Hybrid battery drains while driving until car stops

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 04.ATX, Jul 16, 2017.

  1. 04.ATX

    04.ATX Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2016
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The basic scenario is:

    1. while driving, the gas pedal starts to feel weak
    2. the hybrid battery drains rapidly
    3. the car stops

    When this happens my "solution" has been simple. I turn off the car. I turn it back on the engine starts running and the battery starts to charge. When it gets up to 3 bars I start driving and I usually don't encounter this problem again for a few months.

    Coolant levels are fine, and the inverter is flowing on ready. Getting a new 12-V battery didn't seem to prevent this from happening again. Check engine light goes on and off randomly but not in conjunction with this issue. Not sure what else I can check that may explain this. I've had my 2004 for about two years now (new hybrid battery installed prior to purchase). This has happened about once every few months- but it happened twice this week.

    Suggestions appreciated!
     
    #1 04.ATX, Jul 16, 2017
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    So the engine's not running, and the car's completely reliant on the hybrid battery. I'd get the codes read at a dealership, and post them.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jul 16, 2017
    04.ATX and Raytheeagle like this.
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,261
    15,499
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Was it a brand new battery from Toyota or a "new to the car" battery from Dorman or a local rebuilder?
     
    #3 Raytheeagle, Jul 16, 2017
  4. valde3

    valde3 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    2,002
    746
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Read the fault codes. Very likely there is some code that (points to what) caused engine to stop running.

    If you want to read the codes yourself get mini-VCI it’s cheap and can read all the codes and do other stuff on Toyotas. But you do need a windows laptop with it.
     
    #4 valde3, Jul 16, 2017
    04.ATX likes this.
  5. 04.ATX

    04.ATX Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2016
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Dorman installed 10/2015
     
    #5 04.ATX, Jul 16, 2017
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,261
    15,499
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    What's the warranty?

    After reading the codes that the car displays, I would start engaging Dorman as your pack sounds like it is on the way out.
     
    #6 Raytheeagle, Jul 16, 2017
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,601
    8,478
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    2 years on a Dorman pack is very good nowadays. As the battery packs get older and older, from high mileage cars, rebuilt packs will now rarely see 2 years of service. You should check the codes and contact Dorman if the battery has failed.
     
    #7 JC91006, Jul 16, 2017
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  8. 04.ATX

    04.ATX Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2016
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Exactly. Initially I thought that the engine was overheating but now it just seems random. Yesterday it occurred at night when it was cool, less than 5 minutes after starting the car.

    Just ordered mini-VCI- thanks for the tip!

    Oh wow... so if that's the case, what is the best option? Seems like a waste of money to buy a Dorman every two years...
     
    #8 04.ATX, Jul 16, 2017
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,827
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The engine is very low on oil
     
    #9 edthefox5, Jul 16, 2017
  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,356
    3,604
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You have some decent resources here @ericbecky may be able to help you.

    To answer the question, The best solution is generally the "new" OEM Toyota batt, otherwise the refurbs have less long life. when I say "Best" I mean best battery...the actual choice will depend on owners needs as far as speed of repair to get car back, and cost.
     
    #10 wjtracy, Jul 16, 2017
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,977
    39,996
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Isn't the issue that the engine isn't running.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Jul 16, 2017
  12. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,827
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    "Check engine light comes and goes"
     
    #12 edthefox5, Jul 16, 2017
  13. 04.ATX

    04.ATX Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2016
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Austin
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The engine battery draining has happened a few times this week. Finally read the codes:

    B2795 immobiliser unmatched key code
    B1271 gateway combination meter ecu communication stop
     
    #13 04.ATX, Aug 8, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)