2005 Dead Hybrid Battery

welcome to priuschat! you have several options: 1) you can get a new battery from toyota, 2) you can buy a rebuilt battery with a few years warranty or 3) you can have more cells replaced, which typically last a year or so. it is possible that other cells have gone bad.

 

Are you related to member prius121212 trolling about battery here: Why is the Prius traction battery so incredibly inefficient? | PriusChat

 

How do you know the battery has died? who diagnosed the car?

 

you're south of l.a.? jc should know someone. you can check out doorman hybrid drive batteries. they offer rebuilds and i think can hook you up with an installer.

 

check out modesty's in culver city or avi's advanced automotive in tejunga.

 

Replacing modules is the cheapest way to get your car running again but replacing modules on a 2005 will be very temporary. The 28 modules are almost 10 years old and any of them can fail at any time. So it'll be like whack a mole until all 28 modules are replaced.

Best solution is to change out the battery pack.

 

If you are thinking of selling it, I would be interested in buying it. I'm curious who you used on Craigslist? I hope it's not the Hybrid 911 people

 

Holly,

It is unfortunate that you are suffering from the demise of your traction battery.

First and foremost. I don't work for anyone, I am a Prius driver who has researched the product.

FWIW, the symptoms you describe and the scenario you are discussing is typical of someone like yourself who had their battery "rebuilt". The process involves replacing bad cells/modules as the mechanic did which you no longer trust.

I am not going to fault that individual, nor am I going to say that you are incorrect either.

However, the traction battery consists of 28 modules and I believe there are 6 cells in each module. When a cell weakens and or dies over time the modules will fail. Once the modules fail, the dash will light up and as you say the battery will die.

When you are dealing with a older Prius like yours, it becomes obvious that sooner or later one might have the problem you are experiencing.

Now for the fix, you still have options at hand.

#1 Please don't think that just because your battery failed since you had it fixed means the mechanic did not do his or her job. Furthermore, the warranty is only as good as the individual who is providing the warranty. There is a saying, "you get what you pay for".

The options you have at this point are as follows.

1. Do nothing, and sell your car. (Loss of money all the way around)
2. Have your battery fixed again (replace cells/modules)
3. Have your battery rebuilt (Same as #2, but also have the cells balanced)
4. Swap your battery with a recent crash from a junk yard or auto insurance wholesale
5. Have your battery professionally replaced with a rebuilt. (same as step #3 but done by the pro's)
6. Have a new battery installed.

With each option, you will spend more money. Furthermore, as you spend more money, your chances of continual operation of your Prius go up. However you need to understand that at some point/time whatever the battery will eventually fail again. The Prius is NOT perfect. No man made object is. There is more than just the big battery in a Prius that can act up over time. The battery is just one of those things that is well publicized.

Best of luck to you,
Ron (dorunron)

PS If you can afford it, order a battery from Dorman (parts house) and have Toyota put it in for you. Three year warranty with good background of company. Should be reliable for years to come.

 

For peace of mind, contact Luscious Garage in Cali. Talk to the owner, she is a lady and knows Prius well. She can explain it better than I can.

Peace,
Ron

 

A reliable replacement battery with a warranty is going to be about 3 times the cost of the service you already received.
Not sure you have that kind of money available but that is probably the least expensive option that will have some guaranteed longevity.

 

You can buy a new OEM battery for ~ $2000 in the LA area. Add on installation cost if you cannot DIY

 

Unless you know the specifics behind the rebuilding process, you may end up with the same problem 4 months later. Also your battery is no longer original and has been modified before, your core may not be accepted as an exchange. They may end up replacing your bad modules and calling it a day

 

No that's not a good deal at all, you have no way of knowing if the cells are Gen3. If I were to spend that type of money, I would make sure the person has a proper business license and store front. Not just a YELP review.

Also for $2100, you can buy a Brand New Toyota battery in San Bernardino.

 

Excellent deal if true, but very unlikely to be true. Much more likely the offer is to replace bad modules with Gen3 modules, leaving you with an unbalanced pack and a bunch of old modules.

This forum has a number of truly reputable rebuilders, Eric Becky for one. Since he is still rebuilding with Gen2 modules, take it as fact that surplus, inexpensive Gen3 modules are not available.

Do you know the saying "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" ?
Experts find real deals; you will find scams.