1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Going to buy a 2005 with a dead hybrid battery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Bunce, Jan 5, 2018.

Page 12 of 13
  1. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Cheers Ray.

    So cell 5 is buggered and I'm not going to be able to get into it for about a month. I know it's bad to let these sit. Is there a way to disconnect the cells from each other so the sinking ship doesn't take down the whole lot? Would pulling the orange battery plug disconnect the circuit between them all?
     
    #221 Bunce, May 18, 2018
    padroo and Raytheeagle like this.
  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,257
    15,491
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I’ve never had our hybrids sit for a month, so I’m not sure :(.

    But if you pull the orange safety plug, it will disconnect the pack;).

    Just worked on a 06 pack today that had module 9 in block 5 go bad. Definitely some work but doable :).

    Good luck with your rebuild (y).
     
    #222 Raytheeagle, May 18, 2018
    SFO likes this.
  3. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    6,035
    3,855
    0
    Location:
    Rocky Mountains
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    When the car is off, they are disconnected from eachother. There is no parallel connection, only series. It's a big string like oldschool christmas lights. When the car is off, the final bulb is out and all of them are disconnected. Letting a Prius with a good pack sit for a month is no problem. Letting a Prius with bad cells sits for a month is certain doom for one or more other cells.
     
    #223 2k1Toaster, May 21, 2018
    Prodigyplace likes this.
  4. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Should I start it and let it run for a few minutes every few days?
     
    #224 Bunce, May 21, 2018
  5. LEVE

    LEVE Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    191
    97
    0
    Location:
    On the Willapa
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'd leave it like it is. I've had my '05 down for over a month without disconnecting the HV Traction battery (I did disconnect the starting batter). No problems at all.
     
    #225 LEVE, May 21, 2018
  6. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,799
    11,362
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    XLE
    The HV battery is the engine starting battery. You mean the auxiliary battery?
     
    #226 Prodigyplace, May 22, 2018
  7. LEVE

    LEVE Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2010
    191
    97
    0
    Location:
    On the Willapa
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, the auxiliary battery is the starting battery, as in it boots the computers to start the car and is the one located in the rear right fender well. When I leave the car at airports, etc., for any extended period, this battery is always disconnected. The High Voltage battery is left connected.
     
    #227 LEVE, May 22, 2018
  8. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    So I replaced the 2 modules in cell 5 and everything appears to be tickety boo. I've now installed the Prolong harness and just started the first charge of the battery reconditioning process.

    Start V. - 236v
     
    #228 Bunce, Jun 14, 2018
    Raytheeagle and bisco like this.
  9. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,404
    6,062
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Glad to hear you're back on it!

    (y)
     
    #229 TMR-JWAP, Jun 14, 2018
    Raytheeagle and Bunce like this.
  10. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Update. - The reconditioning charge damaged a weak cell, also the discharger wasn't working. The discharger was repaired and I haven't had a chance to do a reconditioning yet. Also the weak cell was replaced.
     
    #230 Bunce, Sep 22, 2018
  11. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Update 2. - We drove the car from Oregon to Indiana and then back, for a total of over 5000 miles. No major issues.
    The only trouble we encountered was running down to 1 bar of battery on the display when going up mountains or maintaining a cruise speed of 75 into strong headwinds. This happened for pretty much a full day of driving through Wyoming and Utah, and in a few other spots.
    I wasn't very good at documenting MPG's, I always needed to stop before we ran out of fuel so we always topped off, but it appeared to be in the mid 40's ish every time we filled.

    At this point I'd say the car has paid for itself.
     
