Hybrid Battery Check Before You Buy
Buying a used Prius, Camry, Highlander or Lexus hybrid? Bring it by and we'll read the hybrid battery before you commit, so the biggest repair on the car isn't a surprise.
The hybrid battery, with the car's own data
We connect to the car and read the hybrid battery with the Dr. Prius app:
- Voltage of each block of modules, and how far apart the blocks sit
- An internal-resistance test of the pack under load
- State of charge and battery temperatures
- Any stored hybrid battery trouble codes
You get a short written result describing the pack's condition on the day, what it usually means, and roughly what a rebuild would cost if one is coming.
Battery only, and a snapshot
- Not a whole-car inspection. Brakes, engine, transmission and bodywork need a general pre-purchase inspection elsewhere.
- Not a guarantee. The result is the pack's condition on the day it was read. Hybrid batteries can fail later, and a pack that reads well today may still weaken.
- Nothing is removed or opened. The reading is done through the diagnostic port with the pack in the car.
Booking and what to bring
- Fee$200, cash, Venmo or Zelle at the shop
- WhenBy appointment, 7 days a week, 8a – 8p
- WhereCottonwood Heights; we send the address when you book
- How longAbout an hour
- BringThe car, with the seller's agreement if it isn't yours yet
- CreditThe full $200 comes off a rebuild of that battery within 60 days
Frequently asked
Can I bring a car I don't own yet?
Yes, that's the point. Most buyers bring the car during a test drive with the seller's agreement, or ask the seller to meet them here.
What if the battery reads badly?
We'll tell you what the reading usually means and roughly what a rebuild would cost, so you can negotiate or walk away. If you buy the car anyway and have us rebuild the pack within 60 days, the $200 comes off the bill.
Does the check tell me how long the battery will last?
No. It tells you the pack's condition on the day. A pack with blocks sitting close together and no stored codes is usually in better shape than one with a wide spread, but no reading can promise how long a NiMH battery will go on.
Do you check the rest of the car?
No. We read the hybrid battery only. For brakes, engine and the rest, book a general pre-purchase inspection as well.