Prius battery repair, how I can repair a prius battery for $400 by myself. Are you having prius battery problems, and have you been told that it is going to cost you through the roof?

What you need to know that will save you a huge amount of money with your prius battery repair!

First of all, one thing you need to know is that the dealership has discovered that they can make a HUGE amount of money by selling you a new, or rebuilt prius battery and so they are trying to cover up how easy it actually is to repair these things.

Who am I and what can I teach you that will save you around $5,000 when you have to go through replacing your prius battery, or repairing it.

I am just an average Joe, I have owned about ten prius’ over the past few years, and every single one of these prius’ have had a bad battery. That is actually how I have come to buy them. See, when someones prius battery goes bad, there prius stops running. So they take it into the local shop, and most small time local shops won’t touch a prius battery. So they are forced to bring there car to the nearest dealership.

This is where they get you to think that your prius battery repair is going to cost you big!

If your battery goes bad, it is going to cost you anywhere from 5 to 8 thousand dollars to get a new battery and have them replace yours for you. A lot of people just sell there car as is, and go buy a new one because they think that they are out of luck, and would just assume get a new car for that price.

So, I have been purchasing these “broke down” priuses for a few grand a piece and with in a few days they are off to the races!  Here is the kicker! The most I have spent on fixing one of my Prius’ now is $450! Want to know how to do this yourself?

You can find out how to repair a prius battery yourself here:  http://www.squidoo.com/Fix_Prius_Battery

You can find out how to repair a prius battery yourself here: http://www.squidoo.com/Fix_Prius_Battery

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/prius-battery-repair-how-i-can-rebuild-a-prius-battery-for-400-myself-1535063.html

Read this Toyota Sequoia hybrid review if you want to know more about it’s price, design, availability, performance and more.

In July of 2008, gas prices reached record highs, peaking at over $4.00 per gallon. With fuel prices putting such a crunch on peoples’ budgets, consumers began looking for more fuel-efficient vehicles, and auto makers responded to the demand.

Originally hybrid vehicles were limited to smaller, economy cars. But today’s family needs a larger vehicle that can do more than commute to work. Americans need vehicles that can drive your kids and their friends to soccer, grocery shop, take the dogs to the vet, and pack up for a family road trip. The vehicle needs to be not only fuel-efficient, but also accomodate the demanding needs of our busy lifestyles.

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Toyota is set to unveil an entire line of plug-in hybrids at the 2009 Detroit auto show. Toyota has put themselves directly into competition with General Motors by upping the ante on its line of hybrid vehicles.

The new line will run on a combination of fuel and ion batteries. The Sequoia is set to be one of the new vehicles in the lineup to be given both a hybrid and a standard engine model.

Why the Sequoia? It is Toyota’s more upscale SUV, and Toyota wants to be put in line to win over some of Lexus’ clientele.

The Sequoia offers roomier cargo space, as well as more luxury options than, for instance, the Highlander. With options on the Sequoia, such as four wheel drive, leather interior, GPS, and all the other options expected of a luxury vehicle, it is no wonder Toyota expects there to be a high demand for a Sequoia hybrid. With hybrid vehicles having a greater demand than ever, it makes sense to convert some of the most popular vehicles in an auto-maker’s lineup to hybrid vehicles. The same holds true for Toyota.

Currently, the standard Sequoia has an MSRP of around $34,000 for the base line model. The Platinum Sequoia runs for around $54,000. We can expect the price tags for the hybrid to be a bit higher than for the standard, but its price tag will even out in the long run on the cost of gas, as well as tax credits given by the federal government for converting to a hybrid vehicle.

Toyota expects to have an entire line-up of hybrid vehicles available to the general public by the year 2010. Until then, we are all going to have to sit back and wait for the Detroit 2009 auto show to see what the future has in store from Toyota.

Recommended Reading

• Looking for a Hybrid Car Dealer?
• Top 10 Best Hybrid Cars
• What is Hypermiling?
• Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Renewable Energy Solutions — "Family living off the grid with renewable energy takes know how and applies it to solar panels and wind generators."
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

This is a review of the Toyota Prius by a reader of Hybrid Cars, Trucks & Vans . The reviewer clearly loves the Prius. Find out why.

We had the pleasure of borrowing my sister-in-laws new 2008 Prius this summer. After experiencing the Toyota Prius first-hand I’ve decided that it will be my next car purchase. Let me tell you why:

1. The Prius is roomy and has lots of creature comforts. We often had four people in the car and everyone was comfortable. Several times we hauled large suitcases and wedding presents. For these jobs the back seat folded down and the tailgate provided easy loading access. The interior finish also seemed pleasant and sturdy.

