Fitting a new Toyota HV batt - any tips please

Don't return the old battery until you've moved over all the bit and pieces onto the new battery.

 

It's quite an easy process... Study up on where the ECU, relays and wiring part of the battery pack is. You're going to be using your existing one and that metal box is simply mounted to new chassis that comes with the new modules, chassis and bus bars already assembled. Two hours or less work once you've done it once.

Do lots of deep cleaning of your car before you get started and then once you have the car taken apart do even more cleaning, especially the hybrid battery cooling fan, which you should give a good scrubbing to.

As for taking the car apart, making the swap and putting the car back together, this dude did it in less than 13 mins once... He knows every trick in the book to making it go super fast:

 

Most dumb mistakes are related to plugging the orange safety plug in too soon... This is a brand new pack, so no need to test electrically, just visually, to make sure there's no damage.

Also you might consider showing up with your existing battery pack with ECU-relay box already removed and making sure the person responsible for inspecting core deposits is working at the time you arrive.

That way you can get you core deposit expedited as quickly as possible.

 

Actually, this dude takes way too many shortcuts AND tears his back muscles in the process(he says so in the video). Maybe watch as the way NOT to do it.

 

Did you have to pay the HV battery "core charge" (deposit) ?

 

You might want to call Toyota corp and ask about this, as this could be shenanigans on the dealers part.

 

That AU$2430 is roughly equivalent to US1688, so I'm guessing there is no core fee added. I suspect that if they wanted the core they would have added on $500 to be refunded on return of the core.

Interested to understand why they have an age criterion on the old battery.

 

That old battery is just a bunch of work for the dealer with no money in return.

 

Or now that there are cheaper alternatives, Toyota recognizes they are no longer the Monopoly

 

I'm curious. Australia is certainly different when it comes to core fees, lol. Did this battery come fully assembled? Did you have to remove the electronics portion from your old battery and install it onto the new one? Just reading your post fairly quickly, it almost sounds as if it was just "drop it in and go".

 

Is that what Toyota of Australia told you?

Contact Us | Toyota Australia

 

Every battery I've ever done for Toyota in the US requires return of core. No matter the mileage or age.

Biggest mistake folks make when reassembling is not properly torqueing the nuts for the battery posts and High Voltage contactors. As long as you used a torque wrench to tighten them you should be fine. If you simply guessed, well, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Personally I wouldn't take that risk.

It's a good idea to clean the hybrid battery fan while you are back there as well.

 

No wonder Kenny Rogers is been out of the loop. He's been busy.