Buying a used car always comes with its share of the unknown, but when you add a high-voltage battery, a complex braking system, and an extended warranty to the mix, things can get a little more confusing. While a well-maintained hybrid can easily exceed 200,000 miles, the hidden costs of a neglected one can wipe out any potential fuel savings.
Whether you’re a first-time hybrid buyer or a longtime Prius enthusiast looking to upgrade, here are five important things to consider before you sign the papers and pick up the keys.
5
Battery health status
Smartphone apps can help
We’re all trained to look at the odometer first when buying a used car, but 100,000 miles on the clock in a hybrid may be less important than the remaining life of the battery pack.
Just like a smartphone or any other consumer device you use regularly, there may come a time when the battery doesn’t hold as much power as it used to. This is the same principle as the previous hybrid. Ask the dealer for a Condition of Health (SOH) report before purchasing. The ideal SOH should be above 80%.
At this level, the battery can still assist the engine properly, keeping your fuel economy and transition between gas and electric power seamless. Once that rating drops below an average of 70%, you’ve reached what many manufacturers consider to be the end of its useful life. At this stage, the battery has difficulty maintaining its charge and forces the gas engine to run more often. In addition to the loss in gas mileage, you’re now one nasty heat wave away from total system failure and an expensive replacement bill.
If you are specifically looking at a Toyota or Lexus hybrid through a third party dealer and they don’t know the SOH of the battery, Bluetooth OBD-II scanner and such a program Dr. Priuswhich is very positive reputation for accuracy.
4
Find the “sweet spot” guarantee
CARB rules can work in your favor
Hybrid system components often have longer warranties than the rest of the vehicle. Most are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles, although some makes and models may offer warranties that extend to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
The warranty “sweet spot” for a pre-owned hybrid is a vehicle four to six years old. In this age range, most of the depreciation has already taken place, and if the inverter or battery pack fails, you still have the safety net of factory coverage.
If you live in CARB (California Air Resources Board), a state that follows California’s stricter emissions regulations, some hybrids, especially transitional zero-emission vehicles (TZEVs), may offer a 15-year or 150,000-mile warranty on certified emissions parts.
In addition to California, CARB states by 2026 include Oregon, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Colorado, New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Maryland, Connecticut, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
3
Listen to the brake switch
Find a quiet parking spot
Hybrid braking can feel different, especially if it’s your first time for a test drive. When you hit the brake pedal, hybrids will actually use the electric motor to decelerate before the brake pads. In a hybrid, this is the difference between regenerative and mechanical (i.e. traditional) braking.
In a gasoline-only car, a traditional brake creates friction between the pads and rotors, converting motion or kinetic energy into heat. This heat disappears into the air and is for all intents and purposes lost.
With a hybrid car, the electric motor serves a dual purpose, helping to recover energy that would otherwise be lost. During normal driving, the electric motor helps propel the wheels forward, but when you slow down, it acts as a generator, converting wasted energy and sending it to the battery to recharge.
During your test drive, find a quiet parking lot or road and practice slow, smooth stops. When the vehicle switches from regenerative braking to manual braking, you hear any weird or strange noises or feel a “clunk”. If you feel a “clunk” when the normal brakes finally engage, hear a clicking sound, or see a delayed response, it could indicate a failed brake actuator, a special part that can cost a small fortune to replace.
After buying a hybrid car, take some time mastering the regenerative braking processbecause your fuel economy will increase over time.
- What’s Included
-
M12 impact driver, hammer drill, 3/8-inch ratchet, charger, two batteries
- Warranty
-
5-year warranty on tools, up to 3 years on batteries.
- Wireless?
-
Yes
If you’re looking for a great DIY starter kit from Milwaukee, this M12 3-tool combo kit is it. With an impact driver, hammer drill and 3/8-inch ratchet, 4Ah and 2Ah batteries, this kit is a great starting point for projects both at home and in your car.
2
Check the hidden filter
It can be easy to forget about the hybrid battery fan filter
Hybrid batteries generate heat during charging and discharging. To stay cool, they draw air from the cabin through a dedicated intake vent, so it’s important to ask about the hybrid battery fan filter.
- Where to find: You’ll likely find this fan next to the rear seats or next to the plastic floor trim. It looks like a small plastic grill.
- What to look for: Open this vent cover (usually just cut off) and check the mesh filter behind it. If the previous owner had pets that rolled down their windows or drove frequently in dusty areas, this filter may have a layer of debris. When this happens, the battery is essentially dead.
- Potential risk factor: Because the battery can’t breathe, it runs at higher temperatures, increasing the risk of premature cell failure and expensive repair costs.
A clogged filter can force the cooling fan to run at higher speeds, which can be harmful over time. If you hear a whirring noise from the back seat during your test drive, the filter may have been sitting unaddressed for a while.
If a hybrid vehicle is out of warranty, a complete battery replacement at an independent shop can cost $2,000 to $5,000, and a dealer can cost upwards of $8,000.
1
12 volt battery
It may not be under the hood
The biggest headache with a used hybrid isn’t always the primary battery. This is a standard 12 volt battery that runs lights and computers.
Because these batteries don’t “rev” the engine like a normal vehicle, they can fail quietly. Ask your dealer for service records. If the 12-volt battery has not been replaced in the last four years, request a new one as part of the contract. A faulty 12-volt battery can trick the vehicle’s computer into giving phantom system failure warnings that are actually false signals.
In a hybrid, the 12-volt battery can be located in the trunk or under the back seat, not necessarily under the hood. Most modern hybrids use AGM batteries or Absorbed Glass Mat batteriesoffers a number of advantages including longer service life.
Use these tips to your advantage
Ultimately, your goal during the buying process is not only to find a hybrid with a low price tag, but also one with a documented history of consistent maintenance. When talking to a salesperson or salesperson, ask lots of questions and trust your instincts on a test drive. Use the tips above to help you, and hopefully, you’ll find a secondary hybrid that turns out to be one of the best car buying decisions you’ve ever made.