2. The car handles well. We drove on the back roads, climbed mountains, and used the highway. In all cases the car performed to my expectations. Initially I was worried that the Prius might be slow accelerating on the highway, but this car had enough power to be safe on the highway. I was concerned we might see sluggishness climbing the mountains, again the car performed beautifully.

3. GAS Mileage! I think we averaged about 45 miles to the gallon. It was amazing. We really enjoyed the visual display of the engine performance. The constant feedback helped you adjust your driving habits to increase gas mileage.

4. The car is quiet, especially when the electric engine is running. In fact really you don’t even know that the engine is running. There were a few times that we tried to restart the car, but the engine was already functioning.

5. One area that does need improvement is the air conditioning. It was hot outside in Colorado. The internal car temperature was lower then outside, but not really cool enough to be comfortable. I understand that in the 2009 Prius, the air conditioning is supplemented by solar panels on the roof. Excellent idea! I guess the heating works fine, although we did not test it.

6. Hybrid cars like the Prius are more expensive initially. It’s been widely reported that it takes several years to pay back that extra money through reduced gas use. While that maybe be true, using a hybrid seems to be one area where I can make a difference. I know it is small difference, but it is something that I can do in a world that so many things seem out of my control. Toyota has designed a winner with the Prius. This car is fun to drive and easy on gas. However the best part is you really get a very functional and comfortable car.

More Information on Green Living

• Convert Any Car to Electric — "All the steps are numbered with diagrams to be easy to follow. The conversion does not take too long, all you have to do is follow the simple plans I provide and in a month, you will cut your gas bill to zero."
• Home Made Power Plant — "Secret plans for producing your own electricity with the power of the wind for less than a $200 investment (once they are installed these systems will generate electricity for years and you don’t even need to worry about maintenance)"
• Build A Wind Generator — "For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford."

Recommended Reading

• Looking for a Hybrid Car Dealer?
• Top 10 Best Hybrid Cars
• What is Hypermiling?
• Disadvantages of Hybrid Cars

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The Honda Civic hybrid price is about $23,500 to purchase. This review talks about the cost but also the benefits, like great MPG and styling. Note: This is a review written by a potential buyer…

The Honda Civic Hybrid is a great option for those who are looking for a reliable hybrid vehicle, which has the Honda name behind it. The starting price is about $23,500.00, and depending on the options you want, the sky’s the limit!

The most well known advantage to driving a hybrid is the gas savings . The Honda Civic hybrid does not disappoint in this area. Average mpg is about 42-45, and with a few adjustments, it’s easy to achieve 45-50 mpg. Many users say that using the cruise control, driving with a constant speed and gentle pressure on the gas pedal, and keeping your speed in the 60-65 range will easily help you achieve the best possible gas mileage.

Note: Compare the Honda Civic hybrid and the Toyota Prius

The best things about the Honda Civic Hybrid are generally deemed to be it’s benefits to the environment, and the benefits to the owner’s wallet when they realize the long term gas savings.

The styling of the vehicle is also considered by most to be a plus- it’s attractive, fairly sporty looking, and is not too very different from the standard Honda Civic in appearance.

The worst things are generally considered to be the fact that the driving can feel rather underpowered , and the high price , which is still more expensive than non-hybrid vehicles .

Overall, I’d love to purchase a Honda Civic Hybrid in the future, firstly because it’s a Honda and it’s a brand which has an impeccable record of quality and safety for many years. Secondly because it’s a hybrid, and is good for both the driver and for the environment. It’s a very attractive car , both in appearance and in usage.

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Finding Hybrid Dealers For Your Hybrid Car Needs

As more people are becoming open to the technology of hybrid and as more consumers actually buy such kind of cars, the more people are also being curious on how they can buy these cars . Although it may seem to b a new technology, finding cars like these isn’t really that hard to do. In fact, unknown to many, a lot of hybrid dealers are out there, just waiting to be asked for whatever car they have to offer.

How The Deal Works

In reality, finding hybrid car dealers and buying these kind of vehicles is just the same as buying a regular car. Hence, there’s really no problem on where you should go or find deals; simply because theyíre everywhere! Considering the popularity of hybrids nowadays, you wouldn’t have problems in spotting such kind of deals. So, here are some tips on where and how you could find different dealers that can suffice your hybrid car needs.

It’s A New Thing

One thing that you should realize when hunting for a good environmental friendly car is that such kinds of models are relatively new. Hence, they could only be bought from stores that sell them first hand. It would be quite impossible or rather extremely rare for you to find them in stores that sell second hand vehicles. It would also be rare to find someone selling his/her second hand hybrid.

