[ausev] Sick Prius

[Marc Kohler]

Go to a different Toyota dealer.
The packs are designed so that only one stack (of six cells) can be
replaced.
Marc Kohler

-----Original Message-----
From: ausev-bounces at austinev.org [mailto:ausev-bounces at austinev.org] On
Behalf Of Mark Farver
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 7:59 PM
To: AustinEV News Announcements and General Discussion
Subject: Re: [ausev] Sick Prius

I think Toyota was warrenteeing the battery for 8 years and 100,000
miles.  If you're not too far past the warrenty you may be able to
appeal to Toyota corporate for help.  (Make sure you don't have an EV
mode button installed)

I have also heard that battery failures are still considered rare, and
that Toyota is still capturing batteries for failure analysis.  (I'm
guessing, but I suspect that Toyota is also having problems with
dealers blaming the battery without going through the
troubleshooting/diagnostics.   This is common with engine computers.)
The diagnostics on the Prius show the health of each cell in the pack,
so it seems a little fishy that they "don't know which one."

If you are in Austin, I can take a look.  One of our AusEV members is
a automotive diagnostics trainer as well, and he has offered to help.
Send me an email offline or call the phone number on
http://www.revoltcustomelectric.com.

Thanks
Mark Farver


On Sat, Nov 29, 2008 at 4:16 PM, Moe Pitman <mpitman at uni-market.com> wrote:
> I was wondering if any one might be able to help me.
>
> Just in time for Christmas, my 2001 Prius developed traction battery
> issues.  The dealership says there is a shorted cell, but "they can't
> tell which one."  They want to replace the whole pack to the tune of
> $3,300.
>
> I feel like they can't/won't open the pack to find out which cell is bad
> -- It seems to me it would be easy enough to determine once the cells
> were exposed.
>
> I can buy tested salvage yard cells for about $50 each.  This is my only
> viable option financially, but will it work?
>
> I'm not real confident about replacing individual cells myself, though.
> Are there reasons I shouldn't try it?  Anyone willing to help?
>
> My only other realistic option is to trade in the car for what I can
> get, and try to buy something else.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> --Moe Pitman
>
> _______________________________________________
> AusEV mailing list
> AusEV at austinev.org
> http://www.austinev.org/mailman/listinfo/ausev
>
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