2006 Prius HELP!

And it is not throwing any codes?

Is it really not going above 35mph, like that is a hard set speed limit? Or is it just super slow and you picked a random but close number?

 

Have you taken it back to the dealer and explained the problem? Esp since you are saying its the same problem when the original battery was there.

You never got any warning lights on the dash and MFD screen? No battery fan noise coming from the rear seat?

Just out of curiosity, was the HV Battery replaced under warranty and what was the mileage at time of change? If Warranty, was it Federal Emissions Warranty (8yr/100K mile) or the longer CARB warranty (10yr/150K mile)?

 

..please give us state of reidence (assuming USA)

 

Was it ever "good" after the battery replacement?

If I paid $2000+ and had the battery replaced at the dealership, as diagnosed by "Toyota" then drove it off the lot, and it still had the exact same problem? ( Actually that sounds cheap for a battery replacement at a dealership ).

My first move would be to drive it right back to the service department.

You originally brought it there to have this problem solved. It is not.

Hopefully you did not replace a Hybrid Battery unnecessarily.

But I'd put the ball right back in the service department court.

And I'd let them know that I'm not happy about replacing a Hybrid Battery and driving it off the lot with the exact same symptoms.

They should of road tested your vehicle after replacing the battery. Your symptoms do NOT sound subtle. I would consider it negligent to let you drive off with a vehicle still demonstrating those dangerous and obvious symptoms.

 

codes are the first step in the process. guessing will not help much. sounds like you've got your work cut out for you. if you want guesses, start with: check the inverter fluid reservoir and see if there is movement.

 

You are leaving out a lot of information.
1a) Mileage at time of HV Battery replacement?
1b) Ohio is a non-CARB state, so only Federal warranty (8yr/100K miles) will apply for the HV Battery. 2006 model year could have initially been bought in 2005. 2005+8 years = 2013 HV Battery warranty expiration. 2006+8 years = 2014 HV battery warranty expiration. Unless the odometer read 100K+ miles well before or during 2013 or 2014.
1c) Was the $2K repair out of your pocket?
2) Where did you buy the car? Toyota dealership, independent used car lot, private party?
3) What Toyota dealership gave you the diagnosis for a HV Battery replacement? To get this definitive diagnosis, the Toyota technician would have ran a diagnosis using the Techstream software. Any error codes would have been found, and listed on the service invoice, which the service writer would have provided you. Where is this paper?
4) Who is the "guy" that was fed up and frustrated? Toyota service writer? Original Toyota Technician who did the original diagnosis and installation of the HV Battery? A different Toyota Technician who was assigned your Prius on this most recent visit? Or the used car lot mechanic?
5) I get the impression that you bought the car from an independent used lot, that had their mechanic install this HV Battery at a killer deal of $2k (part and labor).
6) Why aren't you raising hell? If the battery was installed at a Toyota Dealer, did you ask to speak to the service Manager? This case should have been escalated, with the Toyota Technician speaking to Toyota Corporate for diagnosis assistance, possibly leading to a Toyota Corporate or regional master technician coming in person to look at the car.
7) Why don't you file a complaint with Ohio's Attorney General about this matter? A simple Internet search of "Ohio auto repair complaint," gave me the information needed to know who, what, when, where, why, and how. Attached is Ohio's Auto Repair and Services Law. LINK too.

FYI, a generic code reader will miss a lot of Prius specific codes. If you plan to do a lot of DIY, get a miniVCI cable; requires a laptop running WinXP or 7 (32bit), or a Mac that can emulate a 32bit XP or Win 7.

 

There was a case here recently of a guy who bought a second hand Prius where the previous owner had receipts for a "new" HV battery from a Toyota dealer (exactly the same 2k figure was thrown about btw). Turned out that the Dealer had a "sideline" in reconditioned batteries and it was never a new battery that he got. A very lucrative sideline, as most people simply assumed that if they got a battery replacement at a dealer it would be a brand new one.

From memory I think the owner was having very similar problems to OP is reporting here. Heck, it might even be the same problem car passed on to yet another owner.

 

Geez. Sucks for that driver. But wouldn't the paperwork state "reconditioned, remanufactured, rebuilt, like-new, or used?" If not, then the original driver would have a legal claim against the unscrupulous dealer, at least in the US.

But then I could see the criminals calling the driver w/ the bad news of bad HV Battery, then lay the good news of "new" battery for $2K, leaving out that its used. Driver agrees b/c money saved. Final paper work that driver signs says used/rebuilt/etc, or New Hv battery w/ and astrik, sub/superscript 1, w/ asterik or 1 indicating a used/rebuilt part was used. Few people read any documents they sign. Criminals get away. Damn them.

 

Yeah I'm pretty sure the case I'm thinking of was in the US. When I said there was a case here recently, I meant "here at Prius Chat" rather than "here in Australia". Sorry I didn't make that clearer.

Yeah, I didn't see the paperwork or anything. It was a thread almost exactly like this present one, the owner (and previous owner who actually paid for the battery) were absolutely cock sure that it had a brand new battery from a dealer. Exactly the same figure of 2k was mentioned and that caused suspicion to me (and others) that it seemed a bit low for a dealer installed new battery. So at the prompting of members here the guy investigated further and eventually found out the truth about the battery.

Seriously I wouldn't even be surprised if this is the same car passed on (with same receipts) to yet another owner.

 

Thats a Remanufactured HV Battery. Link. It has a 36 month warranty from date of purchase. Doubtful warranty will apply w/o any codes.

You have the actual Napa receipt, b/c you purchased this battery yourself, and delivered it or had it delivered to the Toyota Dealership? Or is this the info on the Toyota dealership receipt, saying they installed a "new" HV battery (which we now know to be remanufactured/rebuilt/used) from Napa?

Inferring the following, since no responses provided.
Purchased used 2006 Prius, private party.
Driveability problems leads you to the Toyota dealer.
Toyota dealer says its the battery, and provides no proof (the various codes that are related to HV Battery).
You opt for the "discounted" new battery, not knowing it was a remanufactured battery (hope this is your case).
Return to the dealer b/c of the same driveability probelm.
Toyota Service Writer/Technician guy can't figure it out and is fed up and frustrated.
You leave too, for same reasons.
Feel free to correct any of my incorrect inferences.

Your options are limited:
1) File a complaint w/ Ohio's Attorney General. Info, link, and PDF brochure provided in post #9, above.
2) File a complaint w/ the Better Business Bureau.
3) File a complaint w/ Toyota Corporate.
4) Contact your local newspaper consumer advocate(s) for help.
5) Contact Steve at Autobeyours.com; he's in Indiana, so relatively close to you. Has helped many here on PC.
6) Goto another dealership.

Good luck. Do let us know what the problem was, if you are able to get it resolved. Might help someone down the road who experiences your problem, and won't have to get an unnecessary HV Battery replacement.

 

miniVCI with Techstream software. ebay or amazon.

 

Cable and hardware requirements listed in post #9 above.

 

auto zone usually works.

 

P0A7A: Generator Inverter Fail (over current by inverter assembly malfunction)
P0A92: MG1 malfunction

Remedy: replace transaxle (new or used).
Cost: New $3-$4K labor & part, used $2K

I believe the hybrid power train warranty is 8yr/100K miles. Your 2006 missed the cutoff mileage wise, as your picture shows 148,788 miles.

Next option is to find out what State the very fitst owner purchased the car. If he/she bought it in a CARB State that adopted the longer emission warranty, you might be in luck. If this doesn't work out, then you should ask Toyota (corporate) if they can cut you a break.