Hi! My daughter's 06 Prius just stopped accelerating and we think it might be the Lythium battery. Isn't there a way to disconnect it and drive the car on the regular battery while we figure how to fund the large repair? Thank you!
You car has a high voltage hybrid battery. The car cannot drive without it. So unfortunately there is not a way to disconnect it and drove the car. At the dealer a new battery is like $3000+ A bit less at an independent hybrid mechanic. The battery is actually a Nickel Metal Hydride battery, not Lithium.
The best options of you have a trusted hybrid mechanic are the kit of new cells for $1600 listed in my signature of finding a good used Generation 3 battery pack from a scrapped car.
What about the rumors of a sub-$2000 "factory" battery ? In my opinion, most 12 year old cars are not worth putting ~ $3000 into. That money would be better spent on a newer model trade-in.
I'd want to find out some more info before replacing the pack. How many miles on it, how long you've owned it, etc. Ultimately it is the customer's individual choice as to what is best for them. There are many options out there. The most reliable repairs are generally the most expensive ones. Be wary of cheap, to-good-to-be-true solutions. They will often be disappointing, money-wasters.
1. Some dealers will not sell just the battery and that amount excludes the core charge, 2. They would still need to pay somebody to install it. Unless the dealer does it they lose some warranty.
The "core charge" does NOT increase the price of the battery because you get that back when they get your old battery.
It sounds like more troubleshooting is in order to confirm a bad hybrid battery. You do not appear to be a DIY person so a dealer may be your fastest but not the cheapest option to have the car repaired. How much oil does the engine have on it and are any lights on on the dash?
NOT RUMORS. See post #24; 07 Prius pulled p0a80 code "Replace Hybrid Battery" - What are my options? | Page 2 | PriusChat $1699 and NO tax for the dad. $1350 core charge to be refunded upon return of his daughters bad HV battery. Post #10 has a list of other Toyota dealers who sell online. Most below $2k. Indianapolis area battery repair? | PriusChat For those who don't know, dealers will NOT ship the HV battery. You will have to verify the dealer will sell to you or maybe you can get a local dealer to price match or lower their "retail" price. 2k1Toasters cylindrical replacement is a viable option for those who can't get access to a $1600-$1700 OEM HV Battery. If one has to rely on paid labor, I will agree with you. If one is able to DIY, that tips the scale for me, b/c: *purchased longevity w/ a new OEM pack *able to transfer the HV battery into another Gen2 easily *transfer these young NEW-ish OEM modules into a Gen3 HV battery case if something happens to the current Gen2.
In case Sarah Dollison comes back: Atomic Auto | Hybrid and EV Maintenance and Repair Is trusted in Portland, OR
Or she can buy a Honda hybrid. Which can still be driven like normal if the High Voltage battery dies.
Do not buy a used (CVT) Civic Hybrid. Full stop. Too often they have a bad hybrid battery, a bad tansmission, or both. Driving a 2000-2006 Honda Insight hybrid without the hybrid system running is possible. But to most folks it'll feel way to slow.
