Need help! In a predicament in Dallas, TX.

Bought a 2010 Highlander Hybrid with 160k miles a month ago. In a bid to extend the hybrid battery life, after researching here on PriusChat, ordered the deluxe set of charger / discharger combo from Hybrid Automotive. The harness install instructions on their website are for 1st gen Highlander but they said on the phone that same instructions work for the 2nd gen too.

Well, for the most part they do, but now that I have reached the battery I find that the central battery pack is covered by a hard plastic cover and Jeff @HybridAutomotive says he has never seen that and unable to provide instructions.

I am at a loss with my car ripped apart with both 2nd and 3rd row seats out and all side paneling removed and sitting in my garage since Friday. I kind of chickened out at this point and not knowing how to proceed when I am so close to the Hybrid battery, I am more inclined to turn over the job to someone who knows these things and has experience in this field.

Called the local "green tec auto" folks and though they have agreed to do this for me, they insist that I bring the vehicle to them. Since they regularly remove and install batteries at their customer sites, it is a bit puzzling. They say that it is for insurance reasons. But beyond this - the price they quoted gave a sticker shock - $450 - when I have done almost 40% of the work already

Since this is the largest online group of hybrid vehicle owners and enthusiasts - thought I would put my appeal on this site.

Can anyone here provide any suggestions on what to do? Is anyone on this forum who is local to Dallas-Fort Worth area willing to help? I am willing to spend money but $450 is over the top really. Alternatively, does anyone know of any mechanics in the area who would be willing to do this job at my location?

I am open to any suggestions...

Thanks for reading and I really appreciate any help and / or guidance anyone here can provide.

Regards
Sanjay

 

Will call him tomorrow.
However, I remember talking to him before I bought this car and he / his company seem to work exclusively on Prius. That is the only reason I didn't try calling him yet.

 

Only reason why I went for trying this option was based on many peoples good experience with reconditioning their battery on this forum itself. You are telling me that it is all for naught

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence and for your encouragement. I intended to post some pics of the current situation this morning - but got late getting out of the house for work and could not do that. It is supposed to get into the mid to high 60's later today and I intend to give it another shot late afternoon. Will also call and speak with Matt today as well.

@Sam Spade and others who are on the other side of the fence regarding this method of reconditioning the hybrid battery - I don't think there is need to take a hardline stance of "it works" or "it does not". As in everything in life (as well as science), there are always umpteen variables and parameters that dictate the outcome of any endeavor. Some people have had good results and some others have not seen any benefits. It does not necessarily mean that the "no benefit" folks are the ones with "good science" and others who have had good results are just imagining or deluded - or even that their results were only short lived.

I suppose folks who have had good results and have been able to bring their batteries from the brink of death (the red triangle or similar symptoms) can tell how long the benefits to their batteries has lasted.

Hare Krishna!!!

 

Update + questions for helpful folks here!

I got the hybrid battery cover opened up last night. According to instructions I also have to remove the 3 cooling fans. They were easily unscrewed but even after disconnecting their wire harness, I could not remove them. Reason being that the fans side of the wire harness is locked into the metal frame with a tab and I couldn't figure out how to get it out short of breaking it.

Here is the picture and install instructions from HybridAutomotive website - and it pretty much the same in my 2010 model.
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EDIT: Remove the hybrid battery cooling fan by removing the three 10mm bolts holding the fan in place. Unclip and unplug the four wire connector to finish removing the fan.

After cleaning the fans, do not yet reinstall them into the vehicle.
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I have marked the 3 harnesses with arrows. I am assuming that the wire harness for Prius and Highlander will quite likely be same. Can someone tell me how to get the fans out of there? Am I supposed to somehow get the 4 wires out of the harness? If so, how?
If not, is there a way to detach the harness from where it is clipped on to the car/battery frame? This would be the preferred way - but after inspecting the wire connector/harness that is part of Jeff's @HybridAutomotive's larger harness, I can't really see any way of pulling out the plastic from where it clips on to the vehicle.

Any suggestions will be helpful. Thanks for everyone who is trying to help and share information on here to help me out.

Regards
Sanjay

 

I know I am a noob at what I am trying to do - but can you confirm if my understanding gleaned from Hybrid Automotive's instructions is correct. If there is more, please share with me - I am all ears (eyes).

What they say on the website is that the 2 main terminals should never be touched together - only 1 at a time when unscrewing for connecting their harness as well as when putting it back in place.

Frankly, I have been finding myself nervous when getting near the terminals. There is no scope for any mistakes or slipping of the screwdriver when working in that slot. Can someone here who has done this give some tips on how to do this in a safe/r way?

Has anyone here found any extra tricks that makes doing this less risky than it is?

Regards
Sanjay

 

Only place I know of in Dallas to get cheaper hybrid battery than Toyota dealer for Highlander is "green tec auto" folks who have it listed on their website for $2695. From what they quoted me to complete my harness install, quite likely their install charges are $450 for a total cost of $3150. What is not very clear from the listing on their website is whether the battery is made up of brand new cells or reconditioned newer generation cells. Here is the link - sorry, forum rules not letting me post links (yet).... but it is very easy to see on their website.

They have 2 options for my HV battery -
1. Toyota Highlander 2010-2016 Remanufactured Hybrid Battery Pack with High-Capacity Cells, 18 months warranty - for $1895
and
2. Toyota Highlander 2010-2016 Hybrid Battery Pack with NEW GENERATION CELLS, 36 months warranty - for $2695