Prius Battery Replacement Kit (GenII/GenIII) with NEW custom cells

Regardless of all else, mixing new modules with old ones is not a good idea.

 

Yeah, that's what I figured. I don't know if that's the new CEBA pack or yet another iteration, Nick's version is supposed to have superior cells, but now I'm not so sure. For those of you who don't know, I was one of Toasters early customers. The pack was working well until last year when I started getting the death codes. Nick sent me two modules which I installed. but still the codes came. Today I used a car battery load tester on them, reasoning that since the Prius battery cables look to be 8 gauge, the modules should be OK with it. It turned out that one of the new modules is weak, so I reinstalled the better of the two I previously removed and went 8 miles without getting a code. We'll see how much time this has bought me.

This is suggesting to me that generally the cells that Nick has had made are OK but quality control may be an issue, since one of the new ones is bad from the git-go, and one original module failed. My guess is that one cell in each module has puked.

2 Toyota dealers have told me $3,300 for a new OEM pack but I really don't want to put that much into so old a car. So I was thinking something like this might work;

 

So apparently I don't know how to post a picture here.

 

In editor, “upload a file” button, then on a phone, “photo library”. Alternatively on pc, I think “photo library” is supplanted by a file explorer open dialogue box.

and if you have an image in clipboard, paste will insert it wherever cursor is.

 

So Larryy, it sounds like you got about 5 years out of these NEW Custom Cells.

 

Need some direction before I file a complaint with the consumer protection in my state. Hear me out, I think I have been very patient and reasonable. I ordered a battery from Nick (Newpriusbattery.com) on March 21, 2022. Paid in full with expected delivery May 10, 2022.

When the delivery date came and went with no communication, I emailed for an update on June 1, 2022. Nick responded on June 5, 2022. …” Shanghai shut down, it will be about a month.” Sounds reasonable. I understand all the shipping delays and appreciated the update. He did offer a refund which I refused and decided to wait a bit longer.

Since then I have tried to email and call. NEVER GOT A RESPONSE! My order still says “Waiting Fulfillment”. I have not hounded him. If anything I should have been more persistent but life happens. He has had $1600 of mine for almost a year. His website is up and running and it looks like he is still in business but I can’t get a response. I reached out here in desperation (October?…search function not working to find post) and was told he was sick? Thank you for your responses. I truly wish him well. I decided to wait a little longer. He must be having a real hard time.

Okay. Stay patient. It doesn’t add up. He has this long thread and appears to be respected but probably one of my worst consumer experiences I’ve had to date. Has anyone received a battery since last March?

Is Nick still sick and can’t maintain the business? If so, why is his website still up and running? Why is the phone number still working? Why is THIS thread still active? Is someone else in charge of the business? Did I do something wrong?

I am a honest person and have done many deals with a handshake. Some of the best people I have dealt with. I’m starting to believe he has no intention of getting me a battery and I am not getting my money back. This is why I am reaching out here.

 

He's still on here and got stock in last month. @2k1Toaster So he might reply to you on here. Best of luck!

 

Posts like #926 are not helping get future customers; nobody want to hand over money, get nothing, and be ignored for 8~9 months.

 

in another thread, he states that individual sales are a hassel, and he is going fleet in the future

 

I ordered in July and recently noticed that the website has been updated with new pricing. I sent an email on the website contact page and Nick got back to me stating that they had to change their process but batteries are being shipped and I will be getting an email from UPS about delivery. My order on their website now says "Awaiting Pickup from Factory - PACK RESERVED".

 

Thanks for the reply. Thats why it doesn’t make sense. You ordered in July (I ordered in March) and you may be getting your battery before me? I have the order number and the email saying i purchased it. I referenced it in my communication. (Order#1045) I truly don’t want to mess up his business but I don’t know how else to get his attention. If he comes through with the battery I will update my post.

 

i wonder if they lost your order? but why won't they communicate?

 

Gamma, no I did not get 5 years. I installed the New Prius Pack in January of 2018 and I started getting P0A80 over a year ago. I started looking for any other explanation for this but came up empty handed. I contacted Nick and even though I was past the 2 year warranty period, he sent me two new modules. Now that's how you treat a customer! I installed one and the problem eased. It recently started getting worse again so I installed the second new one with no improvement. I went back in and did a very aggressive load test on all 16 modules and found that one that I had removed was better than one of the new ones which failed miserably. I reinstalled the better one and saw a little improvement. I went about 10 miles with no codes. The state of charge indicator in the MFD shows going from empty to full and back to empty very frequently indicating that the pack has little capacity. At 210,000 miles and with a ticking engine, I am reluctant to buy a new pack at $3,300. What a shame. It's a rust free Florida car that still drives quite well. Perhaps I'll shoehorn a VW diesel into it. Or maybe I'll just get a Jetta.

