I bought a cheap, but dead 2012 Gen 3 Prius today. I jumped the 12v and got the car to 'boot up'. Reading P0B3D (voltage low on hybrid batt.) on cheap code scanner. Previous owner confirmed that they had it diagnosed as a dead hybrid battery too. The car was running fine before it was parked for a few months. I'm wondering if there's a chance the battery just got low enough from sitting...ie. it might not be bad. Either way - is calling AAA the only way to move it? I assume a flatbed is required? Thanks!
Yes... Your instincts are smarter than most. The NiMH chemistry self discharges when sitting for a long period of time. So next step is a high voltage trickle charger to hybrid battery to charge and balance. Maxx Volts and hybridautomotive sell products that do this but a bit expensive. Or you can build your own: Build Hybrid Battery Maintenance Gear For Under $100 | PriusChat Or... I live less than 2 hours north of you and can loan you the gear, or if pack is bad hook you up with a loaner pack?
Before spending a lot on a new aftermarket hv pack, consider checking for a blown head gasket using a borescope test. Fairly common on high mile gen3s as are failed brake boosters (brake by wire master cylinder/skid ecu).
If you can get to the high voltage battery, measure the voltage of each module, from there you can determine which module has failed and if it is a complete failure or only deeply discharged. If 2 of the modules are low voltage and side by side, measure voltage of the two modules in series, with a 12v battery charger across the 2 low voltage modules, you might be able to get them back up enough to start the ICE to see if there are any other issues ..... once you have it running, at least you can drive it home rather than paying for the flatbed tilt tray to get it back to your place. T1 Terry
Nope! Maybe not even the smartest way. I have AAA and they're good for something like 4 service calls within a certain distance per year - and yes.....they often bring a 'skid truck.' CHECK with them about towing vehicles that are not actually broken down on the road! (IFKYK!) How far are you moving it? What are you moving it WITH? The Prius is much like any other FWD car if you have access to a tow dolly, or a trailer, and a vehicle with a sufficient tow rating if you want to DIY. If you're not towing it then you're outsourcing it to the person that IS towing it - and I'd let them sweat that. Good Luck!
Appreciate the offer! Have been reading on Arts Automotive that the code is actually more likely to signify a bad battery voltage sensor / battery ecu. Going to visit the car today and hopefully pull the battery and bring it home. Then, hopefully fix and reinstall to get it moving. Good points. Dipstick and oil fill hole looked ok, and the previous owner said it was driving fine (I trust her). Hoping there's nothing more, but yeah, 200k miles! Thanks, I have some electronics experience so I don't mind trying this. Looks like everything is pretty safe once you pull the big orange plug. Will post more info when/if I get the battery pulled out.
Managed to remove the battery today. Pulled it apart in the garage and found at least two dead modules (both read about .3v). All the others are 7.4-7.5v. Found lots of corrosion but none in the battery voltage sensor (where I expected to find some!). I bought a hobby charger. Am thinking I should find two modules, charge them all, reinstall and try to start the car? Will get a new 12v battery too. Anything I'm missing?
Nice pics I wouldn't expect any battery corrosion to be on the temp sensors or whatever sensor you're talking about what's on the bottom tray that the 56 little bolts that hold down the modules to the plastic metal line holes in the bottom of the modules You see any discoloration on the tray If so right near that discoloration if you separate the modules you may find white dried battery looking acid substance literally on the prismatic ends of the modules those you will want to replace if you can figure out which ones are the culprits. Then you can start hobby charging and cycling I don't know one or two at a time or however you're method works and then see what you got generally I buy a new battery but you know.
Ah, I haven't separated the modules yet. Sounds like I should. I'm not sure what to call that small, square module that sits between the modules and the fan. I read on Arts Automotive that they often corrode. ...home/art-icles/articles-for-the-curious/2010-2015-gen3-prius-p0b3d-p0b83/
