hey everyone So I have a 2008 Prius with 174k miles and the hybrid battery went out. Getting replaced is a hefty procetag but I’ve heard that replacing it will probably give me a lot more miles and that other than the battery going out (usually happens with the mileage I’m at) maintenance is gonna be pretty minimal moving forward (short of fuel pump which is not crazy expensive). Can anyone confirm this is true before I drop $2k? Otherwise I am going to get a new car. My only other concern is the transmission going but my mechanic said that’s pretty rare with this car. Has anyone had this happen or heard the same? I also only need it to drive about 100 miles a week
If you looked around the site you would find the answers you are looking for. Go to the gen 2 section. Traction batteries seem to be a top subject.
a/c compressor and brake actuator are two expensive possibilities what are you seeing for battery replacement costs?
Looking at about $2300, but from everything I have read and seen, the car should go for a while after that. I have a really honest mechanic and he seems confident the car will go for some time after that. I also did some cost benefit and even if the car craps out soon, I can yank the battery and sell it seperate and eat the cost of labor. My only other alternative would be to take that $2300 and put a down payment on a new car and pay a car note for the next 6 years.
^^What they said. ^^ Transaxle failure is very rare. Your two best options would be either a new battery from Toyota or @2k1Toaster's kit that has had good success so far. Next up would be a full set of cells transplanted from a wrecked Gen 4 that has the NiMH battery. The cells are interchangeable.
Thanks! My mechanic says he has a ton of experience and connections in the wold of Prius', so I know he will get a solid battery. Good to know thought, as I will ask him where he locates batter from.
The Prius almost has no transmission, it is a single planetary gearset that never shifts or clutches. It has two electric motors, but the are also very reliable. If you were to drain and fill the ATF WS in the transaxle now and every 100,000 miles it will last for a long time. Never jump start other cars and try to avoid having to jump start your Prius, (I advise a small jump pack) I would not have bought a Prius for only 100 miles a week, although if they are all in one or two days, it will do fine. This video will tell you more than you wanted to know about a Gen 2 transaxle:
A new battery would be cheaper than a new car and the Gen 2 Prius is really the benchmark that all the newer Prii have to live up to. Just be aware of the other expensive parts that could fail mentioned and then decide. Just remember the Prius is one of the most reliable cars on the road today.
