2006 Prius, dead hybrid battery, can I disconnect and keep driving?

Occasional lurker/reader, first time poster.

Our 2006 Prius with 111k miles had its hybrid battery fail over the weekend. I've read though a lot of posts, done a lot of research, talked to multiple dealers about costs and had one dealer confirm the battery is dead and needs replacement. The three I talked to are in the $3300 range including taxes for the replacement. $2600-2700 for the part plus labor and tax. I am undecided what to do at the moment.

The car first failed and lit up the red triangle, regenerative braking light, VSC light and check engine light. Since them, only the red triangle and check engine light has been on. The battery indicators go between purple to green to blue somewhat randomly. Can I keep driving the car for a few days? Can I disconnect the hybrid battery completely and just use the gas engine? When it originally failed the battery fan kicked on full blast so I'm a bit worried about overheating. Should I drive it 60-90 miles to an independent shop that specializes in hybrids?

I'm leaning towards getting a Toyota battery since I believe they are new cells and should last longer than a remanufactured/reconditioned one with a combination of older cells and replaced cells. I may end up buying one from a Toyota dealer for around $2100 and trying to find an independent garage to install it for me.

Thanks for any info.

 

Thanks. I asked for a goodwill warranty through Toyota HQ and was denied. I wonder what he looked up while I was on hold for 5 minutes. Credit report? Maybe just that I only buy one car every ten years or at least until it dies.

My usual dealer who I have had the car serviced always for 9 years didn't have an appointment to check the battery for 2 weeks so I ended up at a 2nd dealer. They confirmed the battery is dying and I put a call into their service manager to ask for a bit of negotiation but don't think they will do anything. I will call my usual dealer tomorrow to ask their service manager. I can get a Toyota battery an hour away for $2100 from a dealer (thanks to Priuschat's forums) but my local dealer won't offer any warranty if I bring my own parts. The hour away dealer charges $2600 for the battery if they install it.

There is a recondition-your-battery place down in Philadelphia...Savage Hybrid Shop...which sounds like they will replace individual cells and rebalance/recondition it but wonder if then Toyota wouldn't give me core credit if my battery has been tampered with and the fix starts acting up.

 

I called Toyota customer care at a 1-800 number provided by the dealer. Did a voicemail tree and picked the 'i have an issue with my car or dealer' option. They took all my information, VIN number, etc. Put me on hold for 5 minutes and said there we no recalls, etc. associated with the battery that there would be no extension provided. Gave me a case number and suggested I ask the local service manager if they would give me a discount.

PA is a carb state from what I've read but still has the 8/100 warranty.