1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Battery issue, 2006, platinum warranty

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by clifford, Jun 10, 2010.

  1. clifford

    clifford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2006
    156
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Not sure but I would like to start a new thread as after a lot of reading I can not find both answers.
    65k, 2006, platinum warranty. car would not start today for the second time after approx. a year. With a jump it would start and drive. Wife was in line for two minutes with the car turned off.
    Also after much reading I would nice person sume that regardless of what the dealer says (tomorrow) I need a new battery? Most likely? Can you help with an approx. cost? Or , I doubt it, but would my extended warranty cover such?
    thanks a lot and so sorry for a new post.
     
    #1 clifford, Jun 10, 2010
  2. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2007
    499
    63
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The 12-volt starter battery is your problem, and it's a "consumable" item that needs to be replaced every few years. It costs around $140.

    4 years sounds about right-- You are definitely due for a 12V batt replacement.

    Not sure if that Platinum warranty covers it, but if it does, sure take advantage of it and have them replace it for you. If it doesn't, it's a relatively easy DIY replacement.
     
    #2 justlurkin, Jun 10, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  3. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2007
    5,051
    485
    97
    Location:
    Flushing, NY
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Batteries are among the items specifically excluded from the Platinum extended warranty.

    * * * * * *

    For future reference, here's a list of the specific exclusions from the Platinum extended warranty:

    "List of Excluded Components
    • Accessory Drive Belts
    • Batteries
    • Body Panels
    • Brake Linings, Pads and Shoes
    • Bumpers
    • Carpet
    • Chrome
    • Clutch Friction Disk and Pressure Plate
    • Dash Cover and Pad
    • Door Trim, Handles and Fabric
    • Filters
    • Fluids
    • Glass (including Windshield)
    • Headliner
    • Heating Hoses, Lines and Tubes
    • Hinges
    • Hybrid System Main Relays
    • Hybrid Vehicle Battery
    • Hybrid Vehicle Battery Module/Pack
    • Hoses
    • Interior and Exterior Trim Moldings, including but not limited to, Cup Holders, Ashtrays, Covers, and Vents
    • Lamps
    • Light Bulbs
    • Nuts, Bolts, Clips, Retainers and Fasteners
    • Paint
    • Rotors and Drums
    • Rust and Corrosion Damage
    • Seat Covers
    • Service Plug
    • Shiny Metals
    • Spark Plugs
    • Structural Framework and Wells
    • Tires
    • Vacuum Hoses, Lines and Tubes
    • Weather Stripping
    • Wheels and Rims
    • Windshield Wiper Blades (Rubber Component)"
    Under the Platinum extended warranty, if an item is not specifically excluded, it's supposed to be covered.
     
    #3 Boo, Jun 10, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  4. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2004
    14,487
    2,999
    0
    Location:
    Fort Lee, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    This is why your own bank account is the best warranty.
     
    #4 usbseawolf2000, Jun 10, 2010
    2 people like this.
  5. clifford

    clifford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2006
    156
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    I hear you.
    I don't want to get back into the old extended warranty debate. The only extended warranty I have done was on this car and a new radio paid for half of it right off the bat.
    But a great bank account would be great too!
     
    #5 clifford, Jun 11, 2010
  6. clifford

    clifford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2006
    156
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Well my wife took the car to the dealer. Nothing wrong with it all. The battery is great and there is absolutely nothing draining anything! Of course I figured as much. I said the car was dead, the battery was dead. My wife was stranded and i lost two hours of work to go charge the battery and off she goes. And you tell me nothing is wrong here? Second time this has happened so I bought a battery and will put it in.
    It is totally amazing to me the guy can say nothing is wrong and he could not or would not give me the reading of the volts.
    I find myself wondering what if it was he car. Would he just go along driving it till it was dead again.:mad:
     
    #6 clifford, Jun 11, 2010
  7. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The dealer probably checked using the MFD which is always wrong. Get a $10 voltmeter from Radioshack and do it yourself if you really want to know. But once the battery is depleted in a regular lead acid battery, it will never be the same. Just replace it now
     
    #7 2k1Toaster, Jun 11, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A very good decision.

    You may want to invest in a decent digital multimeter so that you can measure quiescent battery current draw when the car is IG-OFF. Should be around 20 mA or so. This will help you to confirm that there's nothing wrong with the car (besides a dead 12V battery).
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, Jun 11, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    After you replace the battery, replace the dealer. I doubt the MFD's values indicated a good battery. You can get the numbers yourself. What are they? Perhaps the dealer really believes a 12v battery should read 12v.
     
    #9 JimN, Jun 11, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,040
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Dealers often use a simple pass-fail battery tester which is not accurate enough for a Prius and can give a false pass. You can check up on the dealer (and the MFD itself, if you have a voltmeter) by using the built-in procedure:
    http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html

    By The Way, remember that the engine shuts itself off when not needed, so if you are in line for any length of time you might as well leave the car ON so that it can run to keep the batteries charged. Shift to Park if you tire of standing on the brake.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Jun 12, 2010
    1 person likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)