2012 Prius C- I need some help

i would start by confirming the dealers diagnosis

 

I agree with Bisco.
I'd want more information or confirmation of what is wrong with the vehicle.
Did you get any codes? What brought you to the dealership to start with?

I don't think I've ever read a thread concerning the failure of the heat reclamation system. Doesn't mean it hasn't failed, but to have it fail at the exact same time as the Hybrid Battery seems highly unfortunate, and a rather rare occurrence at the least.

Reading your post?
I'd say if it turns out you do need a new Hybrid Battery and Heat Reclamation System, and immediate budget is a concern, I'd probably take the $500 gamble on the used parts.

A lot of this choice would be tied to how much confidence I had in my "buddy" who is a mechanic. No offense, but a lot of nightmare scenario's start with that sentence. If you really feel he is capable of doing both tasks correctly and safely? Well I would need that confidence.

And if you think you are going have more resources financially in a few months? Well $500 to get you to that point or perhaps well beyond it? Seems like a acceptable gamble.

Also both your car, and the donor car may be equally as old, but your vehicle has way more miles. 207,000 vs. 73,000, assuming no damage to the needed parts? I think for $500 it's a fair enough gamble...although a gamble....that there might be a lot of life left in both the heat reclamations system and the hybrid battery.

Good Luck however, tricky situation.

 

Also reading that post from the parts seller, seems he has more than one vehicle from which he is culling parts and selling.
" Parts from another Prius c"...

Looking at the rear end damage, and overall damage on the Prius c pictured, I don't think I'd want to touch the hybrid battery from it, or maybe anything from the undercarriage.

I'd want pictures of exactly what you are buying, and from what vehicle.

 

Have you worked out the math for replacing the vehicle instead?

I don't usually make that recommendation when there's still a loan on the current car, but you did say you're just up to the final payment.

With a high dependency on an only car I'd seriously consider it.

 

Wise plan.

Gotta say though that you might not BE in this situation in the first place if you had not financed it with a 7+ year loan in the first place.

Some compromises are going to be needed to get out of the hole.
Something like the used car you mentioned might be a good alternative; probably much better than fixing yours.

A non-hybrid small late model used vehicle might be even better.
Not everybody should own a hybrid, mostly due to the cost.

Good luck.

 

Josh, since your wanting to keep the vehicle I'd say to heck with the exhaust rattle and replace the battery with that donor C's battery ONLY if it's an original TOYOTA battery. If it's a refurb in that donor car, then move on to another donor car Your best bet is to never go the refurbished route, or you'll just be doing it again within a couple months to a year. There are literally hundreds of threads here regarding these refurbished batteries which are nothing more than a hodgepodge of other peoples failed batteries all thrown together. Granted the cells may be in fair to midland shape, but they are used with an unknown amount of mileage. These things fail like marriages - some go the distance, but most end in a bad way.

If that rattle MUST be fixed, then get it fixed obviously. But if you can live with it then do so. The car already has 200k on it. You may get another 80k out of it if your lucky depending upon how good of a job you did taking care of it in the past.

 

We don't know the length of the loan term, could have been bought used.

Either way it's now apparent that it isn't really just down to the final payment, there was a balloon payment planned.

The car appears to need a battery, and that's pretty believable given age, mileage & use role.

If it were my car I'd either put in a new one from Toyota or a used genuine Toyota battery from a crashed car. I would not buy a refurbished battery from anyone.

I don't have much specific advice re: exhaust. I just don't know that heat exchange system well. I will say that you (or your mechanic buddy) should inspect that exhaust before purchase- rear-end hits tend to bend flanges or accordion the works, and you might not notice until you're struggling to make it fit on your car.

 

I agree with KNOWING what parts you are buying.
The seller here pictures one vehicle but is obviously culling from multiple vehicles. And he says $500 Hybrid Batteries (Plural).

So even though $500 is a inexpensive buy in for a Hybrid Battery and Heat Reclamation System , it's no bargain depending on what you are actually buying.
Are these Hybrid Batteries this guy has rescued and "Frankensteined" together?
If he has more than one, what's the mileage on the one you are getting?

To me if you have a "buddy" that can help with labor, then $500 is nearly a no risk investment. If it works, and you get 6 months, a year, or more? Then it was worth it.

If it fails? Well $500 is an amount I'd be willing to gamble.

BUT...even for only $500, I want to know what I'm actually buying and getting. Time seems to be of value here, and you don't want to gamble $500 and also waste a lot of time, if what you receive isn't what you were expecting.