Newbie Need Help in SF Bay ARea 2001 Prius Traction Battery

Newbie here! Wished I had stumbled on this forum sooner; just registered yesterday and have question(s).


I paged thru the "newbie must read thread" (all 17+ pages); great tips thus far e.g. on jumping and towing... Wish I had known about not letting my Prius sit for a long time (more on this later).

First, my intro.... I have a 2001 Prius or Gen1 Prius. Live north of Berkeley. Bought it used in 2006 and have racked up a total of 115,000 current miles since. I like the thread dedicated to Gen 1 owners.

Been driving it for 3 years trouble free as a commuter car, have the CA yellow carpool sticker on it and enjoyed ownership till this Christmas (see my questions below).

Economy slowed down (and still down). Took a 2 vacation during Christmas + prior 2 weeks doing more Webex calls (mandated by my company to reduce travel exp). Prius sat for total of 4 weeks (maybe 5 tops) for the first time in 3 years.

Finally to the point, discovered after returning from my Christmas vacation, my Prius wouldn't start (sat for weeks).

Jumped the battery on the rear (being aware of the right polarity) and it would start but check engine light on. Turtle icon also and drives slow. Also loud fan in the trunk area running.

I would park it over night, and next day it would start again but starter battery just can't seem to hold charge (have to keep jumping the starter battery in the rear).

Bought a new starter battery @ my local Toyota dealership (newer larger one with adapter kit) - thinking it would solve my problem. Nope.

It would start, but check engine on and slow as heck.

Took it to the same local Toyota dealer, read the code and they said, it needs a new traction battery. Cost is $2500. Wow!

Questions:

1) Is this the going rate for a replace traction battery plus labor for 2001 or Gen 1 Prius (I live the San Francisco Bay Area if that helps w/labor and parts rate).

2) I did a search on this forum and read thru someone's post with similar problem on their Gen 1 Prius. Read about how to replace (excellent write up), but concern about the danger e.g. high voltage.

Question: is there an alternative to a Toyota dealership (indy shop specialing in Prius) in the SF Bay Area someone can recommend; I am looking to save money on the repair. I can try and do it myself by if reason priced shop charge $1500 - rather have someone who knows what they are doing vs DIY and chance of electricuting myself.

3) Confused (don't have the owner's manual or warranty info. Is this covered by the warranty? I read 10 years/150k miles but also read not appl to Gen 1.

Pls advice someone familiar with the warrany "CA AT-PZEV warranty" and it it applies to my 2001 Prius w/115k miles.

Thanks in advance!

 

I've been busy at work - apologize for not posting sooner w/my decision.

Thanks bwilson4web for listing my options; very helpful info.

Now that I found this forum for support/info - I am ready to do the other mainteance e.g. transaxle oil change... even though my first post was a problem (ain't usually the case! ).

And thanks tochatihu for your suggestions (indi shops); I like working with indi shops especially when folks like Drees 2nds that.

And Drees thanks for the link to Art's Automotive n Oakland and Luscious garage in SF websites.

The Prius has been parked in my garage since, and I've been using our spare family car.

I've decide - now that the tax refund is in bank (although I am not willing to give all my money to the dealership) - I'm leaning towards buying a new battery and doing the replacement myself.

First I am going to check with the two indi shops noted, and see what they say - I am either going to:
1) Buy the new battery myself and install it myself (leaning towards this).
2) Buy the new battery myself and have one of the shops noted install it (if labor is not to much more and shop is willing).
3) Have one of the two shops to acq the new battery and install it (again if their pricing is not much more than if I were to buy the battery on ebay and DIY).

Apprecaite all the help/suggestions; I will post the end result.

By th way (last question for now), where would I buy the gloves suggested in the Prius batttery replacement guide? Special gloves is recommended when handling the high voltage traction battery.

Also I popped open the rear of my 01 and can see the traction battery - thing is huge - I am going to ask my brother in law to help me. In the meantime, I will need to find gloves if I decide to DIY.

Thanks again! Cheers!