    #231 Bunce, Sep 22, 2018
    Raytheeagle, srellim234, bisco and 2 others like this.
  12. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,404
    6,062
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    (y)
     
    #232 TMR-JWAP, Sep 22, 2018
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  13. srellim234

    srellim234 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2015
    1,200
    1,689
    0
    Location:
    Laughlin, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    One bar is normal there. It can be a little nerve wracking to see that one bar but that's exactly what we've looked at twice now traveling I-80 through Wyoming and on multiple mountain climbs in Colorado. In Wyoming it's such a gradual climb for such a long time you don't really notice the incline, hence staring at one bar for hours on end. The car is doing it's thing, though, balancing electric and gas as efficiently as it can. When it gets to the bottom of the screen, it still has a fair amount of battery in reserve and protected so you won't get stranded. It will just rely on the gas engine exclusively when it has to and you might lose some speed while it uses the ICE for double-duty, both propelling the car forward AND putting some additional charge back in the cells.

    EDIT: For future reference, you might want to check out the Pilot/Flying J store locator before your next long trip. You can put in your route and it will list every Pilot/Flying J station with address and highway exit number for you. It really helps with fuel stop planning.

    Travel Center and Convenience Store Locations | Pilot Flying J
     
    #233 srellim234, Sep 22, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2018
  14. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well, well, well, how time flies. My last post here was Sep 2018.
    Summer 2019 after a Prolong treatment, the Prius went out to Indiana via a not so direct route and back to Oregon. I didn't like the feel of the front shocks on the way to IN so I replaced the front shocks and springs on the in-laws driveway. I think it's up to about 240,000 miles from the 205,000 ish we bought it at.
    Other than that nothing to report on the red one...........
    The red one?
    Guess which idiot has gone out and bought a $300 prius?
    This guy!


    New thread for the white one shortly....
     
    #234 Bunce, Jan 24, 2020
    VFerdman, TMR-JWAP and Raytheeagle like this.
  15. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Red triangle. Ooops.
    Since I had all the HA charging stuff out for the other, white Prius, I figured I'd do a top balance charge on red Prius. I connected the charger and there was a spark. I foolishly had the car in standby mode so I had lights to see. Oh crap I thought but turned the charger on and it worked. After a 24 hour soak and an overnight rest the wife drives it off to work. It had a red triangle, and the warning on the digital screen, but has no codes and seems to drive as normal. The 12v battery seems low at 12.0v. But the car starts and drives as normal. Should it not recharge itself on the 20ish mile drive each way to her work?

    I can pull the battery and put it on the charger to give it a proper charge, but how can I lock all doors and trunk without the power locks? Does the metal key do that?
     
    #235 Bunce, Feb 3, 2020
  16. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,854
    3,965
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Ouch!

    You don't need to pull the battery out just charge it in situ, just as long as you use a 3.5 A (or less) charger and don't cross the polarity.

    For your other issue, read the codes (if you have lights, you have codes) so you know what you're dealing with.
     
    #236 dolj, Feb 3, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2020
  17. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    No codes, I've tried reading them. Just the triangle and a warning on the lcd screen.

    I need to pull the 12v battery, apartment life. I was already taking the piss having the extension cord out the window for a week doing a battery recondition.
     
    #237 Bunce, Feb 3, 2020
  18. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'm using Torque app, by the way.
     
    #238 Bunce, Feb 3, 2020
  19. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,854
    3,965
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    One more time, if you have lights, you have codes.
    Something is wrong with your install, and you need to be using the Pro version, btw. You need Prius PIDs installed to read all the codes and you can only install them in the Pro version, Torque Pro. If you are using Torque Pro, then possibly the Prius PIDs are not installed, or not correctly installed.

    You can connect a battery booster/jump pack on the jump point (in the engine bay) to lock up the car. Then use the mechanical key to open the car to reconnect the jump pack when you need to open it again.
     
    #239 dolj, Feb 3, 2020
  20. Bunce

    Bunce Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2018
    321
    185
    0
    Location:
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It is pro, I forget there's any other version. I think I've got the Prius PIDs, I can see all the blocks of HV battery Voltage.
    There's no Check engine light.

    Good thinking with regards to the locks, that should have occurred to me, I'll conect it in the trunk.. I have one in the car.
     
    #240 Bunce, Feb 4, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 12 of 13