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Is this guy on Craigslist full of B.S.?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Holmze, May 8, 2019.

  1. Holmze

    Holmze New Member

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    A guy on Craigslist is advertising a 28 cell hybrid battery pack with all cells "balanced and matched" for $400 -- including free installation.

    The kicker is that he says the cell's "have 15-25% power.... I estimate these to give you about 15,000 miles or more when used together."

    I talked to him and he said he can't give a guarantee on the work, but that's he's estimate for how much life I could get out of the replacement.

    I can't find any information anywhere to determine whether his analysis is b.s. Is this how hybrid cells function?

    I looked him up and his repair shop has good reviews on Yelp, but it doesn't appear that he specializes in Prius repairs. Is this worth the risk?
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Doubtful.
     
  3. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    welcome to prius chat...
     
  4. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    No. How is the rest of the car? You would be better off getting either a brand new Toyota Factory battery or one of 2k1toaster’s kits. Either will give you a battery that will go as long as your old one.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    cl = bs
     
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  6. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    I wouldn't blame you man. One time I was trying to sell a brand new in the box Badcat tube amp in there. A guy emailed me and telling me so much about the amp its not $1100.00 of what I paid for with receipt at guitar center. Basically a pencil neck telling me what to do. The one thing I don't understand, he sound like he's very smart how come he doesn't have an amp like mine and probably not even a car to go an see the amp. So to me it means never again CL.
     
    #6 Classic Car Guy, May 9, 2019
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
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  7. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    You have to take the good with the bad. I have both bought and listed stuff on Craigslist. I have had no problems with buying stuff but then I actually go with money and show up when I say I will. The stories I have heard from the sellers about flakey people. The guy was probably trying to get your amp for 50 bucks or something. You should just ignore people like that. Heck I even bought my Prius on Craigslist from a very nice lady. Original owner had all service recipients and even the original window sticker.
     
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  8. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Trust your gut.

    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
     
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  9. Classic Car Guy

    Classic Car Guy Active Member

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    Good deal. Its just kind of new to me we all grew up in the old school American Way. Don't know if its called a flake. But for sure that guy has some kind of a digestive tract disorder to live that way. :)
    The good news its Friday. I'm taking my cat for a ride in the hills tonight. Longing for that summer cool breeze!
     
    #9 Classic Car Guy, May 10, 2019
    Last edited: May 10, 2019
  10. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Not sure what the whole 10-15% thing means but $400 is what I paid to have battery rebuilt when mine went bad.

    It's an all labor job (parts really cheap) and $400 is a lot of money.

    I have mechanics that pull an entire motor or trans for $400. A lot easier to rebuild a battery I'd imagine.
     
  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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  12. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Of course they can spend time.
    They have many more pieces of equipment to do the job and likely more efficient equipment as well.

    In the other thread I linked to a video from a company similar to Dorman showing the equipment and processes they use.
    A small shop or individual cannot compare.
     
  13. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Sometimes replacing a single module works. Usually it doesn't.

    Consider the market for 10 year old light bulbs. Some of them work. But batteries go bad even if they just sit there unused.

    During WWII, my father changed the spark plugs before he went to work. Then he changed them again before coming home. He cleaned them with gasoline before putting them back in rotation. Some plugs didn't make the rotation. Newer technology now, but the game is familiar.

    Reminds me that I need to change the plugs in my 2006. I'm using new ones...
     
  14. wnrsm

    wnrsm Junior Member

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    CraigsList requires patience to wait for the right buyer/seller to come along - and zero patience for everybody else. As a seller every listing is hit with a cashier's check / gift card scam. As a buyer you have to judge both the character and competency of the seller.

    For this listing, is it worth $400 to get that much more mileage out of it? Putting $1600 for a cell replacement kit on a credit card is cheaper than a car payment and a better value than a hack CraigsList battery. If you're selling the car within a few months or few thousand miles, getting the $400 battery is basically setting the new buyer up for trouble, just like a dirtbag CraigsList seller.
     
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  15. PriusToadRVer

    PriusToadRVer Junior Member

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    See the long thread “bricked my wife’s Prius...” for a middle ground approach with “no” module level work. Also, if your car and battery lived in a warm climate, all modules will be similarly aged, as may be the CL modules. For $1125 plus shipping, you get capacity-tested and balanced modules and new jumper bars. Mine tested at 125% of a new battery capacity (according to DrPrius). Also note that there are some significant safety concerns with DIY HIGH VOLTAGE battery work. Please BE SAFE.
     
  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Where from?
    That is still old, tired modules vs. new cells for $1600 though.
     
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  17. PriusToadRVer

    PriusToadRVer Junior Member

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    And regarding CL. I’ve had both good and bad experiences. When there’s scarcity of what you’re shopping for, the dealers, stealers, and scammers are circling. And the accidental conspiracy of Ovshinsky, GM, Texaco, Chevron, USPTO, Japan, Panasonic, and Toyota has set up an unpleasant scarcity, and thus a hard bargain shopping environment on all things battery.
    I have flagged hundreds of “prohibited” CL ads over the years because they smelled scammy, but none yet on Prius batteries.
    The only chink in the market might be to buy a wreck with a 2013 or later battery and do the module swap and resell the wreck, but that’s a big project with risks of its own...
     
  18. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    We can be certain that the above mentioned used/reconditioned pack wasn't purchased here: Services | Hometown Hybrids

    As it would've cost under 1000, came with a warranty, and included FREE shipping in both directions (or installation if nearby).
     
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  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    True, but still old & stressed.
     
  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Craigslist whack a mole hybrid battery repairs are pretty popular. All they do is find the low voltage module or 2 that's crow barring the battery replace it with a module that at that moment is ok and bolt it back up and wait for a sucker to come along. All the interconnect and bussbar is rotten all the original cells just have not failed yet. All with a tail light warranty. 2 months later or less you got the RTOD again.

    It takes hours and hours to properly rebuild a hybrid battery. Lots of parts to replace & corrosion to repair and load test all the battery's and replace the battery's that fail the load test and then have to load test the new cells they buy online. When I say new I mean its new to them there all old used cells. Just waiting to fail.

    They only way to get virgin brand new battery cells is buy a virgin factory brand new complete battery and they ain't cheap.