Autoline Daily on Hybrid Battery Replacement

I wonder if that is true.

In any case, I did not find the article helpful. While it may be interesting for a casual reader to know that rebalancing and selective module replacement are alternatives to a completely new pack purchase, there is not enough information available to make a sound money decision. "up to 80% successful" is sales malarkey. "longer warranty" is almost as bad, since the association between warranty length and longevity is wobbly at best, and the value of a warranty from a small business is difficult to appraise and costs money (return shipping) to use.

Between not knowing what the different options cost, and also not having reasonable statistics how each approach is going to play out, a person faced with the choice to pay someone else to keep the Prius running is still in the dark. I think the most rationale approach was ignored: buy a new pack at a cheap outlet and install oneself*. Fiddling around inside a pack takes expertise; replacing a pack only requires ability to follow instructions.

*An intriguing alternative for Gen2 is a rebuilt pack with a complete exchange of old modules for lightly used Gen3 modules or new generic modules. To my knowledge no one offers this choice yet.

 

I hear you, Bob.
I added a comment after yours that I think a casual reader might reasonably parse as "buying a used Prius may lead to a $2000 battery repair, good for another 5 - 10 years." If they don't grasp that as a deal worth considering, I'm not going to waste any more of my time trying to convince them otherwise. Hell, I'm willing to wager that the overwhelming fraction of people 'afraid' of hybrids have no idea how much the cost/mile is of their recent and current cars.

Yours is the optimistic POV. Being more cynical, I view #5 as simply rationalizing a preference not to buy a hybrid. I'm more concerned about the increasing number of people who buy a used Prius, and then show up frantic, penniless and completely clueless on PC with car alarms ringing. Is 'informed used car buyer' an oxymoron ? I might ask Danny to open a sub-forum for new owners of used Prius that has a banner splashed across the front page that says "USED/OLDER PRIUS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE REPAIRS THAN A NEW CAR. BUDGET ACCORDINGLY."

Your comment about tyre replacement is spot on. I recently sold our '04 Prius to my daughter. After I itemized all the maintenance (and new tyres!) I put into the car before transferring ownership, she decided that she got a good deal. And of course both of us know who is getting to get a telephone call if and when the traction battery requires attention.

 

...points out too that hybrids make a little more sense in CARB states due to the extended warranty.
I would like to see the 150k warranty expanded to all states.

Keep in mind Gen3- I don't think we've heard here on Prius Chat of a single Gen3 HV batt failure yet in USA, anyways I keep saying that until someone corrects me. Gen3 may have reduced HV batt failures by fixing some issues (prevention of discharge during empty gaso tank, etc).

 

Some Prius are 12 plus years old. Car parts wear and age out. This is news?

The last time I bought a used car I put $3k into it the first month by design to bring its maintenance and wear parts up to my standards. Next 5 years were a delight.

You guys ought to get over to one of the Porsche forums I frequent where the battery-replacement equivalent is a junk yard motor at $6k or a factory rebuilt one at $16k...for a 14 year old car that sells for less than $10k.

 

I replaced my original hybrid battery on my 2005 at 238,500 miles. My sotp guess is that this is a median number. I've seen plenty of Gen 2's over 250K and even over 300K miles as well as some under 200K.

The total cost installed was just under $2500 by my original Toyota dealer with a battery from Toyota. I investigated buying a rebuilt battery here on the E Coast and having it shipped to my installer. It would have been cheaper but it would have been more complex in that I'd have to pay the freight to ship it and then ship the old battery back to the vendor.

After 238,500 worry-free miles I did not feel that the cost was excessive.

Then 12 months later with an additional 20,000 miles on the clock I sold my '05 on Craig's List for $4000 'as is' ( Cat converter needed to be replaced ). In 3 days I had 6 'hot' buyers, two who offered $4500 if I cancelled my original acceptance.

In my actual experience it would seem that replacing the traction battery actually helped me sell my '05 so quickly. I then looked to buy a USED Gen 3 with 50K - 100K miles, but the asking prices were too rich in relation to a new 2014.

 

Good report...but are you not driving a Prius anymore?
I understand Prius drivers generally score closer to par and they get more straight flushes...

 

Yes I do now have a new 2014 Gen 3. Not to worry I'll be driving Prii for a long long time in the future. I can't imagine any other vehicle that has the combination of being so worry-free, defect-free, useful and of course economical.

The new 2014 has helped my golf game too.