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Is Greentec better than Greenbean?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Jason Packel, Nov 28, 2022.

  1. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    The length of a warranty is not an indication of the length of reliability. It is quite common for electronics to have a warranty against manufacturing defects of one or two years. This reflects the statistical reality that shows that if an electronic good has not failed in the first year it will go on to last its designed lifetime.

    The battery that came with your car from the factory lasted 15 years, and there is every reason to expect a replacement will last as long.

    Personally, it causes me to question why a rebuilder has to offer such long warranties.
     
  2. Galane

    Galane Junior Member

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    If a rebuilder doesn't say they're using NEW NiMH modules, what they've done is taken a bunch of used modules and put them on a charger that carefully discharges them to close to the absolute minimum they can go without damage then charges them up as high as they'll go, and does that several times. Then they'll select a batch that has recovered to close to the same maximum capacity (a perfect match isn't essential since the Prius never goes to 100% charge) to assemble into a battery. Modules that fail to recover any capacity or fail to recover enough get binned.

    But that's no guarantee that any individual module is going to last a long time. One could suddenly go bad any time. So a 2 year warranty is a good 'fudge factor' when using used modules. The majority of modules with 100K to 150K miles of use should last at least another couple of years after being fully cycled to recover some capacity.
     
  3. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Those are two very big assumptions.

    Most "rebuilders" don't actually follow that process. They wouldn't make any money taking all that time to do a proper job.
     
  4. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    I have the Greenbean replacement traction battery in my 2005 Prius . Installed at 160,000 miles and quit at about 180,000. Greenbean sent out a tech the next day and swapped out another battery and it has been working well ever since. 190.000 miles right now. No issues or hassles when looking for the warranty from Greenbean. They just came out and fixed it like they promised they would. Can't ask for more than that.
     
  5. Jason Packel

    Jason Packel Junior Member

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    Hi dolj, I was just told that when getting a new battery from a dealership they often say they are new, but they often have a module replaced. I was just told that I could get a "new" battery for $2086 yet it only has a one year warranty. Do you think this would be worth it?
     
  6. Jason Packel

    Jason Packel Junior Member

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    When the battery quit, were you stranded or able to make it home? I just don't want to be stranded once a year. Thanks.
     
  7. TinyTim

    TinyTim Active Member

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    You realize dealerships make most of their money in the service department. Why do you think they call them stealerships?
     
  8. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Not true, new batteries from the dealers are totally new. What is the source of your information that says otherwise?
    That is not the best price I've seen, but it is not awful either. The warranty is one year if you buy it from the parts counter (like any part they supply) and install it yourself but it is two years if they supply the battery and install it themselves. Is it worth it? Only you can answer that question. One thing for sure is you cannot compare a secondhand battery (i. e. reconditioned/rebuilt) with a brand new factory-fresh battery.
     
  9. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Please post the OBD2 codes once you have access to them, without knowing the codes, no one can say if you need a new battery.
    A "new" battery sold OTC (over the counter) from a toyota dealer will come with a one year warranty, if the dealership were to install the HV battery, then the warranty should be three years (or was in the US). If it fails in those three years, I'm fairly certain they would reimburse you for the tow fee to the nearest dealership to have it replaced, and possibly offer a loaner car (though best to inquire). As dolj mentioned, a new battery will last for some time. I've only heard of two or three new battery failures in under three years, and one was in FL.

    Do you have any water intrusion issues, and do you often park your car in the sun with the windows rolled up?
    Curious who would tell you such a thing, as I've never heard of that before (selling used as new). You can confirm by inspecting each of the modules inside the battery, were you will find sequential serials that also contain a date of manufacture.
    Was that 2086 for OTC, or was that the installed price? (you may be able to find someone who will install for 200 give or take, or free)

    If not dealer installed, how much would someone charge for installation? (tampa hybrids, autobeyours)

    Call around, some dealers may still sell OTC for around 1650 - 1700. Likely that TH or ABY can source them for around that price point.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    dealerships only sell all new batteries.

    $2,000. is a fair price, and you can shop around.

    one year warranty is inconsequential, because of the battery track record,

    a new car only gets a 10.150 warranty because the government requires it.

    the battery is built for the 10/150 requirement, has proven its value over 20 years of history, and is the best way to go if you're going to keep the vehicle for any length of time.
     
  11. UNCLBONZ

    UNCLBONZ Member

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    i WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTICS AND A PRICE AND THEN ALL THE WAY HOME.
     
  12. prii-fan

    prii-fan New Member

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    I unfortunately have had a bad experience with Greentec. My triangle of death came on. I decided to get a pack with new cells from Greentec.

    They came to install a battery on a gen2 Prius, and when I was looking at their battery, I noticed it had -R12 on the serial number. this may be concerned that I was getting remanufactured pack, rather than the new cells I was paying for, as they also sell 12 month warranty, 24 month warranty and new cells with 48 month warranty.

    I asked installer who drove quite a distance to my house. He called the shop and they said it was the right pack. I was still suspicious, and spoke to sales to ask the serial number convention and they told me they should not be doing that.

    He said he would investigate and call me back. He told me they can install the 12 month and then come back later for the new battery with 48 month warranty. I told the sales person I’m not sure I want a second install, i’m not even sure if I want to use them but my car is disassembled, and I want my car drivable.

    In short, I think they were trying to rip me off 1.5k passing a reman as new, or at least, trying to cover up a mistake. When I press the guy, he said that battery was just in the car with the work ticket when he got to work.

    The new batteries seems to have fixed the code, but the experience left a bad taste in my mouth. I definitely recommend folks keep an eye on any installation and check the part serial numbers.
     
  13. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I've always thought GreenTec rebuilds a batter quality pack than most and its news to me that they're selling brand packs. In looking at their website they indicate they are higher capacity, which is probably irrelevant because it's likely a very tiny amount more. But most concerning is they aren't indicating who's manufacturing these cells, nor has there ever been a comparison of these to OEM made by Pansonic.

    In looking online there seems to be these strange knock off replacement cells that they could be: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155405347948 But maybe its something different?

    Can you please find out more details for us?

    I'm a bit puzzled why you didn't buy brand new OEM from Toyota as its similar price? OR was it less because the Toyota Stealerships install charge was so absurd?
     
  14. Galane

    Galane Junior Member

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    Have you done the V2 upgrade to your NEXcell modules? I got the kit but am not at all enthused about taking the car and battery apart to install it. On the plus side is the supposedly increased lifetime, self balancing, and better cooling.
     
  15. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Still transitioning to V2.... My original prototype pack that turns 3 years old in October has it... Some of my other packs still don't have it, but soon.
     
  16. kathryn Cooper

    kathryn Cooper New Member

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    Which “guys” are you referring to? TIA
     
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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    idk what happened to the link, but seeing he was in florida, it was probably either tampa hybrids or auto be yours near canaveral i think. check their websites
     
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  18. kathryn Cooper

    kathryn Cooper New Member

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    What about the ECU computer assembly, if they said that we need that with a battery, is that just an up sell? P0A90 and P3021 codes… TIA
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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