Our 2008 Prius with 294,000 is now in the shop with the mechanic wanting to charge about 5,000 to get her back on the road. The husband started the car and all lights came on, the triangle, VSC, engine light, on the counsel the car with a line through it. He was able to drive it to the mechanic and we were told the following: Hybrid battery failed The mechanic said that water reached the battery compartment and feels it’s related to the VSC failure Mechanic says we need to replace the battery, VSC module and wheel bearings in the rear because it’s all tied together. Mechanic is not sure how water got to the battery compartment and states that the leak would have to be identified before a new battery could be installed. I suggested a used battery for $500 with 100,000 miles on it from a salvage yard that I trust. He said he won’t do that but would install a rebuilt battery that he would purchase. The car has been VERY dependable and the body is in perfect condition so we would like to keep her. If all else fails can we run on just the gas engine? This is the best car I have ever owned!!!
Get your car towed to a real mechanic... There's issues with the 12v battery compartment holding water, but it doesn't damage anything, at least not right away. For water to get into your hybrid battery pack the entire inside of the car would have to be flooded to a height above the top of the spare tire storage compartment in the rear of the car. And rear bearings are just along for the ride, they have zero relationship to the hybrid system. Seriously, what is it about hybrid systems that make mechanics act so crazy and non-nonsensical? Get in touch with @ericbecky in Madison he'll ensure the replacement pack or rebuilding your existing pack is done right...
as nice as it is and has been, it is probably time to cash in your chips. the car will not start without a working hybrid battery. a salvage or rebuilt battery is iffy at best. a new battery is at least $2,000. installed. i'm amazed you have made it this far without a competent hybrid mechanic. are you anywhere near madison? we have a member there who is an excellent hybrid mechanic, @ericbecky if you want to make an investment in it, pay a dealer to scan the codes and post them here for advice. all the best!
$5000 can you get a very nice replacement car. Even at my cost of having been in the repair business for a long time and building contacts I estimate my cost would be around $1000-$1200 with a used battery and new wheel bearings parts/labor. I don't think it's really worth putting a grand into a 300k mile car that is only worth a grand running good. I would scrap it, sell it for a little over scrap ($400-$500), or if you want the lawn ornament try parting it out to get a little over 1k over time. If everything is in very good working order and clean then it might be worth repairing at $1200 tops but probably time to sell.
I'm pretty much in the camp of the above responses. I would not spend more than a few hundred fixing it. But you just might be able to get it done for that. @ericbecky really knows his stuff and can give you some more detailed advice. And also ... lose that mechanic. He want's way too much money. Although, if the car was in a flood, the wet battery and bad wheel bearings would be from the same cause.
Respects, but an 11 YO car with 300K miles? Big picture question is, even at $2,000 to fix it...this time...do you really want to?
Da1sy, I guess I'll be the outlier here......If you're happy with the car, and it sounds like you are, it could very well be good to go for another 10 years if you install a new battery in it. Maybe I'm different, but I'm not afraid of miles. We had a blue 2005 prius with ~290k miles that I recently sold to my son's best friend and her fiance. I would not have sold it to them if I didn't have full confidence in the car. It has a Dorman HV battery in it that I repaired a couple years ago. The only issue it has is the combo meter goes black about once every 6 months. I also had a white 2005 that had ~280k mile son it. It had the Blue 2005's original HV battery (with one module replaced). It ran like a champ until we got run off the road and it was totalled out. My son's current 2005 has about 195k miles. My current 2007 has 187k miles. Only you know the condition of the car and it's maintenance or problem history. If you're feeling good about the condition of the car, investing in a new battery beats the heck out of a new car payment. As for your water issue, it's a very common problem with the gen 2 prius. There's some weepage areas in the body joints and seal areas of the hatch. All that needs to be done is to remove the storage tray under the trunk panel, remove the 12v battery, remove the spare tire, remove the little storage cubby on the driverside of the trunk. Dry it all out. Drill an 1/8th inch hole in the rear portion of each area to allow any future water to drain out. Put it all back together, or leave it out if you're doing it in conjunction with replacing the HV battery. And just to throw it out there, I have seen these water seepage issues result in water in the the fan ductwork. I had about a cup of water pour out of a piece of duct while replacing a HV battery in a fellow forum members car. The sound deadening material inside the trunk side panels was also soaked. Apparently, it had a bit more than just seepage... If the VSC light came on simultaneously with the HV codes, it is most likely due to the HV battery, not a seperate failure in the brake system.
