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Looking for advice on P0A80 -> Replacing battery

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by orangeSqueezed, Oct 25, 2024.

  1. orangeSqueezed

    orangeSqueezed Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Hi all, I'm in a 2015 Prius C Four, 105k miles. Got the dreaded P0A80 error and took it into the local dealership. They cleaned the battery air vent and said cells 6,7,8 were failing, and they want ~$3100 to replace the pack. That seems high, and quick googling leads to some online places that will replace with a reconditioned battery for ~$1800. I've also seen individual cells for sale for like $35, although I'm not sure how complicated that replacement would, what tools I'd need, or if that even makes sense.

    What would you do in my situation? I literally finished paying the car off in June so this is just a bit frustrating...
     
    #1 orangeSqueezed, Oct 25, 2024
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    The replacement Toyota battery pack is the gold standard. You pretty much get another 8-10 years out of it. You can save some money by buying that battery at Toyota and either getting it installed by a willing independent mechanic, or doing it yourself.

    Reconditioned batteries are just old batteries with the worst cells swapped out. You'll be back in this spot soon.

    Replacing individual cells yourself? cheaper than the reconditioning but get used to doing it. Get used to the breakdowns telling you it's time to do it again.

    If you're near them, call Tampa Hybrids. One of the best Prius resources in the Southeast.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 25, 2024
  3. orangeSqueezed

    orangeSqueezed Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Thank you for the advice, I just realized my location was still showing Florida, I've actually moved to central PA for work, any recommendations for up here?
     
    #3 orangeSqueezed, Oct 25, 2024
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Sadly no. I was getting used to a local mechanic for a while but I caught him using a junk part on our car, so that was the end of that.

    I haven't needed anything else since then, so I haven't found a new shop yet.

    Good luck!
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 26, 2024
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    would you consider replacing it yourself? it isn't too difficult
     
    #5 bisco, Oct 26, 2024
  6. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    ^ that.

    From my own meager and preliminary research, it's much easier to change a c battery than it is in the bigbody liftback Prius.

    The access is much simpler because the battery is directly under the back seat cushion, instead of halfway under the backrest.

    It's also 40% smaller, and about that much lighter.

    When ours goes (predicting 2027) I'm quite likely to do it myself with a new battery bought at a local-ish Toyota parts counter.
     
    #6 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Oct 26, 2024
  7. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Take a look at Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics located in State College, PA
    Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics - Home
     
    #7 Brian1954, Oct 26, 2024
    bisco likes this.
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