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2008 Help with Diagnosis

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by leftheaded, Jan 10, 2018.

  1. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    2008 Prius
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    My 2008 has been parked in the driveway for 12-13 months since moving from California to Colorado. Seems like it started fine about 10 months ago? But since then it's only started when I use a Jump N Carry. The 2 or 3 times I have started it, I would drive it around town for < 10 miles and then re-park it.

    However, the last time I started it (4 months ago?) I decided to drive it at highway speeds (65mph) for about 40 miles and about 10 miles around town. What I noticed is that the hybrid battery meter was only at 2 of 10 (purple) bars. I finally got the battery meter up to 8 or 9 (green). So, I decided to drive back home at that point. By the time I got back the battery meter was back down at 4 or 5 bars.

    Anyway, I'm trying to determine if my 12v is the culprit, or if my hybrid battery is failing? I found instructions to test the 12v through the MFD and took a picture. I'll try to upload the photo later, but the Vehicle Signal Check Mode showed the Battery = 11.8V. Then I started the vehicle and the reading went to 14.0V

    I'm not sure if I should get rid of the car as-is or try to fix this first?

    Any ideas what my problem might be?
     
    #1 leftheaded, Jan 10, 2018
  2. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    photo uploaded
     

    Attached Files:

    #2 leftheaded, Jan 10, 2018
  3. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    Three
    You have a bad 12V battery for sure and possibly a bad traction battery on its way out. 12V battery is around $200, traction battery a lot more. If you do not drive this car, then sell it to someone who will. These cars do not do well sitting around. They need to be driven daily to be in good shape. If you are not going to start the car for 12 months, put 12V battery on a battery maintainer/charger. Not sure what to suggest about traction battery other than drive the thing.
     
    #3 VFerdman, Jan 10, 2018
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, it is the 12v. try charging it, and keeping an eye on the voltage, or just replace it if it's original.
     
    #4 bisco, Jan 10, 2018
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  5. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    awesome news!

    It was an original OEM 12v so today I picked up a yellow-top Optima and installed it. Worked like a charm! And the battery meter for the hybrid was at 6 or 7 bars in the blue range. My FOB battery was dead too, so I replaced it as well.

    Replaced the windshield yesterday, new 12v and FOB battery today. Aired up the tires. Totally cleaned and detailed the interior, which had not been done in literally about 3 years. Feels like a new car to me. I'm pretty stoked right now :D

    The only thing I noticed was that the breaks are super stiff and sounded dirty... there's a minor grinding noise. I want to say the breaks are OEM... would it be worthwhile or DIY material to replace the breaks? I don't mind if it's < $200 ish... researching now.

    thanks guys

    *edit* - Just read the "What services you need and what you don't" sticky and my car happens to be at 99,975 miles exactly, and I know I have not done the 100k scheduled maintenance. I'm going to look into doing all the things listed in the sticky and see what my manual says to do at 100K miles. