
    I guess when they have an engine or transmission problem they will buy new cars, and turn on whatever
    dealer they buy it from. They will soon run out of brands! :) :) :)
     
  17. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thanks for the attitude. Did I offend you somehow? How do you come to the conclusion we're both buying "new" cars and money is no object? Not that I owe you any kind of clarification, but in the defense of myself and her, , she is going to be looking for a 3 to 5 year old vehicle, and to her that's "new", and I will have to loan her the money to get it. Yes money matters to her and I both. She's living with us along with her full time student husband and 2 little boys. They're living with us simply because they can't afford to live on their own and finish his college all at once.. Every dime they spend is calculated. Me? I'm not buying a "new" car either. I simply won't be replacing my Prius. My Prius is a commuter car, a spare vehicle for us, and we've decided, as I am now retired (That means a fixed "money matters a lot now" income) that not owning the car would save us money and we can live without it and eliminate any future risk of this happening to me. My ONLY hesitation in starting this job is the physical aspects of it I'm 64 years old and a disabled veteran and I don't bend and lift like I used to. Because money absolutely matters to me I don't want to just pay someone else to do it like I would if money actually didn't matter to ME, like you assumed it doesn't. So, step down from your high horse and quit assuming you know a single thing about us or our circumstance in life. No need to respond. You've said quite enough..
     
    #77 Alphawolf, Dec 10, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2018
  18. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
     
  19. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thank you .I'm gaining the confidence in reading all these helpful posts.
     
  20. Alphawolf

    Alphawolf Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2006
    84
    36
    0
    Location:
    Northern Utah
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thank you. Yes, I will actually be loaning her my own Prius during the project, as I can be without it OK. Is that tape just to add a level of insulation to hot bus bars I assume?