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Battery Heath?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by trseven, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. trseven

    trseven Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
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    Location:
    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Looking to sell my 2001 with 113K original pack and I got a snapshot of my pack voltages and internal resistance. How does it look? Funny how block 1 is higher than everything else. What does the internal resistance show? I'm guessing higher is an indicater of a failing battery?
    block1: 15.60V R .021 ohm
    block2: 15.46V R .022
    block3: 15.46V R .021
    block4: 15.42V R .021
    block5: 15.39V R .021
    block6: 15.48V R .022
    block7: 15.40V R .021
    block8: 15.43V R .022
    block9: 15.40V R .021
    block10: 15.39V R .021
    block11: 15.44V R .021
    block12: 15.38V R .021
    block13: 15.44V R .021
    block14: 15.43V R .021
    block15: 15.48V R .020
    block16: 15.44V R .020
    block17: 15.49V R .020
    block18: 15.51V R .020
    block19: 15.56V R .020

    Thanks,
    Gerry
     
    #1 trseven, Apr 4, 2012
  2. perry.turner

    perry.turner Junior Member

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    where did you get the snapshot?
     
    #2 perry.turner, Apr 4, 2012
  3. freidawg

    freidawg Prius Recycler

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    That simple snapshot does not show a battery that is failing. It does not, however, necessarily indicate a good battery either. What these voltages look like under different load/charge conditions would help complete the picture.

    Eric
     
    #3 freidawg, Apr 6, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  4. trseven

    trseven Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
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    Location:
    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yeah, this was just sitting with the engine off after a drive. I do have a uphill driveway I back up most of the time. I'll hook up the laptop and check it out. Cable and software from ebay, I was in a fix with my Gen2 with no way to read the hybrid codes! Then figured it out before I got it.

    Gerry
     
    #4 trseven, Apr 7, 2012
  5. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Santa Fe, NM
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Having higher voltages at the ends and lower voltages in the middle is a possible indication weakness, but yes, you really need to take measurements under both load and regen to be sure. If you see generally lower voltages in the middle under load, and generally higher voltages in the middle under regen, then that is an indication that those modules are weak. You need periods of sustained load and sustained regen for good measurements.

    If you are planning to sell the car, you are better off making generalized statements like, "It is still getting xx MPG, and I haven't had any trouble codes, so the battery seems to be in good shape." Prospective buyers not in the know would see that voltages are not all exactly the same and think the battery was bad for that very reason.
     
    #5 seilerts, Apr 7, 2012
    1 person likes this.
  6. trseven

    trseven Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2010
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    Location:
    Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'll give it a test, my drive to work out of my driveway is uphill for about a 1/2 a mile. In warm weather my car tries to keep the RPM at 1200 and the battery will drop pretty fast from 60% down into the upper 40's. I've got to put my foot into it to get the RPM up then slow down to try to stay at 30MPH. This will probably be a good test to see whats going on. Or maybe I'm better off not knowing! :) Last tank I was averaging 45.5 MPG about 60% interstate.

    Thanks!
    Gerry
     
    #6 trseven, Apr 7, 2012
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