New 2006 Prius Owner, Battery Died on Day 7.

For starters, you still have to figure out the nature of the red triangle... Have you read the error codes and subcodes? Before you go spending a huge amount of money on a new pack you have to eliminate all the other less expensive options, like corrosion on the battery pack voltage sensors sending bad readings, or a clogged hybrid cooling fan, or weak 12v battery.

Also if you start working on a HV battery at very first warning light, you're likely gonna be able to have a much easier and affordable fix... If you get a multi-tester and your car's headlamp bulb and some test wires and follow the load testing process here: Prolong® Battery Module Load Tester User Guide – Hybrid Automotive You might be able to find a bad module.

In my experience fixing a bad HV battery isn't that big of a deal, but people get convinced that you can't fix them and drive around with the warning light on causing much more extensive damage, a self-fulfilling prophecy really...

As for your other questions... There's no reason a Prolong charger won't work on alternative batteries, but Prolong is designed to expand the life of older batteries and not really needed for newer batteries.

The Prolong system will indeed balance and condition your old battery modules so they match up with new module, but it has alot to do with how high the quality of the new module is. Always less problematic to have your new module load test better than your other modules and then re-condition each individual module with an RC smart charger, or just use the Prolong system.

If you only have to replace one or two or three modules and you get a few months in with no issues, you could be good for a year or longer. Then eventually it'll be time to replace the whole pack.

 

Sorry to hear that. Based on the fact you seem to have some skills. I suggest you start here.

Gen II Prius Individual Battery Module Replacement | PriusChat

 

If @2k1Toaster has any unsold kits in the shipment arriving next week the NewPriusBatteries option would give you the best reliability for the price.

 

I'd call up Dorman and play on their sympathy... Maybe because you were misled by car's previous owner they'd want to smooth things over and have you as a new customer? In looking at Doorman's website there's lots of stuff they have to engage with their customers so maybe if you play along with them, they'll play along with you? Perhaps post to their FB page or something? Do all you can to be their fan so they can find a way to value your support!

In the meantime, I doubt you have any corrosion problem of note... But pulling bus bars and getting voltage readings and load testing each module with a multi-tester, the car's headlight bulb and some test wires is the info you most need.

Each individual module connected to the headlamp for two minutes will give you a sense of how much voltage loss there is...

A bad module will have weird readings. And if you can detect the bad module, perhaps the folks at Dorman will send you a new one for free or cheap? Maybe even try to match a module to the specs of your rebuilt pack?

Once you get past all that, then yes, a Prolong system would be wise... Then again if Dorman offers you a ridiculous low price on a newly rebuilt pack, then you don't have to worry about that, at least till the warranty is up?

 

Dorman is usually very strict about warranty timeframe. Plus you may need to find the original receipt. At the least you'd need to know exactly what shop/supplier sold the batyerb in the first place.

 

if you open the battery pack they will never do anything to help you..
be sure they arent going to replace it before moving forward

 

$1600 is a smokin' deal for an oem battery!

 

Do you know someone at Toyota? That's cheaper than I could get one with a friend at Toyota.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

That's right, this isn't the Toyota battery. But the one I'm thinking of myself too.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Curious which dealer this was, and total price out the door.

Did the dealer accept your Dorman for a core and return the core deposit?

 

who is this dealer? 1600 is the prices of a rebuild with used mods

 

Actually, $1600 is the price of a kit of new cells delivered to your door. You can even sell your old modules to lower the cost. @2k1Toaster has a popular product. His link is in my signature. I believe his latest shipment arrives Monday.

 

That is a great price and getting a new Toyota OEM battery is the best way to get another 10+ years of trouble free use from the battery. Let us know how everything goes.

 

I believe if this was purchased from newpriusbatteries, this is a DIY kit we are talking about here, NOT a new OEM battery. There's going to be some assembly required.

Let us know how it goes. Tomorrow and moving forward.

 

You may have been tricked by the previous owner. Sometimes you can reset the dash alarms and they won't come back for a few days. My daughter bought an as-is 2009 and after a week the inverter coolant pump code showed up. The coolant level was very low, but I'm sure the lights were reset by the used car dealer or auction. They thought the pump needed replacing in my opinion. Been fine ever since.