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Battery Myth Busted

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Stev0, Jan 6, 2012.

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  1. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Lately, I've been having trouble starting my car in really cold weather; I had to have some work on it anyway, so I mentioned it while they were checking in the car. Sure enough, the Hybrid battery was dying and I'd need a new one.

    I've read of people here, mostly new folks we never hear from again, either paying or having a "friend" paying hundreds, even thousands of dollars for a new one.

    My cost: $183 plus labor and tax.

    Not bad for a five year old car (confession: I thought the idea that the hybrid battery ever had to be replaced under normal conditions itself was a myth, but apparently yeah, it dies).

    I'm going to bookmark this thread and next time somebody starts ranting about a $5,000 battery, I'm going to point them to it.
     
    #1 Stev0, Jan 6, 2012
  2. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Have you exceeded the 100,000 mile warranty? If so, how did you manage to find an HV battery for $183? Was it a salvage?

    Tom
     
    #2 qbee42, Jan 6, 2012
  3. duffasaurus

    duffasaurus Senior Member

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    Might you be talking about the +12v. battery? The +12v. battery is what starts the car. The price you paid, is more in line with that battery. There is no way you could get the HV battery pack replaced for $183.00, even salvage!
     
    #3 duffasaurus, Jan 6, 2012
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    OP...I know a lot of mythology get's created over the cost and replacement of HV batteries. However, outside of warranty $183.00 for replacement of an HV battery pack sounds impossible. I've never read a post except this one where the option was that inexpensive.
     
    #4 The Electric Me, Jan 6, 2012
  5. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    I think he is talking about a 12v battery? Hal
     
    #5 Hal W, Jan 6, 2012
  6. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

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    OP has another thread saying pounds of ice accumulate under his hood. The timing of this traction battery failure seems unlikely to be simple coincidence.
     
    #6 SageBrush, Jan 6, 2012
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    If mine fails at five years, replacement had better be free under the 8 year / 100k mile traction battery warranty.

    Is seems quite suspicious that your timing and price so closely match what others are seeing for the 12V battery.
     
    #7 fuzzy1, Jan 6, 2012
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    isn't this the same guy who said global warming was a hoax?
     
    #8 bisco, Jan 6, 2012
  9. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    OK we'll bite! What's the rest of the story. I am thinking it's got to be interesting, you have enough of hooked, time to spill your guts StevO.
    Quite stallin seeeee,
    You'll talk, yeah, youlll talk plenty!
    Now get to talkin'
    We gots to know...
    :D
     
    #9 KK6PD, Jan 6, 2012
  10. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Ooopps.....
     
    #10 KK6PD, Jan 6, 2012
  11. DetPrius

    DetPrius Active Member

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    My money is on the 12 volt...
     
    #11 DetPrius, Jan 6, 2012
  12. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #12 JimboPalmer, Jan 6, 2012
  13. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    The slip just says "Battery". You're probably right, it probably is just the 12-volt (the other one has nothing to do with actual starting the car).
     
    #13 Stev0, Jan 6, 2012
  14. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Both batteries are required to start the car (in some sense).

    - The 12V battery boots the electronics (to get you to ready mode).

    - The traction battery starts the engine.
     
    #14 uart, Jan 6, 2012
  15. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    What the? 7,000 posts, how could he confuse the 12V and hybrid battery? Fiddlesticks :p
     
    #15 cycledrum, Jan 6, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  16. ItsNotAboutTheMoney

    ItsNotAboutTheMoney EditProfOptInfoCustomUser Title

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    :D Pretty good life out of the battery. People complain that it needs to be replaced after just a few years.
     
    #16 ItsNotAboutTheMoney, Jan 6, 2012
  17. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    My thoughts EXACTLY. What the.....
     
    #17 fotomoto, Jan 6, 2012
  18. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    Sorry, that price is not possible for the Hybrid battery.
     
    #18 Rest, Jan 7, 2012
  19. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    Here's where I went wrong: I believed the customer service rep. Here's how the conversation went verbatim:

    Her: He did some tests, and your hybrid battery is dying; he suggests replacing it.
    Me: My hybrid battery? (yes, I vocally emphasized it).
    Her: Yes.
    Me: (warily) well, OK...

    Until I got my car back, I had a thought bubble of dollar bills with little wings flying away. When I got it back, I was so glad I dodged a bullet that I still didn't question it. I then posted while the giddiness was still in effect and the brain hadn't come back from its break yet.
     
    #19 Stev0, Jan 7, 2012
  20. duffasaurus

    duffasaurus Senior Member

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    It's odd that the service writer didn't give you an estimate of repairs for such a potentially expensive Hybrid battery??
     
    #20 duffasaurus, Jan 7, 2012
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