Sell or Fix 2004 w/ dead Hybrid battey

This is a 2004 Prius with 126,000 miles on it. Two days ago the Red Triangle of Death popped up so we took it to our mechanic. He ran the diags and the report is a dead hybrid battery pack.

This car is in good to very good condition. All of the outside sheet metal except the section at the very end of the car was replaced three years ago after a hail storm. So the sheet metal and the paint job is three years old. The interior is very clean, we don't smoke, the CD player has trouble and one of the rear windows does not roll down. (Well, I guess none of the windows really 'roll' down)

Never had a problem with this car. It was detailed a few months ago and looked great. We treated the headlights to get rid of the smoky appearance with something that will keep them clear for years.

We want to decide wheather to sell as is, replace btty pack and keep, or replace btty pack and sell.

We would appreciate any historical perspective and common sense that you may have to send our way.

In 1999 we bought the very first 1999 Classic in all of Williamson County, TX. In those days one would pre-order over the Internet and choose a dealer from there.

We have a 2012 Prius V now and we will probably get a Prius C if we replace the 2004.

Seven years of no car payments and high gas mileage isn't so bad.

Thank you!

Mike

 

Thank all of you~!

It's about the money. We have no idea what a new battery pack costs in central Texas so we will look around. It is a great car. Rides as well today as the day I got it. The only problem we ever had was that one day, all by itself without the slightest input from me, I stepped on the brake and it accelerated to light speed, circled around Alpha Centauri and back. I had it on cruise control and set the GPS and I guess that is what did it. Made me 9 years late for my haircut appointment.

If anyone has any tips about where to get a btty pack (in addition to salvage yards) in central Texas that would be welcome.

Ciao,

Mike

How do you like the plug in? Do you think the economics worked out? We pay about 7.5 cents per KWH here.

Thank you,

Mike

 

Well, maybe the math is done and the problem solved at least if you live in Texas.

Found a shop that will come to where ever you are in the state of Texas and install a re-manufactured pack for $975.00.

Yes. I thought too good to be true too. Checked him out and found 29 Google reviews on him, all current, all 5 stars. Perfect.

Prius Hybrid Battery Rebuild

Google the above without the spaces and check it out.

Also going to check autobeyours.come

Mike

 

I will be happy to bump the thread after Joe finishes the work on Saturday.

I found Prius Hybrid Battery Recall by accident while searching for other sites. The first thing I did was to investigate his online reputation. Since I am ex law enforcement and currently a Private Investigator that investigates Internet crimes (among other things) it wasn't too hard.

The results for Joe's shop were just amazing and spectacular. By this morning I have found 40+ reviews and every one, all of them, are five star out of five star reviews. Not one complaint. I searched YELP and RIP OFF REPORT for anything negative and there were NO negative reviews. I even called a few people and still nothing.

However, a competitor of Joe's in Houston sent me a PM telling me to beware of Joe because he does poor work. They also stated that they have followed behind Joe with several of his customers repairing the damage he had done. That was very worrisome so I checked again for negative reviews and still could not find any. Then I called Joe to confront him about the issue.

Joe was very polite. He tells me he knows who these people are and that they contacted him earlier this year requesting that they be allowed to be a franchise for Joe's operation. Joe did not want to franchise, just not his thing. So, they went out and started their own Prius Battery Repair shop in Houston doing exactly what Joe does. I guess that is how they are going to compete... by running down the competition and telling lies. If I were Joe I would sue them. I will certainly be a witness. If I am wrong then they should publish their data here, in the open, so EVERYONE can check it out.

Joe is coming Saturday and we will fill you in after that AND a few months down the road to report longevity.

Good day,

Mike Adams @ Prime Focus Forensics, LLC

 

Well... I am not going to tell you if you can't figure it out from my post. I emailed them asking permission to get this into the open and have not heard from them. If they do, then, I will. In the mean time do your own research.

Do you think I am stupid? I am very well aware that Joe may not have come clean but you know what... The first thing he did is offer to return my money. After we talked I was satisfied. Don't you ever get a good feeling about someone? Did you read about all of the research I did without finding one negative review? What do you think the odds are of finding any business with all five star reviews on the Internet? I personally contacted 1/3 of them to verify that they were legitimate and they were.

Where did you get a 2005 Prius V and a 2006 Prius III?

We had the Prius Classic in 1999, the II in 2014, and the V in 2012. Just wondering?

 

Joe, owner of Prius Hybrid Battery Rebuild in San Antonio, came to our home Saturday the 24th as scheduled. It was the best encounter I have ever had with a Prius mechanic or most any mechanic. He is a pleasant and very happy young man doing something he loves doing. Eight people in his extended family drive a Prius. Joe buys them, shines em' up, and gives them to family members.

It took him about 45 minutes to pull our battery pack and replace it with the re-man he brought with him in his Prius. It all went very smoothly and all I can say is it drives like new.

Because I had to confront Joe about the other store in Houston told me he increased my warranty to one year at no additional charge. He said he does not want me to worry, and I won't. He took about 15 minutes to explain some things about the Prius in detail. After he was done we took a 20 mile drive for the road test.

Joe advertises 24/7 service and he will deliver it. He has employed some of his ex-military buddies that he served with in Iraq and together they maintain the 24/7 service. This could come in handy if your battery pack dies and you are stuck somewhere. I learned not to drive your Prius more than about 5 miles if your battery pack dies. The CVT also depends on that power and will not function correctly with a dead pack.

Off to Google and Yelp to write more 5 star reviews on Joe. Proof that there are still honest and reliable car mechanics in this world.

Mike