About to cry ... '05 Prius battery died ...

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by hzyoung, Aug 18, 2010.

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  1. hzyoung

    hzyoung New Member

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    They're replacing the 12V today ... for another $300 ... UGH

    THEN, to see if this solves the issues, it'll cost yet another $250 or so to re-run the "intensive diagnostic tests" ... Sorry, but this sounds really unrealistic to me. If the diagnostics continue to show hybrid battery failure, we're still out close to $1K ... and we'll still need to get the hybrid battery issues resolved.

    This is really starting to get even more frustrating!!! My patience with dealership service is wearing pretty darned thin as I'm feeling more and more taken-advantage-of because I'm not automotively savvy ... grrrr ....
     
    #41 hzyoung, Aug 25, 2010
  2. Ophbalance

    Ophbalance Member

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    How much of that is battery cost versus shop time? Yeesh. Re-enforces my plan to never cross the dealer's threshold again.
     
    #42 Ophbalance, Aug 25, 2010
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I know it doesn't help...but I really don't like your dealership. $300 to replace your 12 volt plus charging you another $250 to simply run diagnostics...seems ridiculous. It shouldn't cost you $550 to simply change your 12 volt battery and see if it helps. If they have already said that it was the traction battery, I'd be very suprised if they ran diagnostics and then admitted..."hey...all it was just the 12volt all along"....makes them look bad. I think you've gotten good advice...but moving forward do you have other dealership service options? Even if this all works out...your experience with this dealership would leave me looking for another option.
     
    #43 The Electric Me, Aug 25, 2010
  4. Anthonyjordan

    Anthonyjordan New Member

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    Agreed, this dealership's behavior is the reason why a lot of folks have negatvie opinions about dealerships in general.
     
    #44 Anthonyjordan, Aug 25, 2010
  5. driving-mr-mel

    driving-mr-mel Junior Member

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    New Prius owner here - have been following this thread. I figured my only option for service would be my local Toyota dealership. Is this not correct? How do you go about finding local shops that are familiar with hybrids? Hopefully I won't need service for a little while, but am now a little dealer-shy after reading this thread.
     
    #45 driving-mr-mel, Aug 25, 2010
  6. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    There are 15 Toyota Dealerships within 35 miles of Quantico, VA (My nearest dealer is 35 miles away)

    Toyota Dealer Locator Search - Find Toyota Dealer


    If it was me I would try different dealers until I found one I was much less unhappy with. Then I would check For Independent Mechanics nearby as well.

    http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html
     
    #46 JimboPalmer, Aug 25, 2010
  7. kimgh

    kimgh Member

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    I concur. I go to a Toyota dealer in San Jose, CA, and they have a very good reputation. I doubt they would gouge me this way. Of course, I have had no battery issues so far, so you never know. I've bought three cars from this dealership and always take them there for service.

    There ARE good Toyota dealers out there. Sounds like you need to look for one.
     
    #47 kimgh, Aug 25, 2010
  8. hzyoung

    hzyoung New Member

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    Yeah, I'm not thrilled with this dealership either. This is the 2nd one that I've gone to (the first being where we purchased the car and where I didn't feel that they provided good service, but I didn't feel as "ripped off" as I have with this one).

    Anyway, I went over there yesterday and tested the battery charge out per the recommendations in this thread ... the 12V was getting low, but not much (unstarted at 13.9, but when car started jumped to 14.4, etc.). Either way, they're changing the battery today so we can pick up this afternoon and bring to NC. At least we have a vehicle to tow it with and the UHaul is only going to be about $60 for 24-hours use. I should have a working Prius again on Friday evening!

    I'm just ready for all this "drama" to be over! I'm also thrilled that my 98 Sebring Convertible decided to work again for me ... it's my :hippie:
     
    #48 hzyoung, Aug 26, 2010
  9. gussy

    gussy Junior Member

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    Hi - my Prius was registered April 2010 and service book and dealer tell me Hybrid Battery warranty is 5yr and 60,000 miles - what registeration date are you referring to when you say 8yrs and 100,000 miles.
    Many Thanks
     
    #49 gussy, Aug 26, 2010
  10. 3prongpaul

    3prongpaul Hybrid Shop Owner, worked on 100's of Prius's

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    The 8 year /100k mile warranty is for US models.
    In California it is even better, 10 years /150k miles.

