2010 Prius Hybrid Battery Dead

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by lothar zogg, Sep 3, 2017.

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  1. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    Hello - I've had my 2010 Prius for six years. I've loved the car's functionality. About a month ago, the same day the odometer hit 150,000 miles, after a slight hesitation in acceleration, the yellow warning triangle and check engine light came on. Took the car to the dealership the next day and they told me I needed a new hybrid battery. After the shock wore off, I started doing research on battery replacement. In the meantime, I've been driving the car with the warning lights on and getting from 30-35 mpg. Since my Georgia vehicle inspection is due in September and a vehicle in Georgia can't pass the emissions test with a lit check engine light, my hand has been forced - I'll have to bite the bullet and either repair or replace the battery this month.

    I've pretty much decided that since I intend to keep the car another 3 years, I'm going to get the battery replaced with a new Toyota hybrid OEM battery. Cost somewhere in the $3-4K range. Reason for this decision - I'm too poor to buy cheap. In other words, this repair needs to last, and after looking at the refurbished battery options, I don't trust them to last. Any comments on my decision will be read with interest.
     
    #1 lothar zogg, Sep 3, 2017
  2. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    Buying a new pack is your best option by far if you plan on keeping your Prius for another 3 years provided you have taken good care of it. Cars these days can last 20 years and more. Definitely buy a new pack and do it soon. You shouldn't be driving with a known bad pack, it could catch on fire if one of the 28 modules explodes - that would ruin your day and might ruin your Prius too.
     
    #2 jadziasman, Sep 3, 2017
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Welcome to Prius Chat (y).

    Did the dealer give you a print out of the codes? Have you cleaned the HV Battery fan? What other maintenance have you done? Does the battery show any signs of quickly draining and charging on the HSI display?

    Keep us posted (y).
     
    #3 Raytheeagle, Sep 3, 2017
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  4. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    Thanks for your response. No, I didn't ask for the codes, and I haven't cleaned the HV Battery fan. Only maintenance I do is oil changes. The draning and charging on the display seems normal to me, even after warning lights came on. Would cleaning the fan make any difference at this point?
     
    #4 lothar zogg, Sep 3, 2017
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  5. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    And have you tried resetting the light (clearing the code) and making sure that it comes on again? Perhaps it was a fluke since you have no outward symptoms? Also, if there is a lag between reset and it coming on again, that could get you through inspection. Knowing the precise codes would help a lot.
     
    #5 Johnny Cakes, Sep 3, 2017
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  6. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    Thanks for your response. The dealer said there were dead cells in the battery. I might be able to get the codes when they open on Tuesday. I don't know how to reset the codes. Since the warning lights came on, I have definately not had use of the hybrid battery. Maybe it automitcally is disconnected from the electric motor when the warning lights come on - not sure.
     
    #6 lothar zogg, Sep 3, 2017
  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I would ask for the codes to confirm the diagnosis;). This will help determine the root cause or what is currently ailing your Prius.

    My understanding is if the cells are out of balance too far, the car will not run. So if you are running still, that is a good sign:).

    Do you hear the fan running in the back?

    My first step would be to clean the fan and then disconnect the 12v battery to clear the codes and see if they return. This is all while waiting for the codes read by the dealer report;).

    Keep us posted (y).
     
    #7 Raytheeagle, Sep 3, 2017
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2017
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  8. jadziasman

    jadziasman Prius owner emeritus

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    13V battery? That's odd.
     
    #8 jadziasman, Sep 3, 2017
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    is the 12v battery original?
     
    #9 bisco, Sep 3, 2017
  10. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    A third gen Prius traction battery will not burn. There will be no fire. NiMH batteries contain no flammable parts.

    Your battery is still connected as your gas engine starts. It is used to start the engine, run the A/C, etc. The Prius won't work at all if the traction battery is disconnected or has deteriorated too far. For example, the answer to the question "can I still drive my Prius without the traction battery?" is NO. The engine won't start. Further, the drive train ("transmission") won't work either as it needs the high voltage to generate the magnetic fields that "connect" the input to the output.

    If you feel $3-$4k is reasonable for 3 years of use go for it. You won't get a lot when you eventually sell the car or trade it but you will get more if it's running properly. Oh, and with a new Toyota traction battery you get a one year warranty on it.
     
    #10 David Beale, Sep 4, 2017
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  11. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    #11 lothar zogg, Nov 17, 2017
  12. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    Update on my dead traction battery. I read somewhere on PriusChat that the Toyota factory sometimes chips in on the costs of repairs to generate goodwill, so I asked my Toyota dealer if the would check with Toyota on a goodwill repair. I had to wait a month, but in the end Toyota paid for a new traction battery. I had no out of pocket costs. This was the like winning the lottery for me. Lesson learned - always ask. You never know what might happen.
     
    #12 lothar zogg, Nov 17, 2017
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  13. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Congrats. Can I ask what work you had done at Toyota dealerships, prior to receiving the good will credit?
     
    #13 MelonPrius, Nov 17, 2017
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  14. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    I had some front brake work done at this dealership and lots of oil changes and an alignment. I also own two other Prius' which I also have serviced at Toyota.
     
    #14 lothar zogg, Nov 17, 2017
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats! and good on toyota!(y) (especially considering you're 50,000 miles over the warranty.)
     
    #15 bisco, Nov 17, 2017
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  16. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Seems like it's consistent that good will assistance towards hybrid batteries is based on whether or not the car owner had maintenance done at the Toyota dealership. That doesn't bode well for me.
     
    #16 MelonPrius, Nov 17, 2017
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  17. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Think of all the money you are saving by not going there ;).

    Set it aside and I bet it is equivalent or positive (y).
     
    #17 Raytheeagle, Nov 17, 2017
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  18. FireCob

    FireCob New Member

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    That's incredibly awesome. Congrats man, I'm coming up on 120k miles and I'm a bit paranoid of my battery crapping out on me at any moment...
     
    #18 FireCob, Nov 17, 2017
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  19. Manhal K Alrashdan

    Manhal K Alrashdan Junior Member

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    A cheaper option is to replace just the defected modules . These could be found in used parts stores .

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #19 Manhal K Alrashdan, Nov 17, 2017
  20. lothar zogg

    lothar zogg Junior Member

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    I agree the dealership can be expensive so I always do my due diligence on prices. For oil changes, I like to use synthetic oil, which the dealership charges about $65 - too much for me, but they also send out coupons on a regular basis, so I wait for those and usually net about $40 for the oil change. Same for other routine maintenance, wait for the coupon. For tires, I've always found Costco can't be beat, but I usually let the dealership quote me just in case they can get close.
     
    #20 lothar zogg, Nov 18, 2017
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