I agree that **if you can fix for 1.5k or less** it might be worth investing such a large pile of cash on a 300k mile vehicle. But surely you don't agree with his "mechanic" demanding $5000 for 1-2 small repairs?
I'd be happy to chat through options with you. Not sure where you are located in WI. I can be reached at 608-729-4082
Thank you for the replies. #1 tomorrow we are bringing the vehicle home to make a decision. I wish we were near Madison because I would like to keep the car and have the mechanic recommended there work on it. We are closer to Green Bay and only needed to take it in twice in its lifetime with us. Once was a recall (At the local Toyota dealer) and the other time was a sensor which was done at this import shop that does work on Prius. I will definitely ask for the codes and post them here for any more ideas. One item that does confuse me..if indeed the hybrid battery is done, shouldn’t the car be completely dead?? We are still able to drive the car at this time. I really don’t want to sound dumb but that doesn’t make sense to me. I also understand that the wheel bearings are not connected to the battery, but the last time I had a wheel bearing replaced I could definitely feel it when I was driving as well as hear it. BTW thanks to this forum we were able to replace the HID headlights with my brother-in-law’s help and advice from this forum! Many thanks for having this available for owners, it is greatly appreciated
See and read post #5. Trunk weatherstripping replacing | PriusChat Pictures and links for the common sources of water entry in the Gen2 Prius.
Thank you for the reply and yes the biggest struggle that I have in this to spend the money to have her repaired taking into account the miles and the age. That is the BIG question. I have driven the car most of its life with us and I was always religious with it’s care. Most of the miles are highway miles with limited city driving. No accidents and pretty much only regular maintenance was required with the exception of a sensor 4 years ago. She runs like a tank in the snow and has gotten me home safe and sound. Another factor is the large deer population in this area...so we could have it repaired and then smoke a deer playing Russian roulette on the road.
Thank you for the info!! The cargo and passenger area have no signs of leakage anywhere but I will check the grommets on the bumper. We bought this gen 2 as a local trade and it has not seen any flooding while we owned it. Also, when I took it in for regular service the mechanics always commented on how good she looked even at the Toyota dealerships. Thanks again! You may have solved one mystery
Definitely getting the codes when we pay her ransom and get her off the mechanics property. I will be sure to post the codes here.
Thank you!! This is very helpful! The mechanic was going to fix the brake system so this is good news. The mechanic also stated the the VSC module and the wheel bearing are all connected to the HV battery failure. I love this forum! Thank you and I agree. With that estimate there is no way we could put her back on the road. As I read these forums I am already seeing inconsistencies which I will follow up. And....IF I do get her back I will give my husband my 2013 Prius and takeover the care of the “old girl”. If we have to shop for a new/used car my husband doesn’t want a Prius....bummer
Consider getting Techstream to read codes. Techstream is the OFFICIAL diagnostic and maintenance software made for Toyota/Lexus, and used at Toyota/Lexus dealerships. Bluetooth OBD2 readers and all the various apps for smartphones/tablets are convenient (small and portable) but junk: LIMITED code reading ability (can't read ALL codes) and can NOT do any maintenance (bleed brakes, engine compression check, activate CHRS pump, etc). Why waste money on a toy that limits what you can read and can't do maintenance? "But I don't DIY." Getting the codes read at a Toyota dealership will set you back $100+. The cost of the hacked Techstream from Amazon will pay for itself. Get mini VCI w/ Techstream from Amazon ($25+). Doesn't matter who you buy from, as the cables likely come from the same one or two suppliers from panda land. May have to return/buy a few, as some cables have problems. Installation easiest on a Windows 32bit OS (XP, Vista, 7). Ask friends/family if they know someone in IT, as this person will likely have obsolete laptops laying around, and might be able to donate for free. B/C the software is hacked, recommended to install on a spare laptop; do not use this laptop for sensitive information (log in & passwords: email, bill payments, etc). This laptop is now your Toyota/Lexus diagnostic laptop. Mac install possible, you just need to search online. Should you stop driving a Toyota/Lexus, you can easily sell your Techstream laptop set-up here. Private Sales | PriusChat Peruse this thread: 299,999+ Mile Club | Page 54 | PriusChat The later pages have the crazy high mileage Prius.
In no way, shape, or form, do I agree with that mechanic's repair thought process. I was thinking more along the lines our one and only @ericbecky helping out with a new battery.
The battery isn’t completely dead, it’s dying and that’s what the codes are telling you. If the battery were completely dead the car would not run. Also your comment about hitting the deer, couldn’t you hit one just as easily in a new car? It would just cost more to fix it.
