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Selling Prius, what to do?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by dailyplanet, Feb 10, 2020.

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  1. dailyplanet

    dailyplanet New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2019
    2
    0
    0
    Location:
    Washington
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    2007 Prius, around 183,000 miles. Dead 12V (replacing tomorrow), dead hybrid battery (had autozone read the code).

    I bought a new 2018 Prius back in August, and continued to drive the old Prius around town until October, when my house flooded and we had to move out for repairs. Since then, the car basically sat and one day after about a month, went to go drive the car, and had all the dash lights, so I took it to autozone and had them read the engine codes (hybrid battery). Car continued to sit, and now has moisture in the interior (PNW rainy season) and a dead 12V.

    I consider the car to be in otherwise "good" condition. Some small cracks in the bumpers from a hit and run and who knows what else, you can only see them if you get close, and a fogged up headlight.
    Car has had regular maintenance, only problem I've had (since I bought it in 2015 with 76k) has been a serpentine belt replacement.

    Realistically, what could I ask for it if I did NOT replace the hybrid battery? I see similar year and mileage cars posted in my area that need a hybrid battery replacement for around 3.5-4k, so I was hoping to ask 3.5 and get around 3.
    Cars that don't mention needing a hybrid battery replacement have an asking price around 5-6k with similar years and miles. (These values are all private party).

    What would you do if you were in my situation? Fix only the 12V and then sell it? For how much? Fix everything (green bean battery) and then sell it? It doesn't seem like the difference in value makes up for it. I could also the dealership in the morning and ask them not to fix the 12V, if that is recommended.

    I also bought an OBDII reader and took a video from the Dr Prius app driving it to the dealership, but I'm not really sure what to do with the video. (I also have a few others from when I drove it last week).
     
    #1 dailyplanet, Feb 10, 2020
  2. eljefino

    eljefino Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2018
    40
    24
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    I wouldn't go halfway with fixing it.

    Charge/jump the 12 volt battery so you can show it off. If you don't have a charger you can get a trickle charger from harbor freight for $5.

    If the car still runs, you probably have a shorted module, showing 6.2 volts instead of 7.4. Get the 12 volt running so you can get the car running so you can put a charge on the rest of the good modules.

    Then sell it as is. Make sure you put the buyer's name in the appropriate spot in the title so he doesn't flip it and have some random stranger show up at your door full of hate for his shoddy repairs. Start high then come down in price till it sells. FB marketplace and CL are good venues by me. CL is even better now that they charge $5, keeps out the riff-raff.

    You may want to get Techstream ($15) both to better diagnose this car and for your 2018. The generic "replace battery" code is all-encompassing, a better scan tool will declare if it's one or more pairs of modules. You may want to see if the HV battery will get better with a couple days' driving, too, as it sounds like the problems relate to sitting there.

    If I bought your car I'd play whack-a-mole with the HV pack and put a $65 wheelchair battery in the 12V position. Other buyers may take different tacks, but you won't get dollar-for-dollar for repairs you make.
     
    #2 eljefino, Feb 11, 2020
    edthefox5, SFO and davecook89t like this.
  3. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Good one on the title jump Elfino.

    My dirt bag uncle used to do that years ago. It was pretty rampant buying cars from old folks. Got caught paid fine. Got caught again 90 days in jail. Judge said do it again 5 years in the gray rock hotel.

    He was a real piece of work. Ended up at 75 years old blowing his head off in his bathroom while his wife was at the store.
     
    #3 edthefox5, Feb 12, 2020
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