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Car Issue - Need help evaluating some alternatives
Posted on 8/23/17 at 4:30 pm
Posted on 8/23/17 at 4:30 pm
In March I bought a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid for $6,000 cash. Great car, low miles, etc. Today, I take the car to the dealer because the "check hybrid system" light comes on. They called earlier to tell me that it was in fact a dead hybrid battery and would be $6,100 to replace at the dealer. Completely ridiculous considering I paid less than that for the vehicle itself.
Unfortunately, the car is out of any warranties by about 6 months, but I need to figure out next steps. To provide some more financial detail, I'm taking a new job in mid September. With moving expenses, running a side business, and spending the last couple of months seeking employment, the emergency fund is running low. I also will be commuting 2 hours every Friday and Saturday for the first 3 months of the job, so a reliable vehicle is a major priority. I have a few thoughts and wanted to get the MB's opinion.
Option 1: Pay $2,900 for a refurbished hybrid battery with a 2 year warranty & Installation. This fixes the issues, but I'm a bit put off by the whole hybrid deal after this issue. Could potentially sell after fixing to try and recoup as much cost as possible. Time is the issue here as well. Not sure all this can get done before my start date at new job.
Option 2: Trade in the Camry towards a newer, but still used vehicle somewhere in the $10,000-$14,000 range and finance that. This leaves me with a reliable vehicle, but a loan that I was trying to avoid by paying for the Camry in the first place.
Option 3: Try to sell the Camry as is for as much as possible and use that towards the payment of another vehicle in the 10-year old & $4-7k range.
Any thoughts?
Unfortunately, the car is out of any warranties by about 6 months, but I need to figure out next steps. To provide some more financial detail, I'm taking a new job in mid September. With moving expenses, running a side business, and spending the last couple of months seeking employment, the emergency fund is running low. I also will be commuting 2 hours every Friday and Saturday for the first 3 months of the job, so a reliable vehicle is a major priority. I have a few thoughts and wanted to get the MB's opinion.
Option 1: Pay $2,900 for a refurbished hybrid battery with a 2 year warranty & Installation. This fixes the issues, but I'm a bit put off by the whole hybrid deal after this issue. Could potentially sell after fixing to try and recoup as much cost as possible. Time is the issue here as well. Not sure all this can get done before my start date at new job.
Option 2: Trade in the Camry towards a newer, but still used vehicle somewhere in the $10,000-$14,000 range and finance that. This leaves me with a reliable vehicle, but a loan that I was trying to avoid by paying for the Camry in the first place.
Option 3: Try to sell the Camry as is for as much as possible and use that towards the payment of another vehicle in the 10-year old & $4-7k range.
Any thoughts?
This post was edited on 8/23/17 at 4:55 pm
8
Posted on 8/23/17 at 5:55 pm to LSUShock
Option 2: call one of the 20 alternative mechancis who can fix it for less than $2900 probably 1800-2300 and be on your way
This post was edited on 8/23/17 at 6:00 pm
Posted on 8/25/17 at 7:11 am to LSUShock
option 3 is going to be almost impossible unless you want to sell it for almost nothing, and that could potentially take a while to find a buyer unless there's someone out there looking for one b/c hes got a wrecked one and can do it himself.
The other posters are correct, there should be some small shop in your area that specialize in that, if that's what it needs. Those new car stores aren't always thorough at diagnosing, it's a lot easier to say needs a new one. But, be careful on the warranty talk with a small shop. They may give you a one year warranty but if it goes down , it may take them a while to get to it once you bring it in.
If it was mine I would probably find a cheap fix, post it for sale with "new battery" and hurry up and get rid of it.
The other posters are correct, there should be some small shop in your area that specialize in that, if that's what it needs. Those new car stores aren't always thorough at diagnosing, it's a lot easier to say needs a new one. But, be careful on the warranty talk with a small shop. They may give you a one year warranty but if it goes down , it may take them a while to get to it once you bring it in.
If it was mine I would probably find a cheap fix, post it for sale with "new battery" and hurry up and get rid of it.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 10:08 am to LSUShock
Clearly Option 1. At least to hold you over through this spot in life. As mentioned shop around for this cost, but make sure it's a reliable, dependent shop that will honor their "warranty".
I can't believe you're shocked at the cost of a hybrid battery. It's been a huge, common complaint since hybrids came out. The batteries die, and cost a fortune to replace. The guy who sold it more than likely knew this was an upcoming expense and unloaded it before it hit him.