Nevertheless, the good thing is that new dealers are starting to stock them even more each day. This is especially true, since more people are now getting more curious about hybrid vehicles and hybrid car dealers.

Starting With A Brand

Before heading out to look for dealers, it is recommended that you have a car brand in mind . In this way it would be easier to spot deals that are relevant to what you are looking for.

If you’re starting with a brand, thereís really not much to worry about since almost all manufacturers, such as, Toyota , Chevrolet , Nissan, BMW and Ford are all in this kind of industry already. In fact, such companies are getting more pressured each day to produce the best hybrid cars they can create due to the incessant need for alternatives to expensive fuel.

Going For Online Deals

For starters, the Internet would be a pretty good place to start your search for various car deals. This would be highly recommended if you think you’re not up to getting sales talked yet by a car salesman. Additionally, this method would also be helpful in letting you know more first about the features that the vehicle you are eyeing for has.

Nowadays, car deals are very rampant in cyberspace. It is possible for you to find different Web sites on the Internet that has various offers for hybrid cars. In fact, you could even get different quotations for various dealers. However, you should understand that the key to getting a good deal online is by having good research skills.

Try your best to get to know more info on the car that you want. You could also compare and contrast vehicles that different manufacturers offer. It would also be helpful if you read reviews online, both by experts and consumers to get more realistic feedback with your research. Once you feel that you are well-informed and ready to face a salesman , all you have to do is contact the Web site that you are interested on inquiring with.

Explore Your Newspapers Classified Ads

One classic way of looking for car deals would be your local paper’s classified ads. There are companies that advertise on papers and if theyíre on your locality, then it would really be easy to drop by for a visit. However, you should be wary that you shouldnít look on the second hand section of the ads, since as said earlier, most hybrids are not yet available in that kind of market.

Try Your Local Stores

If youíre looking for first hand experience, then you should try to observe your locality and see where you could find stores that sell cars. You could go directly to the manufacturer’s shop, if there’s any in your place or buy from hybrid dealers. Don’t hesitate to ask them if they have any promos or special offers , especially for hybrid vehicles .

NOTE: Looking for used hybrid cars ?

This review of the Toyota Prius discusses Zipcars, driver comfort, hybrid car styling, MPG and styling.

It’s not surprising the Prius Hybrid is so popular — not only is it good for the environment, but it’s fun to drive.

I like that a lot of green-minded celebrities have a Prius, and whenever I see someone driving a Prius, I always smile.I actually don’t own a car because I live in an area where I don’t need one, but I’ve driven a Prius several times through my Zipcar membership. When they moved the Prius parked at my building to another location, I was really bummed out.

I’m tall and generously proportioned, but am very comfortable in the driver’s seat. The instrument panel was easy to read and very intuitive the first time I drove the car — no fumbling around trying to figure out the controls, and everything within easy reach. The handling was quick and responsive — such fun to drive around town! Sightlines were excellent (a real pet peeve of mine in a lot of newer cars is that they have really bad blind spots and poor rear-view visibility — not so with the Prius ).

Probably the most surprising and disconcerting thing is that the car turns off when it’s stopped — total silence. But as soon as you press the gas, it responds immediately. Quite a difference from a traditional car, but after a few minutes, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

I also think the Prius is very attractive — the styling distinctive, in a good way, with a great selection of colors, including a really nice metallic red, and a gorgeous glue called "seaside pearl". Probably the only drawback is the fairly small trunk area, but the design maximizes the space, and I know from experience that it will hold a surprising amount of shopping bags.

Personally, since I am a city driver, the smaller size is a big advantage , making it easier to squeeze into small spaces and parallel park .

The Prius is definitely at the top of my list for my next car purchase, especially given gas prices . This would be even more important if I had a long commute. 45-50 MPG would make a big difference for anyone driving more than a few miles a day. Another bonus is that in some areas, including the DC area where I live, Prius drivers can use the High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.

I think the pricing is very reasonable considering the fuel savings, not to mention the peace of mind knowing that you are supporting green technology.

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Keep reading about Toyota Hybrids .

Hybrid cars are increasingly popular, as the price of gasoline has gone up and seems unlikely to drop below $2.00 per gallon in the foreseeable future. All hybrid cars have both an electric motor and a gasoline powered engine (hence the name); when the car brakes, the battery is recharged, and when the car idles, the gasoline engine may be shut down.

