2001 Main Battery Failure

[Windsor1]

All sorts of warning lights came in our Prius this weekend. It is a 2001 with 52k miles. Runs well and no accidents. Dealer says Battery must be replaced. I don't buy it - these are supposed to last way beyond this point. I read that some dealers just don't bother repair corroded connections and such. Any advice from others? Any good indy repair shops that you can suggest in the Windsor area?

[KeithR]

Read about this at work today. Will re-read and let you know if it is a warranty issue.

Keith ;)

[gniie]

All sorts of warning lights came in our Prius this weekend. It is a 2001 with 52k miles. Runs well and no accidents. Dealer says battery must be replaced. I don't buy it - these are supposed to last way beyond this point. I read that some dealers just don't bother repair corroded connections and such. Any advice from others? Any good indy repair shops that you can suggest in the Windsor area?

I imported a Prius 2000(NHW11) from Japan and it came with main battery(HV) faulty.

After lengthy investigations Toyota has given a diagnostic of high voltage difference between the cells of the Battery and has concluded that the Battery is beyond recharging point and the Battery needs to be replaced. In my case the battery was not covered by the warranty so I had to pay for it myself. And be Jayzus it is expensive! Make sure that you get it done under warranty- in US Toyota gives a warranty of 8 years or 100k mls for the entire hybrid system. I am not to sure about UK.

Good luck

[the_fridge]

Gniie,

Where did you get the work carried out and how much did it cost? I am in a situation where I have 2 x Prius in Dublin with dead Battery units that I will have to pay to replace.

Thanks, Dave

[gniie]

Gniie,

Where did you get the work carried out and how much did it cost? I am in a situation where I have 2 x Prius in Dublin with dead battery units that I will have to pay to replace.

Thanks, Dave

send me another personal message with a phone number and I will call you in Dublin

[hedleyf]

Hi,

Could have replied to this a bit earlier but did not see it ,sorry,I presume that you have a series one by the model year,there was a mod to the batterys that to my knowlegde was on a recall? has your car been checked ,it seems some dealers are unaware of this I think possibly because it affected the series one and most dealers did not get involved with prius untill the series two,anyway the fault bought on all the lights and the main Battery light though not always,the Battery had to be removed and the cells disconnected ,the problem was slight electric leakage between the cells and the fix was new insulations ,connectors ,and electolite sealer,Definently a job for a hybrid tech which of the ones I have done were paid for by toyota even though they were out of warranty,

Hedley.

[hedleyf]

Just a add on to cover myself if you get someone to go poking about the hybrid system beware, touch the wrong thing and you are dead make no mistake about that.