Unavailability of replacement part

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by hpowsner, Mar 1, 2007.

  1. hpowsner

    hpowsner New Member

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    I wonder if others have had the experience of being told a rather ordinary Prius part could not be replaced "until the end of the quarter". I have two Prius, one bought in 2000 and the other in 2005. Service needs have been few and twice when complex computer parts were obtained it was prompt, once overnight and once in three days.

    I had to jump start my 6 1/2 year old battery and on testing, found it doesn't hold a charge well. That's after more than six years and seems pretty good. They didn't have the replacement in stock, but promised it in a day or two. It was still due in in a day or two more than two weeks later! I phoned the "Toyota Customer Experience Center" and was told it wouldn't be shipped until the end of the quarter . . . another 4 1/2 weeks.

    (Actually, they now say the battery is in but is new, improved and larger. An adapter kit is required in order to install it. That is what will take another month.)

    Has any one else had the experience of such a long delay in what seems a common replacement part? My local garage is willing to put in another kind of battery. Does anyone know a reason not to do this if he can make it fit?

    Thanks.
     
    #1 hpowsner, Mar 1, 2007
  2. gring40

    gring40 Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hpowsner @ Mar 1 2007, 08:10 PM) [snapback]398813[/snapback]</div>
    If you don't want to wait, I'd suggest trying a salvage yard for an exact replacement battery, rather than hoping that your mechanic can put one in that is compatible with the Prius' electronics.
     
    #2 gring40, Mar 1, 2007
  3. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    12V is 12V at the relatively modest power requirements of a Prius. The difficult part about a non-OEM battery is the size (but apparently that's a problem with a new OEM battery too) and venting. Since the 12V battery is inside the cabin, not out in the air under the hood, it needs to be sealed or vented outside so it doesn't generate hydrogen gas when charging and turn your Prius into a mini-bomb.
     
    #3 Bill Merchant, Mar 2, 2007
  4. FireEngineer

    FireEngineer Active Member

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    #4 FireEngineer, Mar 2, 2007
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hpowsner @ Mar 1 2007, 06:10 PM) [snapback]398813[/snapback]</div>
    Yep. It took.. goodness knows how long for my replacement glovebox button to arrive (over a month, that's for sure).
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Mar 2, 2007
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