How To Clean The Battery Terminals On A Prius

Believe it or not, the fuel-efficient Toyota Prius has been on the market in the United states of america for over 20 years. This full hybrid electric four-door sedan has been popular among drivers for decades and continues to be a favorite among new car buyers, both young and sometime.

Automobile Repairs Are EXPENSIVE

The benefits of driving a Toyota Prius are numerous, and include:

A spacious and comfy interior
Standard rubber features
Bully visibility
Innovative technology
Plenty of cargo room
Responsive handling and steering
Intuitive controls
USB ports
Bluetooth
Voice-commands
Stereo system

While many owners of the original 2000 Toyota Prius vehicles are enjoying the same gas mileage as they did when they were brand new, the traction battery packs within the earlier models are reaching the end of their estimated 10 twelvemonth, 300,000 mile lifespan.

If your Toyota Prius automobile'south battery pack dies before the 150,000 (or 100,000) mile warranty expires, the auto manufacturer will replace it for complimentary. But if your vehicle's warranty is upward, you'll join the 500 or so Prius owners every month experiencing the same dilemma.

When decreased operation and a dashboard warning light indicate it is time to visit your Toyota dealership, you have to make a tough choice. Exercise you purchase a new battery pack? Or do y'all purchase a new motorcar?

Thankfully, nosotros've got you covered. Hither's everything you need to know most Toyota Prius bombardment replacement costs.

Understanding the Hybrid Bombardment

A hybrid motorcar bombardment is like whatsoever other battery. However, it is rechargeable and has plenty juice to keep your car chugging along for mile afterwards mile.

A hybrid vehicle utilizes a combination of an internal combustion engine and a battery electric drive organisation to evangelize not bad fuel economy and drastically reduce emissions.

The Toyota Prius auto's electric motor powers your vehicle, drawing ability from the battery. When driving 15 miles per hr or beneath, the automobile will only use the electric motor for power. When you're cruising down the highway at a normal pace, only the gasoline engine is used.

During heavy acceleration, the hybrid auto's electrical motor and gasoline engine will work together to increase ability to the wheels. This is possible because of the ability-split transmission, which combines the torque that each system puts out.

When you lot apply force per unit area to the brakes to slow down or come to a stop your Toyota Prius will utilize a clever system known as "regenerative braking." Since the car is slowing down, information technology won't demand to keep the electric motor or gas engine running. Your auto volition stop delivering power to the wheels and enables the spinning wheels to ability its generator. This then creates electricity that is stored in the battery to use at a after date.

When your car comes to a complete stop, both the gas engine and the electric motor will turn off. The Toyota Prius hybrid will use the battery power to run its auxiliary systems, including the radio, motel calorie-free, and air-conditioning or heat.

How Long Does a Hybrid Battery Last?

The life of your Toyota Prius battery is non definite because it depends on how far y'all drive and the weather condition that you lot are driving in. Even so, the battery warranty will terminal for either ten years or 150,000 in states that have California emission laws. In all of the other states, coverage on your Toyota Prius battery is goof for 100,000 miles or eight years. This means that if your battery dies within the warranty period, y'all will receive a new one with no out-of-pocket costs.

How Does a Toyota Prius Compare to Other Hybrids on the Marketplace?

Despite the Toyota Prius hybrid beingness one of the showtime widely marketed and popular hybrid vehicles, there are enough of other hybrid options bachelor on the market today, in a broad array of makes and models. So, how does the Toyota Prius stand up up to its competitors? Firstly, you need to know that there are two types of hybrid vehicles, including full hybrids and plug-in ones.

The main divergence between these ii types of hybrids is the manner the battery charges. A total hybrid charges from a huge bombardment pack that draws power from the gasoline engine and the brakes. The plug-in hybrids can be only that, plugged in.

The Toyota Prius' battery is made up of 28 Panasonic nickel-metallic hydride modules, each containing 6 1.2-volt cells. Connected in a serial, they volition produce a total of 201.6 volts. This is compared to the Lexus RX 400h which can deliver 500 volts.

Toyota Prius Bombardment Pack Problems

There are over 1.iii meg Toyota hybrids on U.South. roadways, indicating that the number of failing battery pack incidents will rise dramatically during the coming years. But what are the warning signs that drivers should keep an eye out for that evidence their battery is dying?

Here are some symptoms of a failing Toyota hybrid battery to keep an eye out for:

Decreased miles per gallon (MPG) : Although at that place are other bug that can disrupt the efficiency of your fuel efficiency, information technology is almost likely going to be a problem with your battery. If y'all begin to notice a steady decrease in your miles per gallon for no reason, it's in your best interest to contact an experienced Toyota hybrid mechanic right away to schedule a wellness check.

Your internal combustion engine is running more than than it usually does : If your Toyota Prius sedan's internal combustion engine (ICE) begins kick in more often than it typically does, this is another big symptom of a bad hybrid battery. If it runs at odd times or for longer than expected, you could take a failing battery.

Land of charge : If you look at the screen and notice huge fluctuations in your state of charge (SOC), it's a definite sign that either your battery or the machine'southward charging organization is having problems. Moreover, big swings in your charge rate betoken to a bad battery.

