Hybrid battery, 12yrs, 107k miles - worth it to replace?

My '05 has 286K on it and in a few weeks I am going to replace the original battery with one from a fellow board member TMR-JWAP For Sale - Gen 2 HV battery built with Gen 4 modules | PriusChat

I considered getting another Gen 2 with lower miles, but decided to invest in another battery instead. I plan on holding onto this car for another 3-4 years. My commute is about the same and I drive a bit on the weekends.

At only 107K miles, your Prius has several years of life remaining. I'd suggest shopping around for another dealer quote; also folks here in the forum occasionally put up batteries for sale, and there's also the cylindrical battery pack offered at newpriusbatteries.com.

 

I think the first thing I would do, is look around for a second opinion.
Upwards of $4,600 seems on the high side. Most battery replacements, even with new Toyota OEM replacement, land conservatively in the $3000-$4000 dollar range, usually somewhere in the middle of those two figures.

Even though I'm not clear as to what they are calling "Hybrid Battery SYSTEM Replacement". Which would suggest to me they are talking about Hybrid Battery AND some other components. I'd want to know exactly what they mean by system, and exactly what they are replacing in totality...and why.

I've read threads here where people have had codes thrown because of overheated batteries, often caused by fans that have become clogged.
I would hate to see someone end up with a $3000-$5000 dollar expense if all that is really needed is cleaning of the Hybrid Battery Fan or at worst replacement of that fan.

Everything may be legit. But I would want to know exactly what they mean by "system"...what parts in totality that represents. And I'd want an explanation as to why they believe the "system" has failed.

If the worst case is you need a Hybrid Battery replacement? I wouldn't mess around with refurbished, I'd stick to Toyota OEM. But I might call around to other dealerships because $4,600 seems a little too expensive.

If the Prius has otherwise been well maintained, while a several thousand dollar investment is daunting, long term it's really "staying the course" and probably the cheapest avenue to keeping reliable transportation at the cheapest expense.

Best of luck. In simplest terms, I think I'd want a clearer definition of what they think is wrong "System"---and then I might want second opinions and estimates from other dealerships, if only because that seems like a high figure.

 

I checked the prices of the battery in the Syracuse area with 2 Toyota dealers (I've been shopping around for a low OEM battery anyway, so I wanted to see the upstate NY pricing). I thought the OP could have been quoted incorrect pricing, but the quotes I received were in the $3.8k-$4.0k range for the part only. Wow, I'm amazed at the difference in OEM parts pricing across the country. I am still waiting for my local OEM price to drop from $2.8 installed, but realize it's not that bad compared to elsewhere.

 

Your dealers are looking up the wrong part #'s the one for a complete battery the list price for G9510-47031 is $1950 bucks and that's usually all you need to replace. And you can get that online for $1640.
There is another sku that is the whole thing including relays computer etc that is like 3000 but there looking up the wrong thing.
terramir

 

The parts department looks up the part number that I give them over the phone, which is G9510-47031.

It's simple enough to double check the price. There are two Toyota dealers in Syracuse- Romano and Burdick. Call their parts department and see if you can get them to sell you the battery for $1,950. I'm sure the OP would be interested if you can get her a lower price. I couldn't.

 

Your stealership are jacking up the price too much you should print out the quotes from several online btw there is a PA online dealer selling that for 1650 round about. As well and ask the manager how his prices are 1000's above toyota list price mind you they pay even less than this so there stealing over 2000 bucks from you and tell them dishonest business men dun stay in business.for you best bet is a self install with pick-up from that PA online dealer.
terramir

 

Do you have the dealership's name in Pa that sells an OEM battery for $1,650 online? That's a very good price.

 

I was
off by 100 bucks or this was not the dealer I saw b4 but google is your friend Battery - Toyota (G9510-47031) | Conicelli Toyota Of Springfield
terramir

 

Nice find. This is a very good option for the OP if she's interested in pursuing an OEM battery.

The price has gone up slightly to $1,803 but still on the low end of batteries. It's a 4.5 hour drive and worth it to save ~$2k. You'd have to make 2 trips because of that pesky core battery charge.

 

Yeah Syracuse NY why I brought up PA , near los angeles I got a dealer selling for 1640 something but there is that core thing.
terramir

 

What dealer does $1640? They all charge a core

 

As a reference of what a normal dealer might charge, I just paid this yesterday at the Fort Wayne, IN Toyota dealership where I bought my 2005:

G9510-47031 HV Battery Assy $1,950
Labor $607.20
Tax $136.50 (YMMV)
Total $2,693.70

3-year/unlimited mileage Toyota warranty

There was a "Shop Supplies" charge of $35, but I had other work done so not sure how much that would have been if I had done the battery alone. So at least $2,700 total for a Gen 2 OEM replacement at the dealer.

FYI -

 

That's exactly what I've been looking for! Hope you don't mind answering the pm.

 

Helped a friend yesterday with his 2004.

At 213K, the engine is still working great, but the pack is shot. It spent a lot of years used daily and without a garage, so it was a good lifetime.

I was able reset codes to confirm it truly was just the battery having issues.

 

14 years, 200+K miles, not garaged? That's great. I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat.

 

The ? Is what would I do if I were you:

I have purchased 2 2004 pri with over 185,000 Miles on them. Wrecked first at 295,000 and bought another. It is now over 300,000 Miles. The 2nd now has a 2008 battery out of a wreck. But that is me.

If you, I would hope that my Prius would be good for another 10 years with a new battery.
I would expand my search area for a dealer who would change it out for less than the stealerships in Syracuse to get the three year warrantyt. Battery costs the dealer less than $1,700? Replacement by an experienced mechanic maybe as little as three hours.
If that is a no go, I would search for a non dealer mechanic familiar with Prius, buy a battery from Concelli and go that route.
Maybe a dealer closer than lower Pa will meet that price. Have the mechanic pull it out and put it in another car and then you drive it to the dealer to exchange for your new one. The local providers of refurbed batteries on your craigslist may be a resource. I think a battery pack weighs around 122 pounds? Will fit in any trunk or back of suv.

Your local dealers want to charge you over $2,000 for threeish hours work.

OR , sell it.

I saw a 2007 Prius with 126,000 on odometer and failed battery in otherwise good condition sell for just over $3,000 to a used car dealer at auction in Delaware last Summer. (I bid the $3,000)

There is a market for your car as is. If you do not put another battery in it, others will. For its age, yours is a low mileage vehicle. Do not “give it away”.

OR, if you want to give it away, I can be there Monday evening ;- )

Good luck !

 

Also keep in mind there is a nationwide shortage right now. The dealers may be jacking up the prices more than usual to get you to the head of the line. Just like when gas prices spiked and the Prius itself was selling for $10k over asking just because they can.

'Murica.