The appeal of a hybrid car is increased fuel economy , which both saves you money and reduces your environmental impact. As part of an incentive program to switch over to hybrid cars and electric vehicles, there are Federal programs that provide a tax rebate for their purchase; these tax rebates go away after a certain number of qualifying vehicles are sold. Most of the Toyota hybrid vehicles , including the Prius, have sold enough cars that these no longer apply.

With all that said, let’s cover the models that are out there, and what needs they fill.

The Toyota Prius is the dominant hybrid car on the market, it’s the model with the greatest mind share. With mileage in real world situations approaching 45 miles to the gallon, the Prius is the leader in terms of raw fuel economy. (It’s fuel economy is high enough that it still makes economic sense compared to the closest non hybrid vehicle in its weight range, the Volkswagon Golf). It boasts a comfortable front and rear seat arrangement (though the rear has some legroom issues), and remarkable driver visibility. Its drawback is that it is not, in any way, shape or form, sporty. It’s a perfectly functional box with wheels with excellent gas mileage .

If you’re looking for something that won’t set you apart as a greenie, something that has a sense of style that’s a bit more conventional, then the primary choice is the Honda Civic Hybrid . It gains a respectable 5 mpg over its non-Hybrid counterpart, but still costs almost $6,000 more at MSRP. However, it’s still eligible for the tax rebates mentioned above, which helps remove much of the sting. Aside from looks ant styling (it still looks like a midsized car, for example.) it boasts better legroom and its gasoline engine is more powerful than that of the Prius, meaning that it wins on the ‘fun to drive’ standard.

For people who love their SUVs, but can’t abide the gas bill, there are two models of hybrid SUVs on the market; both are good for people who want to haul serious cargo, and get over 16 mpg. (In terms of percentage of increase, most SUVs gain more from a hybrid engine than any other vehicle class, in part because SUVs start with horrible gas mileage, and because they have more space to store batteries.)

The leading hybrid truck in the country is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid , which is really more of an overgrown station wagon than a heavy SUV; even so, the hybrid mechanism adds nearly 10 mpg to the mileage compared to the non-Hybrid version, and it doesn’t lose much in the way of performance.

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For a full sized SUV, the Ford Escape Hybrid is the only one on the market, and its sales have been dismal, though it gets good reviews as a car. It gains 7 miles per gallon over its non-hybrid counterpart, and has a full SUV-sized carrying capacity. What it also has is a huge sticker shock. More recent models have had plug in ports to let you charge the battery overnight from a wall socket.

The Chevy Volt may be the future of hybrid drive train vehicles. Designed as a plug in hybrid from the get go, the Volt has four electric motors powering the wheels directly, powered by the hybrid batteries , backed up by the small, very efficient gasoline engine powers a generator that refills the battery on the car. Because they could replace the drive shaft and transmission with more battery capacity, the Volt has a cruising range of 30 to 40 miles before it even starts up the gasoline engine. GM is talking about scaling this drive train up to a full sixed truck body vehicle if the Volt does well in the market place.

This is a review of the Toyota Prius . The hybrid car reviewer talks about price, fuel economy, and the warranty on the battery. There are also notes on safety.

We hear a lot about hybrids nowadays. But one thing seems to stand in the way of many of us doing more than just reading about them: Price.

A good example is the Toyota Prius Hybrid . With a starting MSRP of $22,000 for a very small car, it is simply out of reach of most car buyers – especially a car buyer like me, with three kids and a wife, who is looking for a family car. Don’t get me wrong – the Prius looks like a very well built car. And with estimated MPG of 48/45, this little guy merely sips gas, saving big bucks at the pump in the long run.

The EPA listed the 2008 Prius as the most fuel efficient car sold in the United States. Pretty impressive stats. I was first leery of battery powered hybrids due to the very expensive cost of replacing batteries when they wear out. And I think that most people who own cell phones, laptops, PDAs, etc. very much understand the frustration of how short-lived batteries can be, so I assumed that the same would be true of the batteries in an automobile.

I am reassured by Toyota’s warranty on their batteries : 8 years or 100,000 miles – even more in some states with more strict emissions laws. Since I rarely own a vehicle for more than 8 years, this is a comforting concession.

The size of this car also had me concerned at first. Perhaps it is my Midwest upbringing, but I always felt that a big car provides a lot of protection in a crash. That is apparently outmoded thinking now that airbags and improved safety caging has made even the smallest of cars even safer. In my mind, I could just picture those extremely heavy batteries becoming lead and acid-filled projectiles in an accident. But apparently, this is something in my head because the Prius has very impressive 5 star driver and 4 star passenger National Highway Traffic Safety Association NHTSA ratings .

