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

Re-manufactured Batteries

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jcrovelli, Feb 13, 2013.

  1. jcrovelli

    jcrovelli New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2013
    2
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've got a 2006 Prius with 123k miles. Last weekend, I got the triangle of death and just about every other warning light on the dash.

    I took it to Autozone to check the codes. They didn't give me a numerical code, but their device said "replace hybrid battery pack" two times. Ugh.

    So, on Monday I took the car to my mechanic. He confirmed that the big battery needed to be replaced. Now, I'm weighing my options.

    The most cost effective and secure option seems to be purchasing a re-manufactured battery. I have become familiar with Re-Involt by looking through old threads, but they currently have a two and a half week wait for the part.

    I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with any other suppliers. Particularly, I noticed that Hybrid Battery Depot is selling re-manufactured batteries for substantially less than Re-Involt, and there is no wait. Likewise, Greentec Auto (hybridhvbattery.com) is even less than Hybrid Battery Depot, without the wait. All three companies offer an 18 mo. unlimited mileage warranty.

    Does anyone have any pointers? Do you know whether or not these other suppliers offer a comparable product? I would love to hear of any experiences with any supplier of re-manufactured batteries - positive or negative.

    Thanks.
     
  2. desmondlee

    desmondlee Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    204
    27
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    isn't this (hybrid) battery under warranty - I thought the warranty for the hybrid battery is 150k/10 years?

    It is for the 2007 Prius.
     
  3. scott.in.colorado

    scott.in.colorado Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2013
    80
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I don't know where you are located but I met with Paul, the owner of Boulder Hybrid, this morning. He fixed some TPMS codes for me - for free. He's a great resource for battery issues, I don't recall the exact prices, but it's something like $2500 for a new Prius battery - guaranteed.. now, don't quote me on that, but it seemed very reasonable compared to the dealer prices. You can see his web at Boulder Hybrid Conversions. If nothing else, would be a good reference.
     
  4. jcrovelli

    jcrovelli New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2013
    2
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Desmond, I checked with the dealership that I bought the car from. They said that it was not under warranty.

    Scott, I'm in Arkansas, but I will definitely give Paul a call. Maybe he can direct me in the right direction. And from what I'm seeing, you're right - that is pretty reasonable.
     
  5. desmondlee

    desmondlee Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2007
    204
    27
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    I just found out the warranty for the 2006 Prius is 96 months/100,000 miles
     
  6. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
    954
    724
    1
    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Current prices (Feb 2013) for our best Gen2 remanufactured battery is $2200 exchange/installed in our Boulder, CO shop.
    24 month / 30k mile warranty.
    Prices don't include shipping and $700 core charge if out of the area (or sales tax if you're local)....but still less than any dealer....around Denver dealers are quoting $4-5k installed with one year warranty.

    Boulder Hybrids | Hybrid Service and Repairs
     
  7. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
    954
    724
    1
    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The warranty depends on where the car was originally purchased. If you were lucky to buy a used Prius originally sold in California, NY, Vermont, NJ, and a couple other "California emissions" states you'll have a 150k mile Hybrid battery warranty.
     
  8. J.R. Fisher

    J.R. Fisher Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2012
    27
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I called Toyota on this and it is where the vehicle is currently registered at. That is what is was told. I bought a new PIP and was concered because i live in WV (non carb state) and am moving to PA (carb state) within 4 months. They said no worries you will qualify for the 10yr 150,000 warrenty.
     
  9. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
    954
    724
    1
    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    There is a lot of confusion about Hybrid warranties and people get different answers depending who you talk to. I suggest you call Toyota corporate and ask them to send you their written policy, or send you a link to a web site where you can print it out yourself. Get it in writing and CYA for the future.

    Using the inverse of your statement above, if you bought the car in PA and moved to WV would your warranty be decreased? That wouldn't be fair.
     
  10. J.R. Fisher

    J.R. Fisher Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2012
    27
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I did call corporate Toyota for this information, and it is documented with a case# to keep in my back pocket.
     
  11. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    To put things in perspective, my daughter just had to have the transmission replaced in her 2006 YukonXL at 61000 miles. It cost $4200. A new Prius battery is a bargain.
     
  12. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,531
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Re-involt.com has posted for a while their intention to make replacement battery packs with Li cells. I don't know if they have reached the for sale stage yet but I would take a chance on them if available. Bar none, they and autobeyours.com have the best reputation of all the battery remanufactures.
     
  13. yangjiesheng

    yangjiesheng Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2012
    21
    10
    0
    Location:
    Singapore
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My 2006 Prius HV Battery just FAILED! Error Code P0A80 and P3017
    I'm from Singapore. Anyone can help?
     
  14. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
    954
    724
    1
    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That was a very wise thing to do! Hopefully you'll never need to use it...
     
  15. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2010
    954
    724
    1
    Location:
    Boulder Hybids, Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I agree, Lithium would be great, but it's not that easy to swap Li for NiMH in a Prius. The cell voltages are different, the C ratings are different, the thermal properties and operating ranges are different. The only way it could work is if you replaced the Prius battery ECU with another purpose built battery ECU (which ads a lot to the cost)....heck, just changing NiMH cells to a different type makes the car complain (we tried Honda style NiMH cells in a Prius...no way -- the car was NOT happy) Then there is the question of longevity. One good thing about the NiMH Prius uses is they last a long long time. Show me a Li battery in a car with 150k miles on it....
     
  16. northwichita

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2006
    481
    102
    29
    Location:
    Wichita KS
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Curious, any experience with the Gen 3 'improved' cells in a Gen 2? I'm interested in this as an upgrade. Also I suppose I expect some improvement with acceleration with the change, would this be right? I've searched and have read it should be possible to do, but have not found examples of it being done.
     
  17. SageBrush

    SageBrush Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2008
    11,627
    2,531
    8
    Location:
    Southwest Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Paul,
    I have no problem in general with Toyota sticking with NiMH for their hybrids. I appreciate the advantages just like you. Remanufactured though is a different story IMO, mostly because of long shelf life problems.
     
  18. scott.in.colorado

    scott.in.colorado Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2013
    80
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Anyone have the link to the Toyota battery warranty? I'd like to print and keep with my paper work. I purchased my car in CA and now live in CO.

    Thanks. Scott


    Scott
     
  19. sktn77a

    sktn77a Member

    Joined:
    Apr 28, 2007
    294
    13
    0
    Location:
    NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    They (and you) might want to have a word with Boeing, first!

    :(
     
  20. sascha

    sascha Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2013
    5
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I think the question got hijacked. because the question is the same 1 that I have does anyone have any experience with these rebuilt batteries and how long they last.is the battery from hybrid battery Depot the same as the 1 from Reinvolt for any of these other places are they doing anything differently from 1 another and if anybody has any experience with any of these products and their longgevity. I was told that this place in dallas rebuild battery but really all they are doing replacing Badb so did self where I was the other company claims to actually rebuilding the cells is this true? Fyi typing on this forum with a tablet is not user friendly