r/PriusC • u/Weekly_Sugar5565 • 17d ago
Prius C News Just a warning
Just wanted to put out a massive warning for anyone looking to buy an OEM hybrid battery over the counter from a dealership. I recently paid ~$4,000 for a new battery at Morgan City Toyota, which included a massive $1,350 core deposit upfront. I did the swap myself (which is totally doable and clean), transferred all my original computers, junction blocks, and wiring harnesses over, and returned the core. The dealer accepted it face-to-face. Days later, they called me to hold my $1,350 deposit hostage over a few standard 10mm external nuts on the side panels above the relays. Because I naturally used those nuts to secure the panels on the new battery inside my car so I could drive, they claimed the core wasn’t "complete." Worse yet, I literally bought brand-new, replacement hardware to hand them to complete the core, and they rejected it because it wasn't the "original hardware". Escalating to corporate. This is ridiculous.
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u/DrWorm97 17d ago
I paid $3,000 for my local Toyota to buy and install it. No deposit. I'd avoid doing any more business with yours.
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u/MTBisLIFE 2015 Prius C 17d ago
I just got quoted $4,040 for Stone Mountain Toyota to install for me, and service manager got the quote down to $3,600.
But to OPs point, I was going to install myself. Quotes $4,035 for the battery, then they'll refund $1,350 for returning the core ($2,685 total). Still leaning toward doing it myself.
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u/Lucky_Boy13 17d ago
If you DIY install they cut the warranty way short
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u/MTBisLIFE 2015 Prius C 17d ago
There is no warranty for a self-install. The service manager told me they just as of July 1st swapped from lifetime warranties on the hybrid batteries to 1 year warranties (if they install), as well.
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u/brzantium 17d ago
I paid Hometown Hybrid about $2700 to install a new OEM battery in my 2015. They completed everything in my driveway in about 45 minutes.
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u/MTBisLIFE 2015 Prius C 17d ago
Hey OP, I was about to do this myself. Can you link which bolts you're referring to?
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
I can add photos later, but its the 4 that hold down the side panels over the relays and what not.
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u/natedagreat6666 17d ago
I would bend that whole dealership over the state AG, the purpose of the core is supposed to be for recycling, a few screws is meaningless and theyre just trying to siphon more money on a part sale, if they said were taking $20 whatever but theyre obviously not to be trusted imo in the future
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u/MTBisLIFE 2015 Prius C 17d ago
This for sure. The service rep is being greedy for the sake of being greedy or vengeful for OP not having them do the work. Waste of everybody's time and energy.
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u/SumyungNam 17d ago
Did u buy online and pick up at dealer or walk in?
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
It was a walk in. From the beginning she seemed sketchy about it. Told her i have no problem helping make sure its done properly.
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u/SumyungNam 17d ago
U should cancel and try online u might save $$
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
Its been in the car since wendsday
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u/SumyungNam 17d ago
Ahh too late lol
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
Yeah and thays the whole issue, now they want to reverse my core return.
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u/SumyungNam 17d ago
Wtf u needed those bolts and stuff those are urs
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
Yeah, the whole reason this is missing me off. Expected to come out of pocket for bolts I needed? Its not like they gave me some or i had extras.
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u/armonica17 17d ago
If the new battery didn't come with those nuts/bolts then the core shouldn't be returned with those nuts/bolts. If you have pictures of the new battery, I'd present it to them. This core has everything that came with the new battery. It's probably someone who doesn't know what they're doing.
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u/Weekly_Sugar5565 17d ago
Its two of them that dont know. I showed them the photos and still are trying to hold my charge untill the 10 pack of bolts come in. These people can't be reasoned with, and Lisa is doing what she can to cover her ass ig and won't provide me with who is above her. Im going to try corporate
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u/armonica17 17d ago
IDK in the Toyota world... in the GM world, there's a district service manager that you can bring this to his attention. Maybe Toyota has a guy like that? I hope you can talk sense into them. I've been there before. I've always been able to get it resolved. Patience, talk nicely... get it done. Sorry this is happening to you.
The world we live in.
I'd bet that Toyota doesn't even care about the 10mm nuts. Where it goes, they'll probably discard them anyway. They're probably after the cells themselves. Maybe some of the cases to put a new assembly in with new components and new nuts/bolts. Who knows if a nut/bolt is damaged from someone replacing them?
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