I am a gadget freak and it seems that the Toyota designers had me in mind when designing some of the options on this car. I love the idea of the Smart Key System where sensors unlock doors and start the car without needing the traditional car key. I also like it when car manufactures build in things that they know we are going to want in our cars – like Bluetooth, Audio-in jacks for ipods, and satellite radio . But at $22K, Toyota’s tagline "Prius for the People" seems a bit out of context. Perhaps "Prius for the well-heeled People" might be a better tagline.

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Keep reading about Toyota Hybrids .

The prius isn’t exactly the definition of style, but its design is sleek and aerodynamic. What everybody hears about the prius is the gas mileage and its pretty good 40-60 mpg depending on terrain.

You get gas mileage instead of power ; it is quite sluggish on the draw taking about 14.2 secs to get to 60 mph. This is due to both gas/electric, basically twice the engine twice the weight and since only one is working at one time you have a severe lack in power.

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Then there’s the hybrid car battery , it has to be replaced every couple of years and they can run for more than a couple of thousand dollars. Also there is some debate that the energy it takes to make and transport the cars and batteries outweighs the fuel saved by driving it.

There is also problems with availability the prius is a pretty hot item right now and you might have to wait a while to get your hands on one. The interior is very basic your not going to see much flash inside this thing its pretty bland. You have your choices of a cloth interior or leather but not much variation on color .

The price is decent a little high for my tastes but for the future of driving what do you expect. The best thing about this car is the gas mileage if you are a big driver like to take long trips adventure on the road this is a awesome feature almost making it worth a buy just for that.

[Editor's Note: Read How to Pick a Hybrid Car ]

My least favorite thing about this car the lack of power, most people may not need power but when I get behind the wheel I need to know that my vehicle has the power to get where I’m going. I live in the mountains and in a regular car it can be pretty tough getting up some of the steeper hills, and I don’t think the prius could do it.

Personally I wouldn’t buy one they don’t offer the performance I want or need and replacing the battery every couple of years seems like a real hassle, but many people love this car and I respect that. The cars is good not great and if you want to buy one try renting it first to test if it can handle the road where you live especially if you live in the mountains .

Keep reading about Toyota Hybrids .

As more people are becoming considerate of the environment, the idea of driving a vehicle less dependent on gas is becoming more popular.

With this idea though, people are wondering how to pick a hybrid car, because they are interested in making the right choice for their vehicle needs as far as the environment go, but also for their lifestyles and wallets.

To choose a hybrid vehicle you should first choose the type of vehicle you need. Take into consideration how many people will be in your vehicle regularly as well as any kind of moving of heavy objects you do regularly. This is a first step when choosing any vehicle, but, while taking this into consideration, think about how each class of vehicle will also affect your gas mileage .

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You see, each class of hybrid usually has higher mileage per gallon, but is still something you want to consider, if you are trying to decide between a sedan type and an SUV. The difference in the gas mileage can be as high as 30mpg. For instance if you want Toyota hybrids such as the Toyota Prius , for city driving you can expect up to 60 mpg, and for highway driving up to 50mpg. However if you decide to instead go for the Ford Escape the mileage is 36/31. That is a huge difference for two vehicles that carry the same amount of passengers.

The cost of a hybrid is something else you might want to consider when thinking about how to choose a hybrid vehicle. For instance most gas only vehicles cost up to $5,000 less than a hybrid. You will be able to compare the two vehicles you like with their prices when you check for quotes, and in some cases you might be surprised to find that the difference can be as low as $3000.

If you are paying monthly for your vehicle you might want to sit down with calculator and find out if the extra payment of up to $90 a month (using the average $18/$1000 loan) is worth it. For instance the Prius is going to get you almost double the gas mileage you might have with a regular sedan, so you would spend half as much on gas every month. In the long run with the help each vehicle brings for the environment this could, very well, be worth the cost.

In the end no one can tell you exactly how to pick a hybrid car , but if you take these things into consideration you are going to be much happier with your decision to go hybrid, and the vehicle you choose.

Let’s face it…

If you really want to know how to pick a hybrid car then you have to understand your goals. How much money can you spend? What is the hybrid vehicle going to be used for? Are you worried about hybrid car batteries , hybrid maintenance , and hybrid car risks ? If you are, then you might want to wait another 3-4 years until you feel confident in the technology. That trust in hybrids is critical to your well-being and peace of mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

If you’re doing research on hybrid cars, hybrid trucks, or hybrid vans, then you need to head over to http://HybridCarsTrucksVans.com/ I discuss many related topics such as hybrid minivans, hybrid SUVs, and even hybrid motorcycles. Start your hybrid car research today.