Battery module serial numbers removed

Greetings all,

PriusChat has been an incredible, invaluable source of information and inspiration to me. Thank you all.

As part of my work on my 4 Priuses I'm doubtless going to be replacing HV battery modules. In my search for good modules I've come across a seller who is offering "excellent" modules, but "the serial numbers have been removed". Call me cynical, but I can't think of a legitimate reason why someone (not this seller, his supplier) would remove serial numbers. Can anyone please enlighten me?

Further to this, from reading various threads his morning trying to find if this topic had already been addressed, I learned that Gen 4 modules can be used in Gen 2 battery rebuilds. This is awesome information. So those are what I'll be trying to find.

Which raises the next question. Does anyone know of, and is willing to share, a source of good modules - from low mileage, recent vintage compatible vehicles? I'm in San Diego and it appears that the southern California auto wrecking business has fully realized the value of good modules and/or batteries and is selling them prior to wrecks reaching the junkyard.

Thanks so much. I'm not looking to get into the battery refurbishment business, just to get my cars up and running well.

 

Thank you both so much.

TMR thanks for all the good info. As I dig into my batteries I may well contact you for modules.

Aloha

 

Hi Pasadena,
Thanks. Most interesting. I'm in Oceanside, San Diego, so Tustin Toyota is an easy drive - so no shipping. Seems like prices are coming down for these batteries.

Right now I'm leaning to replacing cells only in my 2004 which is in CA. It has about 220,000 miles so it's not a prime candidate for "no serious maintenance required for 5 years!" I just picked up a second hand Dorman refurb battery off Craiglist so that might be a start. I have 2 Priuses in Hawaii which also need work, including battery work. One may be a candidate for replacing all 28 modules. It's a bit beaten up and corrosion on the islands is a huge issue, but it only has 86,000 miles.

Just for grins I'm also looking into a Toyota Mirai!!

 

Thanks. I saw the listing too after you mentioned it. Emailed them. Good price!

 

Hi TMR, Thanks again. When I finally reached Bebos he told me he sold it a few days ago. Nice guy, but it still shows up on car-part. I contacted some other junkyards about higher priced listings and they want the money and a core! I guess these batteries are valuable in CA...hahaha