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How long can you drive with a dying hybrid battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by acadiaphile, Apr 29, 2015.

  1. acadiaphile

    acadiaphile Junior Member

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    I'd been anticipating needing to replace the aux battery (based on info. from Prius Chat) but when the big, red attention icon lit up (along with other indicators) I feared something else was going on. My local mechanic reported that the code check revealed the dreaded hybrid battery failure. The Prius is a 2006 with ~125K. Our mechanic presented 2 offers: (1) replace the battery with a new, Toyota battery (~$3,000) or (2) replace the car.

    I'm opting for replacing the battery, but not with a new one installed by my mechanic (who only uses Toyota parts). There's a new/refurbished hybrid battery garage which has batteries which are less espentive and have a longer warranty which is located about 50 miles (~1 hrs. drive) away. I'm wondering how likely it may be that the Prius will konk out en route. If the car doesn't start that's one thing; but is there a possibility I'll be driving and the engine just stops working? (I.e., I lose all power--which would be a safety issue if I can't control getting off the road.) I'm prepared to deal with inconvenience; I'll find some alternative if my plan may be a safety risk.
     
    #1 acadiaphile, Apr 29, 2015
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I posted on your other thread. You need to establish if your mechanic is correct vs. 12v issue or something that. You really need to partner with Toyota for the reasons I mentioned over there. Although your mechanic gave the right answer about $3000 and that's a very good solution, assuming Toyota will not help.
     
    #2 wjtracy, Apr 29, 2015
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    aren't you under the 10 year, 150k mile warranty?
     
    #3 bisco, Apr 29, 2015
  4. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    10 years or 150K only apply in CA, I think. Other state is 8 years or 100K
     
    #4 apt5020, Apr 29, 2015
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's too bad, i had thought it was all carb states.:(
     
    #5 bisco, Apr 29, 2015
  6. apt5020

    apt5020 Senior Member

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    Yeah, not only that if you mod your ride. Anything touching the ECU. I think they can blame that cause the issue of hybrid. Dealer will always come up an excuse to void your warranty
     
    #6 apt5020, Apr 29, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hardly worth the paper it's written on.
     
    #7 bisco, Apr 29, 2015
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    In this case (another thread) it was bought in non-CARB VA and that does not matter much as MD was not in CARB until 2011. In theory, this case is out of warranty due to non-CARB purchase, but similar cases have often got 50% sometime better coverage at the Toyota dealer.
     
    #8 wjtracy, Apr 29, 2015
  9. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    Yep.

    The non-CARB warranty IIRC is 8 years/100k miles -- not so far from OP. That is why I also think a little extra letter writing and calling Toyota might result in them footing part of the bill.
     
    #9 SageBrush, Apr 29, 2015
  10. k barbieri

    k barbieri Junior Member

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    I bought extended warranty 8 yrs 75,000 miles for NY
     
    #10 k barbieri, May 11, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well done, that takes you to 18 years a nd 225,000 miles.(y)
     
    #11 bisco, May 11, 2015
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