Unexplained drop in bombardment confined : Are y'all noticing a decrease in your hybrid'due south battery bars with lilliputian to no usage? If you park your car and take full bars and so come back to it with but one bar left, in that location's an underlying event with the battery and it needs to be looked at right away.

Weird engine noises : If you find unusual engine sounds coming from your Toyota Prius, this is because its engine is running more than information technology typically does. This could bespeak that your car is suffering from a declining battery.

If you notice any of the above signs or symptoms, you should have your car into a hybrid mechanic right away for a proper diagnosis and repair.

Toyota Prius Battery Replacement Costs

Toyota Prius battery replacement costs will vary slightly between the dealership y'all choose to purchase information technology from. Simply, in general, a brand new Toyota hybrid bombardment replacement toll will run you betwixt $two,200 and $four,100. This does not include labor costs.

A used battery will cost you lot upwards of $1,500, while a refurbished Toyota Prius battery volition cost $ane,500 or more.

It'south important to do your homework and to store around for the best prices in your area. Additionally, you may want to consider upgrading to a new Toyota Prius model because it volition run like new for many years to come.

If you make up one's mind that'd you similar to replace the battery, yous need to conduct in mind that you'll exist paying much for than the cost of the actual battery. You volition also demand to factor in labor costs, too equally any additional fees that your mechanic might charge.

Labor fees volition be pretty hefty due to the specialized nature of working on a Toyota hybrid battery. Proceed in mind that the cost of labor will account for the many years of specialized training that the mechanics had to undergo in social club to properly supervene upon your Toyota Prius battery.

The amount of time it takes to replace your bombardment will directly bear on the costs of labor. By and large, it takes about two to 3 hours to replace a Prius battery.

Why is a Toyota Prius Battery So Expensive?

You may exist asking yourself why is the cost so steep for a new Prius hybrid battery. The elementary answer to this question is that hybrids have ane-of-a-kind batteries and other mechanical components. The Toyota Prius hybrid automobile runs on two kinds of energy, including an electric motor and the traditional combustion engine. Furthermore, they demand a hybrid battery pack to store extra energy.

Due to this, a Toyota Prius automobile's mechanical parts are extremely complex. They are also costlier to produce. This is considering the parts are often produced in pocket-size quantities.

Is My Bombardment Even so Covered Under Warranty?

Before you consider replacing the battery on your Toyota Prius, y'all will want to check if the dead battery is still covered under your warranty. If it is, the warranty volition cover the replacement costs for a new battery.

You may also have an extended battery warranty. For instance, a new Toyota Prius vehicle volition have a warranty for upwards to 100,000 miles or 8 years, whichever i comes first.

Core Credit

If y'all find yourself needing to supercede a expressionless Toyota Prius battery, there'south ane silver lining from Toyota, known as core credit.

This is the sum deducted from your new concoction pack MSRP for returning the one-time one to exist recycled. Not only volition it proceed more green in your wallet, merely it will make the planet a little greener as well.

The only additional cost you will need to pay is labor. This will vary depending on the make and model of your vehicle, too as where you decide to become your automobile battery replaced.

Here is a list of all MSRP bombardment price details for the various Toyota Priuses offered since 2001:

2001 – 2003 Toyota Prius (first generation) – $three,649
2004 – 2009 Toyota Prius (second generation) – $iii,939
2010 – 2011 Toyota Prius (third generation) – $40,80
2012 – 2015 Toyota Prius Liftback – $3,939
2012 – 2016 Toyota Prius 5 – $3,939
2012 – 2016 Toyota Prius C – $3,807

Each of the same prices will exist reduced by a $1,350 core credit for the old battery pack that is being replaced, which the dealer will so recycle through the long-established Toyota program.

How to Make a Toyota Prius Battery Last Longer

There are some simple steps that you tin take to extend the life of your Toyota Prius' bombardment. These include:

Ensuring that you take the HEV bombardment pack cooling system checked, cleaned, and certified annually.
Every 15,000 miles, or 12 to 15 months, locate the motel air filter (a part that is in every motor vehicle) and have it serviced or replaced. If the cabin air filter becomes also dirty or clogged, it volition affect the air flow to the bombardment pack, making it run less efficiently.

At that place is an Alternative

If you lot retrieve that the cost of a Toyota Prius battery replacement is too high, at that place is an alternative.

You practice not take to keep your old machine. But what do you do with it? Many people won't purchase a car with a expressionless battery.

Thankfully, we hither at Cash Cars Buyer volition requite y'all a guaranteed offer on your Toyota Prius vehicle. This will be based on its make, model, year, and status that it is currently in. When yous accept our offering, nosotros'll choice upwards your automobile free of charge and give you lot money in return.

You tin then apply that greenbacks as a downwardly payment on a new vehicle that has a working bombardment.

Determination

While the Toyota Prius hybrid is a great car to drive and has fantabulous gas mileage, it can cost a lot to supervene upon the battery if it's non covered under warranty.

Be sure to look out for the warning signs of a dying bombardment and keep upwardly on your vehicle'southward routine maintenance to ensure it lasts for every bit long as possible.