Has anyone replaced their own Prius battery?

[Stachetastic]

We have a 2007 Prius with 189k miles. The hybrid battery is done for. Hubs is pretty handy, and has watched some youtube videos. He thinks this is very doable. I have found one place online that sells refurbished batteries for 950, another for 1500. Has anyone done this before, or have any insight?

[Dave1442397]

Tyler Hoover did it, and he's not the most mechanically-minded youtuber - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSwUEVx5G3U

[topshot]

Some batteries/vendors are better than others. I recommend you do some research at Priuschat.com. You shouldn't have an issue with changing it out. If it is throwing a code, you'll want to get to it fairly soon.

[wawot1]

Excellent how-to video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3RCdrh666w

[kendallf]

I've done this perhaps 10 times by now, and it's very easy.  My buddy and I swapped the last one in perhaps 30 minutes start to finish, including the interior removal and reinstallation.  That's with battery powered drivers and a bunch of experience.  The only real safety "must do" is to pull the disconnect from the side of the battery before you start unbolting things.  This disconnects the high voltage before you get to unbolting the HV cables from the battery. I would pull the ground from the 12v battery as well (it bolts to the back of the quarter panel by the taillight, easier than pulling the battery terminals themselves).

Take your time and it's still not a long process.  Look up Luscious Garage for how-to videos on the Prius in general.

[Stachetastic]

Thanks, @kendallf! DH has watched a couple youtube videos, but not that one, so I'll have him check it out. I'm hesitant to put $1k or so into a car with 200k miles, but DH is convinced we can't get much out of it as-is, so we don't have a whole lot to lose.

[kendallf]

Thanks, @kendallf! DH has watched a couple youtube videos, but not that one, so I'll have him check it out. I'm hesitant to put $1k or so into a car with 200k miles, but DH is convinced we can't get much out of it as-is, so we don't have a whole lot to lose.

I just sold one with more than 250k miles that was still running beautifully.  My current one has ~240k and I'd drive it anywhere (took it 600 miles round trip to south FL last week).  Fix it and keep driving it!

[YW55]

It can't be that difficult if thieves are stealing them at parking lots! Just park at some sketchy alley and have half of the work done for you for free. https://abc7news.com/san-francisco-woman-returns-to-prius-to-find-car-disassembled-battery-stolen/5492654/