I can't believe you're shocked at the cost of a hybrid battery. It's been a huge, common complaint since hybrids came out. The batteries die, and cost a fortune to replace. The guy who sold it more than likely knew this was an upcoming expense and unloaded it before it hit him.
Posted on 8/25/17 at 2:37 pm to LSUShock
You need a second opinion.
The dealer doesn't want to expend the labor to find which battery within the system is causing the problem (the hybrid system is made from a whole bunch of small batteries). I would echo the others who have said to try an independent hybrid shop. Of your 3 options, #1 is the only I would consider.
The dealer doesn't want to expend the labor to find which battery within the system is causing the problem (the hybrid system is made from a whole bunch of small batteries). I would echo the others who have said to try an independent hybrid shop. Of your 3 options, #1 is the only I would consider.
Posted on 8/28/17 at 9:02 am to LSUShock
Have you looked at any online searches? I've seen some stories similar to yours and it was just dirty connections. Worth a shot.
Oh also -- I do know on Escape Hybrids they have an air filter for the ventilation system for the batteries that gets dirty and causes some error codes. I assume the Camry has a similar system.
Oh also -- I do know on Escape Hybrids they have an air filter for the ventilation system for the batteries that gets dirty and causes some error codes. I assume the Camry has a similar system.
This post was edited on 8/28/17 at 9:06 am
Posted on 8/28/17 at 12:30 pm to LSUShock
Option 4...check out your hybrid battery your self. Cells will "fail" if they drop more than 10% (or about 1.4 volts...cells are blocked in groups of 2). Typically, batteries fail because of corroded connectors on the bus bar. Look up the youtube videos on how to safely disconnect and clean the connections. You may actually be able to fix your Camry for less than $10.
Option 5...buy a Dorman battery and install it yourself. Again...tons of videos out there on how to do it.
Option 6...check craigslist...there are guys in major metro areas who will repair Camry/Prius batteries for between $600-750 (depending on cells needing replacement vs cleaning). The drawback is they typically take 10-14 days to do it.
BTW...I have a coworker who actually replaced a cell on his Camry hybrid battery for about $150 (along with cleaning the bus bar connections). You have a long weekend coming up...do it yourself and save a few grand.
ETA...Option 7...wait...the Camry is running on the ICE while the system is in failure mode. First...disconnect the 12 V battery, then pull the orange disconnect from the Hybrid battery...wait about 2 minutes, then reconnect. Often, this will take it out of failure mode (and no...they don't do this at the stealership, where they simply want to sell you a new battery). If it works, it runs as normal until you get a voltage drop across the cell again. If it doesn't work...just drive with the ICE until you get a chance to work on the battery.
Option 5...buy a Dorman battery and install it yourself. Again...tons of videos out there on how to do it.
Option 6...check craigslist...there are guys in major metro areas who will repair Camry/Prius batteries for between $600-750 (depending on cells needing replacement vs cleaning). The drawback is they typically take 10-14 days to do it.
BTW...I have a coworker who actually replaced a cell on his Camry hybrid battery for about $150 (along with cleaning the bus bar connections). You have a long weekend coming up...do it yourself and save a few grand.
ETA...Option 7...wait...the Camry is running on the ICE while the system is in failure mode. First...disconnect the 12 V battery, then pull the orange disconnect from the Hybrid battery...wait about 2 minutes, then reconnect. Often, this will take it out of failure mode (and no...they don't do this at the stealership, where they simply want to sell you a new battery). If it works, it runs as normal until you get a voltage drop across the cell again. If it doesn't work...just drive with the ICE until you get a chance to work on the battery.
This post was edited on 8/28/17 at 12:34 pm
Posted on 8/28/17 at 12:36 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:
I can't believe you're shocked at the cost of a hybrid battery. It's been a huge, common complaint since hybrids came out. The batteries die, and cost a fortune to replace. The guy who sold it more than likely knew this was an upcoming expense and unloaded it before it hit him.
It is only a complaint from those who haven't done their research. Hybrid batteries typically last over 200K, and are repaired very cheaply...it is the dealers replacing units that can be repaired that give them a bad reputation.
Posted on 8/28/17 at 12:47 pm to LSUShock
I'd just buy a new battery pack and roll on. You won't find a car you like as well for $6100.
I'm no fan of hybrids but dumping cars due to repair costs RARELY makes financial sense.
I'm no fan of hybrids but dumping cars due to repair costs RARELY makes financial sense.
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