I have a 2013 Prius and was inquiring about engine battery replacement. I found the battery that it takes and I called the dealer to see how much labor would be to install new engine battery and she told me $700.00 JUST LABOR!!! So, it'd cost almost a thousand dollars to install one engine battery? I had a 2008 before and I replaced that battery on it and seems like it cost around $200 battery included. Have they changed the location so much that it requires that many mechanic hours and expense to change a simple engine battery? Can I hire another mechanic that would do it cheaper or does it need to be left to the expensive Toyota mechanic lords??? thanks in advance!! Lynn
The $200 battery was probably the 12 volt battery, like what all cars have. The other, high voltage one is the traction battery. That one is in the thousands.
For starters, there's no such thing as an engine battery... You car has two batteries: a 12v and a high voltage battery, aka: traction battery, aka: hybrid battery. Assuming you're talking about the high voltage battery it takes me 2 hours to install one at $44 per hour so your total labor cost from me would be $88. But Toyota Stealership will charge as much as 6 hours for this job, which is ridiculous and if their service rate is over a $100 an hour, that's where that $700 price tag is. Don't do business with those crooks and tell your friends not to do business with them either. You could do this job yourself just by watching lots of YouTube videos. Or you could find a friend or family member to do it. Or call around and find an auto mechanic who lives nearby.
I’d guess OP is talking about 12 volt battery, and dealership is taking her for a ride. Battery prices have been climbing a lot, due to COVID, but $700 is too much. Also suspect $700 PLUS battery cost is miscommunication: even dealerships have their limits lol: the labours 1/2 hour tops. phone different dealerships, check Pep Boys etc online, there’s got to be better deals.