    I doubt Toyota puts a crappier battery in the UK version of the Prius...so you have a good chance of the HV battery lasting 10 years /150k miles, since they engineered it to last that long in California.
     
    #50 3prongpaul, Aug 26, 2010
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  11. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    That is preposterous. Let them change the battery in it for the $300 and then the test to see if it worked is turning the car on and driving it down the street. Tell them under no circumstances are they to do the other diagnostics.

    Hopefully it works, but if not I agree ReInVolt is the best option...
     
    #51 SW03ES, Aug 29, 2010
  12. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    Any update?
     
    #52 The Critic, Aug 31, 2010
  13. Mike4puy

    Mike4puy Junior Member

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    Well what's happening can't wait for an update.....It's just like a soap opera ..... LOL
     
    #53 Mike4puy, Sep 1, 2010
  14. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    Please bring us up to date !!!!:confused:
     
    #54 snead_c, Sep 1, 2010
  15. Sheepdog

    Sheepdog C'Mere Sheepie!

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    update or we will all run amok!
     
    #55 Sheepdog, Sep 3, 2010
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  16. Mike4puy

    Mike4puy Junior Member

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    OK, who's ready to run amok with us............LOL:D
     
    #56 Mike4puy, Sep 4, 2010
  17. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

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    If I were you, I WOULD DRIVE OVER TO TOYOTA AND...write them a strongly worded letter.
    :D
     
    #57 That_Prius_Car, Sep 5, 2010
  18. Mike4puy

    Mike4puy Junior Member

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    I'm beside myself on what to do here! Can someone please help or provide any insight because I learned long ago that most dealerships (and their respective service reps) are only looking out for the company, not the car owners?

    Thanks in advance everyone![/QUOTE]

    OK, "bzyoung" it's time we heard from you with the conclusion to your sad story or was it just a put-on. You said and I quote (see above) "I'm beside myself" well for your info you have a dozen or more fans that are also beside themselves waiting for a reply on how this drama ended up.......:mad:
     
    #58 Mike4puy, Sep 5, 2010
  19. hzyoung

    hzyoung New Member

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    Hi there all,
    Sorry it's been so long since I have been able to post an update as to what has happened and what it still happening ... things have been busy but we've gotten some good information

    As for the car itself, the 12V battery replacement did not cure all that ails ... we (my husband & son) towed it from VA to NC and had the battery pack refurbished by ReInvolt Technologies (www.re-involt.com) on the morning of Friday, August 27. Hubby was greeted by very courteous and knowledgeable staff, was directed to a place they could go and spend some time which the car was being worked on, and they took *my egg* into their hands. After a few hours (they said it would take 3-4 hours to complete) they contacted him to say that they had fixed the battery pack, but when the mechanic working on the car was reinstalling the battery, he had cut himself pretty bad and needed to go to the hospital ... so it would be just a bit longer as they had someone else come up to speed on the car and take over the installation. Said injured mechanic needed 3 (I think) stitches because he gouged himself pretty good!

    Hubby and son went off to the local library to take a bit more time waiting for the shop to call with completion status (glad I sent son with homework books so he could use this time to his benefit).

    All the details of the trip I do not have, but the car was returned triumphantly to VA on its own power with an INCREASE IN GAS MILEAGE! Before this procedure, our MPG had been in the 46 - 48 range ... we're now back up to the 53 - 56MPG average we enjoyed when the vehicle was new!! Needless to say, we are EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY pleased with their thoroughness and great work!

    As for the "fight" with Toyota and the local dealerships, this still continues. We have several service calls in to Toyota and continue to talk with them about an equitable agreement to the warranty time v. mileage issue ... and we feel that they may be starting to budge a bit on it. We'll see. I'm just so happy to have *my egg* back on the road, purring happily. Now I'm in search of a good mechanic (preferrably one outside a dealership) whom I can trust with all our vehicles ('98 Chrysler Sebring Conv - which needs a new ragtop, '99 Dodge Durango, and the '05 Toyota Prius) so I don't have to go to the dealership any longer ... I'm tired of being taken advantage of the system they've put into place versus providing customer service.
     
    #59 hzyoung, Sep 7, 2010
    2 people like this.
  20. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    While I am consistently impressed with Re-InVolt, I suspect this is due to the new 12v battery. Due to doing them at the same time, we will never really know.

    I am happy you are back on the road, for less than half your original quote.
     
    #60 JimboPalmer, Sep 7, 2010
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