Hello, I am new to this site, here is the poop! My wife and I own 2002 Pri with 148K bought in 2009 for 5k. Now 174K and the Hybrid battery has been diagnosed as dead by the dealer. This all started two days before with a car full cap. and the a/c on high. The battery icon on the MFD was 1/4 full and the turtle icon was on. OK, broke out the manual and it said no big deal just take it easy for awhile until the battery is recharged. The next day started just fine and the battery icon was again 1/4 full, but no turtle. Drove 150mi at normal highway speeds with 6 hour break in the middle of the trip. Day three, started fine but the turtle was back and never went away. Tried to do the 150mi trip again and the triangle warning light went on, drove a while then stopped and shut the engine off. Restarted and went for awhile before the triangle appeared again. I limped the car 30mi to the local dealer and left it for diagnosis. The service tech I was dealing with told another what was going on. This tech. said "inverter", while hearing this I chimed in that the inverter coolant had been changed at a Toyota dealer 5k before. Left and headed home to my 76 VW van Backup vehicle to make the 150mi round trip. Received a call from the tech. who said the Hybrid battery needed to be replaced and the part is going to cost $2300.00 and $250.00 to install. We did inquire if the battery had a warranty and yes it does have a 1 year warranty. Oh yea and the brake actuator is shot also to the tune of $1500.00! I have read that many other Pri have the same brake problem. I also wonder if this a recall worthy issue? So I will have 9k tied up in a car that if I had spent money on a used Honda, probably would not have any problems!
Yep, this is why playing the "if I had only known..." game is a drag. $2500 for a new battery installed sounds very reasonable. As for the brake actuator, I suggest you make contact with PC member Seilerts, who hangs his independent hybrid mechanic sign out in Santa Fe. For one, he can give you an informed opinion if the actuator *really* is shot, and then offer repair options. Five years from now you will know if the $9k invested in the car was a smart move. Don't beat yourself up now -- used cars are cheaper than new cars for a reason. They need repairs! I think you are still in the 'I made a good deal' territory.
I wouldn't necessarily believe the brake actuator diagnosis unless the hybrid battery problem was fixed and codes recur. I can help with the hybrid battery but the 300 mile distance is a factor.
