Junk Yard Score: Rocker Panel Molding and 12V Battery

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by mycnam, Mar 9, 2016.

  1. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    I scratched and cracked my driver side rocker panel molding badly last year. My attempts to re-surface using spot putty and repaint with spray cans failed miserably. I have been checking car-part.com from time to time, and I just found one listed with the right color within 20 miles. There are some minor scuffs, should be easy to touch up. I picked up a drained 12V battery (down to 6V) too. They should have removed every engine/transmission parts but missed the battery in the trunk.

    Total cost is $70. A new (unpainted?) rocker panel molding is listed at my dealer for $473.44. A similar condition scuffed one on eBay is about $200.

    Now I have two extra S46B24R batteries. The Optima yellow-top is in the car. Any idea what's the date code 12/13 mean? Not sure I would still get the 84-month warranty or not...
    IMG_20160309_174603.jpg IMG_20160309_202148.jpg
     
    #1 mycnam, Mar 9, 2016
  2. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Nice find! 12/13 means December 2013, it was when it was made. So hopefully you will have 4 years worth of it.
     
    #2 NutzAboutBolts, Mar 9, 2016
  3. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    Cool! It's as easy as I thought. Any idea whether I need to be the original buyer for the warranty?

    I'm using the Optima battery in the car. I will keep these two charged as emergency backup.
     
    #3 mycnam, Mar 9, 2016
  4. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    You won't get the warranty since you're not the original buyer, they must see a receipt that you bought it new from them.
     
    #4 NutzAboutBolts, Mar 9, 2016
  5. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    Still it's newer than my 2010's OEM battery. I'm just surprised they are identical except labels!

    By the way I enjoyed your videos a lot. Is PCV valve change really necessary?
     
    #5 mycnam, Mar 9, 2016
  6. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Yes, the PCV over time gets clogged up with carbon build up and the one way check valve will stop working. It's a preventive maintenance. You can replace it early or when it stops working, up to you. Eventually you'll need to replace it.
     
    #6 NutzAboutBolts, Mar 10, 2016
    Chilly36 likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That new one from the dealership should cost around $70. :mad:

    That thing has about a dozen weird and wonderful fasteners. I happened to take a close look at ours lately: some fasteners have fallen out, and most of the remainder are sort of coming apart, without any impact. Have you taken your existing one off before? Past or future, I'd be curious how that goes, the thing seems almost organic, way too complex and fragile.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Mar 10, 2016
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    #8 Mendel Leisk, Mar 10, 2016
  9. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    Mine is cheaper since it is still scratched and need some touch-up/repaint. They gave me all the fasteners though (minus a few damaged), now I have plenty to spare.

    download_20160309_132306.jpg
     
    #9 mycnam, Mar 10, 2016
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  10. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    #10 mycnam, Mar 10, 2016
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Ah woops.

    See the list price in that link, crazy!
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Mar 10, 2016
  12. ALS

    ALS Active Member

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    Here is a website I love for finding parts in salvage yards.

    www.car-part.com
     
    #12 ALS, Mar 10, 2016
  13. mycnam

    mycnam Member

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    I found mine here!
     
    #13 mycnam, Mar 11, 2016
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