Battery Cell Died: Thoughts? Help?

I would say to not buy a reconditioned battery for that price. Do you have any DIY or hands on ability? You can get OEM battery for under 2000 (after you return core). Otherwise spending the extra 600 for the toyota battery as opposed to the reconditioned one will ensure you never have to worry about the hv battery again. With 158k miles I think a new battery can be justified assuming everything else is in good shape.

 

Gen II Prius Individual Battery Module Replacement
Check this out

 

Did you have any warning lights displayed on the dash?

Did you pay the dealership for the test/scan, and did they give you a print out showing the results and related OBD2 codes (DTCs)?

Would the mom and pop shop charge you for a test?

Don't, unless you want a used battery for the price of a new battery. There are new HV batteries for similar prices, including lithium.

Both sound a tad on the high side. The new OEM battery from another toyota dealer may cost between 1650-1850, plus install. The crappy used cardone sells for 1412++ at https://www.carparts.com/hybrid-drive-battery/a1-cardone/a15h4002 - though you might find it for less elsewhere, and too be fair to mom and pop, they could be "buying locally" from CQ or AAP for 1724++ which is closer to 2k.

Not a bad plan, though there are other big ticket repairs that could pop up in the near term as well.

Which part of the USA are you near, as you could have other options.

 

You would have to call all the toyota dealerships in your vicinity or look on the toyota dealership websites with online parts departments. Some will sell the batteries and some won't.

Do you have another vehicle? if so DIY replacement would be best! Although with "ZERO" hands on skills you might be best to just go with the dealership, because there are necessary safety precautions and a lot of disassembling. Check out youtube though, plenty of helpful videos if you are up to the rewarding challenge.

 

new OEM. as far as i’m aware toyota only sells new ones

 

https://parts.bennetttoyotaoflebanon.com/p/Toyota__Prius/BATTERY-ASSEMBLY---HV-SUPPLY/63533084/G951047031.html

found this in your state. $1770. do some more searching to find the closest to you and see if you can bring it to your mom and pop shop then (core needs to be returned to toyota tho)

 

Interesting. So you went in for an oil change and they used an OBD2 scanner to pull the stored codes (DTCs) for free (part of the oil service I guess), then they tried to upsell a new HV battery without offering the retrieved OBD2 codes to support the sale?

The flashing warning light may have been you being low on oil, do you check the oil level every week or when you fill up the gas tank?

If you were low on oil (did the dealer mention that?), then you may not need a new HV battery at this time.

Nice that you can supply your own parts there if needed. What they say is true, also understand that mom and pop have accounts with local parts warehouses that give them a discount on purchases, so that way they make money on the parts and on the labor.

CQ = CarQuest, AAP = Advanced Auto Parts, they are one and the same now. Neither sells new HV batteries.

Not a bad idea, clean the HV battery fan, change the transmission fluid, etc.

Don't know much about PA, so I picked a random zipcode for Scraton? 17756

Here is a list (not complete) of nearby dealers that would likely sell OTC (over the counter) or possibly deliver to the mom and pop shop.


Select a Dealer | Toyota


The price displayed doesn't include tax or the 'core charge' which will be refunded once the old battery is returned to the dealership. The mom and pop may have an account at your local toyota dealership, and would get a discounted price on the purchase, generally that discount won't be passed on to you.

 

You requested and were charged for a diagnostic, but the cashier or service advisor never offered a receipt for the service performed?

When you have the P code (aka DTC), post it here for additional guidance. If you don't have warning lights being displayed on the dash, then you most likely don't currently have a problem with the HV battery or anything else.

Guessing it flashed while hard braking or cornering. Hope there is no damage to the engine from oil starvation.

Toyota dealerships only sell NEW parts (currently), though I've heard of a couple installing used parts before (extremely rare).

 

That's a fair price honestly, and you wouldn't have to worry about the battery ever again realistically. Weird it seems they are assuming it will fail soon by saying

but doesn't provide the code in that description. Something seems weird. If there are no lights on the dash and it drives fine maybe wait it out. Do you know if the quote expires after a certain amount of time? Do you have a little bluetooth code reader or something like that?

 

You can see if mom and pop (or another mechanic) will scan it for free, and if they find the same DTCs (P0A80 + P3024).

Both of those DTCs should create a steady MIL, as mentioned previously, if you don't have warning lights on the dash.

You may want to pick up a OBD2 bluetooth adapter to use with a phone app like Dr Prius or Hybrid Assistant, thus saving yourself for excessive diagnostic fees going forward, use this link to find a quality product : Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus

If you want to use the same software that the dealership technicians use to diagnose and repair, then you will need a mini-vci cable (or better) and techstream installed on a windows device.

You might be able to find a better installed price by calling the other dealers that list the battery for 1750.

Confirm if the dealer will be cleaning the HV battery fan for the quoted price.

 

With the Toyota dealer you're going to have to commit to a $1,350 core charge which they will return if you bring back a Toyota only battery if it has a sticker that says it's been balanced by the hybrid shop of Pennsylvania they will tell you that's not an original Toyota battery and you're stuck without $1,350 beware of that this is a scam that they run on you so you got to make sure you're bringing in a battery with the original Toyota stickers on the cover it can't be painted green or any of that nonsense that makes it not an original Toyota piece and you're out of 1350 bucks read the fine print carefully the Toyota batteries are new my original lasted close to 20 years 1600 for a new one you know what's that computer per year over the 20 something silly

SM-A715F ?

 

You really don't You read that and you don't understand that they will take you for $1,350 core charge if your battery is anything other than silver with Toyota stickers on it seriously okay grammar Nazi carry on

SM-A715F ?

 

Any updates on your situation?