The Dealership says the reason my 2008 with 130,000 miles stopped is the Battery ECU. They supposedly tore down the battery and found it good -- but emphasized that after changing the ECU "further testing will be needed". They want $1900 to bring in the part and install it. What say you? Is the ECU a plug and play unit I could acquire and install? Is their price reasonable? This number is pretty close to the value of the car, and they can offer no guarantee its a final fix.
Run away, but get the OBD2 codes (DTCc) before you leave. If it really is the ECU, you've got this. Post the code(s) here for further advice.
You can buy a used ECU for less than $100... You can also buy a new Wire Frame. No. 2 for $50 and 2 hours of labor and problem solved. Finding a local mechanic who wants to learn this stuff is your best bet. It's very straightforward work.
I have been told following a diagnostic check that the hybrid battery is needing replacement. After taking to an authorised dealer they then stated that the ECU has corroded and is not connectable to the battery. They stated the ECU has become corroded due to a leak in the boot. A fellow prius driver said that this didn't sound right, advice please as told it would be approx £3000 to fix the issues.
The battery ecu having corrosion at the pin socket is a common problem. A dealership will normal "fix" this by replacing the HV battery (which includes the wire harness that plugs into the ecu) and the ecu. The battery is about $1800 and the ecu is about $900 so that price doesn't sound far off. If you are DIY, these ecu's are available all day long on ebay for $100 or less. Along with that, the wire harness that connects at that pin socket will also need to be replaced, but is available new from Toyota for about $60. It's called "wire frame #2"
Welcome to PriusChat!! Since you had a diagnostic check (paid or free?), do you have any OBD2 codes (DTCs) that you can post in this thread? FYI : you're moderated until you've posted 5 times.
Yes... Your battery problem can be repaired with a $50 part, yet the Toyota Stealerships are greedy and will force you to replace the entire battery pack to get as much money out of you as possible. If you have basic mechanical skills you can do this repair yourself.
