Is cabin heat "free" if a Prime is in HV mode?

What's the magic number where the car won't start? Getting close?

 

where did you get that number from?!!!

It reminds me of all the paranoia I experienced, years ago when I purchased my Gen 2 Prius. We have all seen how that ended with very long battery life and pretty inexpensive replacement. And the gen 5 battery looks very serviceable, something I would probably tackle myself, other than recharging the refrigerant.

 

I've never seen it. -42C didn't prevent me from starting, and I never use an engine heater.

 

The entire traction battery needs replacing if there's a refrigerant leak. OK, maybe around $10,000 instead of $20,000. LOL

Hybrid system Malfunction (Visit Your Dealership) | Page 4 | PriusChat

 

It's important to remember that this isn't Toyota being honest about what's possible for repairs, just that they are trying to convince everyone that all the AC components and HV battery components are integrated and have to be replaced as a single unit.

Truth is Toyota said the same BS about repairing hybrid batteries when a cell goes bad, but a quarter century later there's hundreds of successful businesses doing just that, most notable GreenBean/LKQ, GreenTec, Hybrid2Go, PriusKings...

As in Toyota is more interested in defrauding their customer with outrageous repair prices than telling the truth about how to fix something in an affordable way. This is one day going to blowback on them in spectacular ways. You can only rip people off for so long before they lawyer up and start fighting back!

 

To be fair; Toyota doesn't overhaul motors or transmissions either. They are assembly/parts replacement jockeys. It takes a lot of time and equipment to "properly" repair a traction pack. So at $200+/hr recharge rate; it's cheaper to replace the entire pack, than to fuss with it.
You also failed to mention the amount of come-back/warranty repair and high failure rates of those "slapped together" packs. Don't take my word for that; just look at the reviews of those companies that you mentioned. Toyota doesn't want their name associated with those type of refurbished packs that just last a few more months or years - and I don't blame them. Toyota sends your return "core" packs for professional refurbishment; which means ALL new battery modules and comprehensive testing to ensure they meet their standards. Something they can warranty and stand behind. Dealerships operating cost are high; unlike a small business that's allowed to cut corners and only employing one or two people.

Believe what you will - It's a free country; for now......

 

I recall a Canadian dude who said his car wouldn't start in the cold. I think it was a Prime.

On line manual, 2026 PHEV, pg 85:

 

I was concerned about that at one time, but the extreme cold seems to have had no effect on my car.

 

This is the thread I was thinking of.

 

In the video attached the battery appears to be very serviceable. It takes some significant effort to remove it and open it up but the cooler can definitely be replaced. See video:

 

Q-Is cabin heat "free" if a Prime is in HV mode?

A-Nothing is free. Forget what the government told you...

 

Especially energy. It's never free.

 

Yep, it never occurred to me before this thread that you could adjust the cabin temperature even when the electric A/C (heat pump) is off by using the radiator heater core or outside cool air, as long as you turn on the blower fan. I had to check the manual.

 

"I beg your pardon?"
says Mr. sun

 

Do you know a free way to harness it?

 

don't need to harnesses - photosynthesis - & w/ the frequent enough showers - by the end of summer we get plenty of apples, cherries, raspberries, plums, pears & apricots.
all we gotta buy - is toilet paper for all that fiber.

 

Last time I checked, fruits and vegetables weren't free either.

 

Nothing is actually free; even a gift was paid for by someone.

 

almost forgot! besides our fruit bushes & trees, there's also free "air". heheheee
free gravity too.