I gave my touring 2009 to my daughter and she had it towed yesterday to a dealer. The battery was dead and they charged her $300. Is this a typical charge. The car was starting by itself after she locked the car. LOL
Sounds about right for a stealership. You could have bought one for about $125 or so from Advance Auto and installed yourself in about an hour. LG-AS695 ? 2
What was the breakdown, how much for the battery, and the labour, if it shows on the invoice and you don't mind?
She said the car would start at random tries and finally would not start at all. Started itself one time while outside the car.
How well versed is your daughter on the operation of the Prius? Is it possible she is hitting the Park button and getting out? If she is not also hitting the Start/Stop button to turn off the system then the gas engine will cycle on and off as needed to charge the HV battery that powers nearly everything after the system is READY. The engine coming on could be interpreted by some as "the car starting by itself". If this scenario proves to be true then your daughter doesn't really know the system is on unless the engine is running, like most other cars on the road. But, as we know, the car is on when it is READY. Also in that event, the 12V battery may not necessarily have needed changing just because she had it towed because the ICE was cycling on after being left in Park but still in the READY state.
Maybe "breakdown" is a Canadianism, LOL: I was wondering what the bill said: how much was for the battery, and how much was the labour to install.
I don't think you can lock the car with the FOB in operate mode. But I will ask! I know my two new ones are very picky on when you can actually lock them. I think I have used the park button once in all 3 cars.
Also, I have seen references to starting by itself as a result of a lose battery connection. The negative battery cable where it connects to the body is commonly reported as a lose connection.
In April of this year we paid the local Toyota dealer $185 for the new 12 volt Prius battery including installation & a free car wash. Sounds like you were had by your dealer, unless that pricing included the tow as well ?
Sure would like to see a copy of the invoice, or a picture of the battery, or at least the battery make and model. I don't doubt you, just would like to know exactly what they used, their price for the battery itself and then the labor.
Thanks Bill. It is indeed a genuine Toyota battery for Prius w/SKS. What is interesting is your Daytona Toyota dealer charged $185 for the battery, gave a $10 discount, only charged $20 for installation and then gave you a free car wash. I would advertise for this place. Ahh, I think I just did.