Battery Stuck at one purple bar, red triangle and check engine lights

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Jleven22, May 31, 2017.

  1. Jleven22

    Jleven22 Junior Member

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    Hi! I'm a month less new to the Prius. Got a great deal on an awesome model at 103K in "great" condition. Well, a few times I've had the following lights pop on temporarily: red triangle of death, exclamation point circle?, VSC, and check engine. They go off usually within the day.

    However now they aren't turning off and the battery bar is stuck at purple. Also, my vent on the back seat is loud. But the biggest issue is that today I stopped at a light and when I tried to go again it was sluggish and couldn't seem to accelerate, like it was only the electric motor running or something. Can someone help diagnose? Autozone came back with no error codes. Thanks!
     

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    #1 Jleven22, May 31, 2017
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  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    The Autozone reader can't read the Toyota hybrid specific codes as they aren't standardize OBD codes. Anyways, your hybrid battery is dead. Your options (in order of most expensive to least):

    1) Get a new Toyota battery
    2) Get a rebuilt (repaired) 3rd party battery
    3) Find a used battery from a junkyard (unicorn really)
    4) Repair the battery by replacing the individual failed modules within the pack with other used working ones.
     
    #2 fotomoto, May 31, 2017
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats and welcome!
    it's good that you got a great deal. take it to a toyota dealer for code reading, or get a mini vci if you're a serious diy'er.
    if you need a new battery, i would go with new. it's the only long lasting option, and it sounds like you love your car, and intend to keep it.
    all the best!(y)
     
    #3 bisco, May 31, 2017
  4. stockdaddy

    stockdaddy Member

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    You shouldn't be driving the car around in this condition except to go to repair shop.
     
    #4 stockdaddy, Jun 1, 2017
  5. Jleven22

    Jleven22 Junior Member

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    I'm taking to Toyota today to get it diagnosed. But what are opinions on aftermarket modular repair? There's a place in town that does it for $400 flat, vs a several $K cost for new.

    Also, things seem to be back to normal today (except the lights on the dash). Any thoughts on that?
     
    #5 Jleven22, Jun 1, 2017
  6. Jleven22

    Jleven22 Junior Member

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    Just an update -- found a place in town that could replace for $350 with a refurbished battery, and I'm so happy because I knew them from shopping around for a Prius in the first place. Then they also included a lifetime warranty on the thing. And everything seems to be back in working order! Thanks everyone for your help, this hiccup could not have gone down better than it did!
     
    #6 Jleven22, Jun 2, 2017
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    great deal! you may want to consider helping others by naming this 'place in town'.
     
    #7 bisco, Jun 3, 2017
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  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    $350 with a lifetime warranty? I guess pigs will fly next.
     
    #8 JC91006, Jun 3, 2017
  9. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    What is the name of the company?
    Did they give you an invoice or receipt with the warranty info? I'd be interested to see what it says.
     
    #9 ericbecky, Jun 3, 2017
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