How to sell/get rid of a dying traction battery

try craigslist or eBay, but you might have to give it away. dealers charge $1,350. so there must be some value to the right entity.

 

Keep in mind that this battery kit is just that, a kit. I'm pretty sure you'll need your original battery case components and electronics. You can obviously get more info from @2k1Toaster, since those are his kits. If you were closer to me, I'd do it for you. You should be able to take all the leftover components and stick them on craigslist or ebay for $250 bucks and they'll probably be gone in a day.

 

Yea, make sure to keep what you need first. You may just be getting new modules.

Since dying HV batteries are of little value other than recycling, contact your local dealer and if they will take it for free just give it to them. I think all the Toyota dealers take old HV batteries and ship them to Japan to be recycled. Toyota wants these packs to reduce costs vs having to mine new materials to make the same pack. They are recycling old HV batteries to make new ones and they claim this will lower the cost of the new ones.

 

You need your old battery! You are getting the modules inside and the wiring bits and such, but you need the metal enclosure, the ECUs, etc.

Once you finish your install you'll have the 28 old modules, the old wiring harness, the old bus bars and orange covers, and the old vent tubes. The only thing really of any value are the 28 old modules. If you put them on eBay for $20 a pop they'll be gone in a week or two.

 

That old battery core is worth a lot. As mentioned, when you buy from a dealer, they will insist on getting the core, or you won't get back a ~$1,300 deposit. If you purchase from elsewhere, they will also insist on getting your core. How much are you paying from New Prius Batteries?

 

no, but keep in mind that the warranty is only as good as the company standing behind it.

 

Seems on the high side like I mentioned before. Any of the installers off of Craigslist that will swap a battery, should be able to do this for the same price. It's pretty simple.

 

Ask for a quote from your local yoyta dealer, seems to me last winter Toyota lowered the price of the battery to 1600$, plus installation, so a conversation might help, it the dealer price is higher for the battery is higher than 1600$, having the dealer install the one you buy might still be a good inexpensive way to go.

 

I'm not so sure I'd trust some of the Craigslist folks to do this job.

I've seen a few where they have stripped bolts, broken nuts on posts and more.

Putting together the kit takes attention to detail that some guys just can't get right. They are like bulls in a china shop and seem to think their electric imact driver solves everything. That mentality will not work for the kit.

Try to at least vet the person you have putting together the kit. Have them look at the instructions bso they understand what the are getting into.

 

Caveat: I have NOT been inside a Prius battery but do have several years of auto and electrical experience.

If you have any common sense and ability to follow a manual and directions you should have no problems doing the various tests and upgrades on your battery. I've done a lot of research on here and these batteries are nothing to be scared of IF you take proper precautions.

You would change your 12v battery out yourself wouldn't you?

You would change your cordless drill battery out yourself wouldn't you?

Now put 28 car batteries or cordless drill batteries together and bolt them up- what's the difference between doing that and doing one?

Exactly.

It's NOT that hard. Just can't short out all those batteries in series and most of that is just common sense. And then you find out that your cordless drill battery is 18v and your car battery is 12v, and the prius module is 7.2 volts.

 

You will likely due a better job of attention to detail than having someone else do it.
Of course the only downside is that you don't know what you don't know.
Hopefully with another set of eyes it can help minimize any errors.
Go slow and ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU ARE UNSURE.

 

Drifting off topic... I wish somebody would tell my local Toyota dealers this. Last quote I got was $2600 + install, for a total of $3200.

 

Gen 2 batteries received the price drop earlier this year. Gen 2 may be near $1600 for some wholesale company accounts, but most companies will not get that price. A consumer/retail price is closer to $1900-$2200

Gen 1 batteries did not receive the price drop.
So their prices remain quite a bit higher.
They are definitely NOT $1600.

 

Lethal Voltage.

 

You might have to take two appraches, b/c it all depends on the person you are speaking to.

1) See if the service dept will price match other dealer's HV battery price; you already know the labor rate ($600). If NO, then will they install a NEW OEM HV Battery you provide from the parts department?
2) See if that dealer's parts dept will price match other Toytoa dealer's OEM HV Battery. If yes, tell them Conicelli Toyota has it for $1699.70, or Camelback Toyota has it for $1803.60.
3) Remind them its a ZERO sum game. Some profit is better than ZERO profit. Don't they want the mechanics to earn money?
4) The labor charge of $600 is speculated to be $450 worker, $150 dealer.
5) You can pay yourself $600 if you DIY.

 

If I'm not mistaken, you lose some/all of the warranty by DIY. If I'm remembering that correctly, The $600 not only buys you labor, but also a better warranty.

 

If you do it 1yr. If Toyota does it 3 yr.

But the warranty on a NEW Toyota battery pack is a moot point.

I have NEVER heard of a brand new Toyota battery fail within 3 years.

You are getting the exact same battery pack regardless of whether you get it through the service department or the parts department. So if you can do the job, in my opinion is is well worth the discount given the infintessimal risk of failure in years 2 and 3.

Tell you what, do the job yourself, pay me only $300 and I will give you an ironclad warranty for years 2 and 3. It'll be the easiest money I've ever made.