Battery longevity

The caution is NOT for the traction battery, but rather for the small 12v battery in the trunk. The 12v battery powers all sorts of "always on" thinks like the smart key system, radio, headlight system, general computers, and so on.

You could simply disconnect the 12v battery and be done with it. Or put a trickle charger on it. Or have someone simply start the car and let it be on "ready" for 15 minutes a couple times while you're gone.

You can turn off the smart key system, which Toyota explicitly recommends (see owner's manual).

Worst case, you come home to a 12v battery that won't put the car to Ready. So jump start it.

Don't worry about the traction battery. That's not an issue.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Apr 15 2007, 01:47 PM) [snapback]423679[/snapback]</div>

My battery died a couple weeks ago on my 2002 Prius with 119,00 miles on it--the dealer is quoting me a $3700 replacement charge, and Toyota has agreed to pay $1500 of this cost, but I'm still not pleased with having to pay $2200 for a battery that I thought was going to last a lot longer. Any advise or suggestions would be much appreciate ASAP because I need to make a decision this week. The best way to reach me directly is my email address: [email protected] Thanks, John Laue

I need to get some advise ASAP about what to do about the dead battery on my 2002 Prius with 119,000 miles--the dealer is quoting my a $3700 replacement cost. Anyone with experience with a similatr situation please reply ASAP--I need to do something about it this week. My email address is [email protected]. Thanks, John Laue

 

Well, there are options--like junkyards.

 

$2,200 for a battery... well, that's one expense owners of regular cars won't have.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 16 2007, 06:52 PM) [snapback]424285[/snapback]</div>

Buddy of mine has a Maxima with the "venerable" VQ35 powerplant. Engine had to be replace due to some kind of terminal oil leak: $4500 and a big exhale when he learned that it would be covered under warranty.

As for the traction battery, there are definitely sources such as auto recyclers where one could get a used battery from a wrecked car. Definitely less money. Lauejp - if you haven't already, post a thread on your battery replacement. Lots of people will want details.

 

in the past month or 2, the transmission on my dad's mazda protege 99 blew out. Couldnt go more than 35 mph. One transmission mechanic quoted the replacement at 2500-3500, the dick also had the nerve to charge $85 for the test. But another mechanic charged ~1000 to replace the seliloid, but didnt charge for the test. BTW, thats why my dad got a prius.

lauejp: ur the first that I've heard that had to replace the battery. I thought toyota said they havent had to replace one yet.

 

See if Steve at http://autobeyours.com/ can come up with anything.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ Apr 16 2007, 07:30 PM) [snapback]424319[/snapback]</div>

I'm new to this Prius chat--waht do you mean by "post a thread"? By the way, I've found a used HV battery at a salvage yard for $1,100--18,000 miles on it supposedly--what do you think? lauejp

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ez2bgreen @ Apr 15 2007, 11:36 AM) [snapback]423675[/snapback]</div>

I have left my 2004 Prius for just over a month without any problems. I shut off the SKS while gone. (There's a little button down around where your knees are.)

On another occasion I forgot to shut off the SKS. I think that was a 3-week trip. No problems.

On both occasions, as near as I could tell, the traction battery had not lost any charge. But since I didn't have the CAN-View yet, I could not tell if the aux battery had gotten low. The only thing I can know is that it had enough charge to put the car into Ready mode and from there the big battery takes over.

I think the two-week warning is over-cautious. But I would try to remember to shut off SKS, and make sure the doors are completely shut so the dome light goes off!

If you're worried, put the aux battery on a trickle charger. I guess lead-acid batteries don't like sitting partly discharged. But I doubt that two weeks is enough to do that.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lauejp @ Apr 15 2007, 09:36 PM) [snapback]423876[/snapback]</div>

Really, John? Are they claiming you voided the warranty in some way with modifications or abuse? Or is the warranty different on the 2002 Prius? The CARB notes back in 2000 say the difficulty the manufacturer's were having was meeting the 150,000 mile / 10 year warranty commitment, so that's been on the books from the beginning.

On my 2006, I have a 150,000 mile / 10 year warranty on the battery in California ... its part of the emission system, and the state mandates the warranty. Look in your little blue "Prius Owner's Warranty Information" booklet. On page 20, mine gives the hybrid battery the 10 year or 150,000 mile warranty in a footnote to the longer warranty for other emissions-related equipment.

There are two numbers given for clarification of warranty terms ... Toyota Customer Experience Center at 800-331-4331 or the California Air Resources Board (they give only the address at "Mobile Source Control Division, 9528 Telstar Avenue, PO Box 8001, El Monte, CA 91734-8001). Check with the CARB folks first; perhaps the dealer isn't up on the law or something. Their home page is at http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm

 

I think the 2001-2003 Prius were SULEV, not AT-PZEV. SULEV does not require the 150,000-mile warranty. That's why California (and similar states) have the AT-PZEV rating for the hatchback model. The highest rating for the other states is SULEV.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lauejp @ Apr 16 2007, 01:36 AM) [snapback]423876[/snapback]</div>

Take a look at this auction on Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-03-Toyot...sspagenameZWD1V

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ez2bgreen @ Apr 30 2007, 10:53 AM) [snapback]432532[/snapback]</div>

You need to be aware that what LOOKS like full cycling on the MFD Display is in fact not Deep Cycling.

The Prius intentionally protects the battery by limiting the charge and discharge for just the reason you mention.

Top to Bottom on the MFD Battery display may look like 0-100% but in fact it only represents about a range of about 40-80% of the actual battery capacity.

In fact, if you don't ever run the Battery from the top to the bottom of the scale in your normal operations, the Prius will on occasion FORCE a 'full-empty' cycle or two for battery conditioning.