Battery/dealership nightmare

This is a hard one. If you rely on the dealer then those charges are about what it costs for most of it.

I would question the $172.05 (yes, even now) for replacing the serpentine belt. If the water pump they replaced was the engine water pump, they should have only charged the cost of the belt $25 ??? The water pump job involves removing and replacing the belt, so there should be zero labor cost for doing that.

If you can DIY some repairs yourself or have a family member you can call on, the fan cleaning can be done for just your time, maybe two hours, and the combination meter can be done for about $150 and two hours of time as someone who has never done either job before.

Having got a $2100 contribution from Toyota Corporate, I'd take that $850.04 (the cost to you) HV battery in a heartbeat.

As I said, it is a hard one but if I did do that work, particularly the HV battery, I'd probably be keeping the car for another 5 years and not trading it right now.

 

Welcome to PriusChat!!

Best to always leave the vehicle in "ready" or "off", else the 12v battery can discharge quickly. Don't ask me how I know

How far are you from Costa Mesa?

 

'06 with 67K mileage.

I found the OP's post difficult to read.

Not sure of what I could offer in a reply.

1 - Spend $3K to have your current car rebuilt/ dependable?
2 - How much cash will you spend purchasing a year 2021 with a trade in ....$15K?
3 - Inept service writer, piece-mealing your telephone repair authorization and phone tag?
4 - A need to find a new dealership repair shop?
5 - Toyota Corp is offering a $2K discount on a battery repair cost to you ?

"My question is, If the dealer is charging me a total of 4100.00 or even just the battery charge of 2950.00 is it worth it. I am so mad they did the other work before telling me about the hybrid battery I question if any of it was or is even needed."

So, I am unsure of any comment that is helpful.
1 - Do a trade in + potential $4K in cash you were going to spend on a battery toward a new car as a down payment?
2 - $4K spent on current (lo mileage) car making it dependable?
(Maybe a decision factor...Is the current car's interior pristine/ like new?)
3 - As for your un-needed repairs, double billing, phone tag, phone call time log....either negotiate with dealership service manager or GM or a small claims court filing (but IMO that filing will "burn your bridge with the dealer") I suppose.

That's my understand of the OP post and question, not sure if my answers are relevant.

Good luck.

 

Classic dealer rumping.

First of all stop getting your car serviced regularly at the dealership. There not doing you any favor. If you throw them the keys and say change my oil they will use the the most god awful cheapest crappy oil you have ever seen and over fill the hell out of the engine. I wouldn't use that oil in my lawnmower.
If you go out now and check the oil dipstick you will see its either very low or very high from where it should be.

Huge markup on parts. And you cannot trust anything they say or do. There lying and lazy and be driven you crazy.

I don't know where you live in California but there lots of independent Prius repair shops out there.Prius is a very popular car.
Luscious Garage in San Francisco is the best. Check out there website.

You must find someone other than a dealer to help you. At there $175 an hour labor rate and huge mark up there killing you.

Tell us where you live so we can help.

 

i would go for it. you're getting a pretty good deal for what essentially is going to be a brand new car.
all the best!

 

Hi Erin-
Its seems like thats not right such low mileage and needs a new hybrid battery but really that's what kills the battery the fastest when its that old is not driving. Same for the 12 volt battery. No ones driving that much anymore and its killing all the G2 battery's. Look around on this forum endless hybrid battery failures including my own.

The battery's that last the longest are the cars that are driven till there wheels fall off. many people have there original battery with 250-300 thousand miles on the car. The battery's are constantly being discharged then completely charged. Batterys like that. Its the sitting that kills them and builds up corrosion on all the wiring.

So...if you can get a new hybrid battery for $850 I would walk over broken glass for that deal. Its the best thing to do because that will really help offset being totally ripped off on the things they have already replaced. I just spent $1600 on a new battery.

Jump on that. Good Luck.

 

+1

When was the last time the 12v battery was replaced?

After you have a new OEM hv battery installed, this will increase the resale value of the vehicle. Then locate a new independent mechanic, and if no one can recommend one, then do some research. I've never used the listed businesses below.

Example mechanics might include :

Hybridpit -- Passion With Perfection and some reviews here :
Hybrid Fix (310) 426-8432 reviews over here :
Sam Auto Hybrid | The Hybrid Battery Repair Specialist vehicle pick up/drop off and possibly nearby, reviews :

There are plenty of others no doubt.

 

sounds like a good deal also

 

Unfortunately, a hybrid battery with little use is a prime candidate for failure, as EdtheFox5 has already said,

If you do decide to replace the car, I would not get another hybrid for your mother, unless your driving her around would give it 'every other daily' use. A new hybrid can stand sitting around much better than an old one can, it is just a byproduct of the battery chemistry.

 

im not fully understanding why it would need a new Combination Meter... i thought the typical symptoms of a bad combo meter is that the power button acts like it's glitchy and/or the speedometer will be black even when the car is running...

 

If its not too late, I would gather all the emails, messages and information and seek out the sales manager. They have to do you good at this point, especially since they charged you without notification. Just my two cents.

 

At this point and since corporate offers $2100 out of the $4100 it is ok to finish this work at the dealer. However, I would strongly suggest to not go back to the expensive dealer anymore. I understand that you do not have the time/tool/experience to work on this car your self but still you could save a lot of money by just shopping around. For example, a 12v battery could be installed at Pepboys for $160 vs $378. The water pump can be replaced at any independent shop as it is not different than normal cars for $400 vs $670. Serpentine belt again $80 installed vs $172. The combination meter can be repaired and installed for around $225 or less vs $947. Now on the hybrid battery nothing compares to an OEM brand new hybrid battery. Nevertheless, you could compromise for a rebuild service which also includes cleaning the hybrid fan for around $600 vs $2950+$289.

What you paid (and we all have in the past) is now done but you could enjoy the car in the future paying a little less for repairs. This site provides very good information on most common issues.

 

Oh man so sorry but this is a common post here. What was once one of the most reliable little car's ever is now in its old age a little monster that needs thousands of dollars to get it back on the road.

So many posters come here after getting a flogging from the dealer which is not really good business for future sales. Not sure what to tell you except become a real pain in there nice person and hound them.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Chase that offer on the new hybrid battery thats all that matters what will make you whole on this episode.

Good luck.