Concerning Nick; I had wondered how he was going to handle a business that could possibly grow exponentially and maintain in contact with a potentially large number of customers. I would think a fair number of employees would be needed. I suspect he is simply overwhelmed and the supply chain interruptions aren't helping either.

In the end it is appearing that Chinese batteries are going to be Chinese batteries, regardless who orders them. I also have an electric unicycle, and in that world, Panasonic is the battery to have. Japan reigns supreme.

 

In all my contacts with him I left my phone number and he has my email. I referenced my order number each time. It does not make sense! It seem like I got him mad but I don’t know why. He just does not respond. I could understand better if no one has been able to contact him. I am reaching out her to find out if others have. It appears Larryy has. Yesterday I called the number on the website (only once), emailed through the website (only once) and left a message with his profile here. I know its soon but…crickets.

I’m giving it a week or so then contacting consumer protection. I have spent $1600 and almost a year waiting. I have been more than patient and actually deserve an apology. Not holding my breath. Don’t want to do business with someone like this. Just want a refund. Happy to give twice my money to someone that cares. Done with this company.

I am fortunate that my Prius does not need the battery yet. Just trying to be proactive. Hence my letting it go this long. I will be contacting the credit card company to dispute the charge.

Oh, BTW What a great car the 2009 Prius has been! Bought it used in 2011 (24K miles) and NOTHING has gone wrong with it since the day i bought it. The only money I have put into it is regular maintenance. It has been so good to me I just can’t get rid of it. (188K Miles)

Obviously i am not a regular here. Many only chime in when there is a problem. Guess i am “that” person. Thanks for helping a stranger.

 

TapaTalk shows @2k1Toaster last use of 10/17/22, same as last day he logged into PriusChat. If accurate it does not sound promising.

 

Just wanted to point out my post above (#930). 2k1Toaster emailed me about my order a week ago, so he is still alive and kicking.

 

qlak, just to clarify, it has been over a year since I heard from Nick. When I told him about my problem, he sent me to modules free of charge, That made me happy, but I didn't think I should have had the problem since OEM packs tend to last more than a decade.

Update!! While I did have a couple problem modules, I finally discovered a solution, but I don't know how much time this has bought me. The Prius lacks any method of maintaining balance between cells or modules. I had assumed that my new pack was balanced from the manufacturer, and I'm still sure it was, but over a few years it didn't seem to maintain that balance, and got worse when cell(s) went bad. Several days ago I did a heavy load test on all my modules and left out the two worst ones (remember, I have two extras). Then I removed all the connector bars and connected all the positives together with a 12 Ga wire and all the negatives the same thus paralleling the entire pack. I let them stand for about 6 hours, then after measuring about 14,9v, I connected a power inverter with a large household fan and turned it on high and ran it until the inverter's low voltage cutout interrupted. I then charged the paralleled pack with an automotive booster charger that made about 17v at 10A. When the pack measured 16v I repeated the process, then I let it stand overnight with all modules still paralleled. I put the pack back together and all seems well for now. The state of charge indicator in the MFD is reading like normal and my fuel economy is back up to 45 @ 50mph according to the consumption calculator.

So, any of you who have bought a pack from Nick might benefit from this.

 

Update. I still have not heard from Nick. Today I contacted the NC consumer protection agency. (I have to update my profile, I now live in NC). I filled out a form with all the details. They will try to resolve the dispute. I’m not holding my breath.

I also am trying to dispute the charges since i paid with a credit card. The problem I am having is the charge was so long ago. Buyer beware, even if you use a credit card, you only have 90 days to dispute the charges. YOU MAY HAVE NO RECOURSE IF NICK DOES NOT SEND YOU A BATTERY AFTER 90 DAYS! I have elevated my dispute with the credit card company.

I also contacted Nick through his website again requesting a refund. Let’s see if i get any response.

Next stop small claims court if neither of the solutions work.

 

this is a total shame. i would contact colorado consumer affairs as well

 

I guess the moral of the story here is to stick with a Toyota battery...even though it may cost more.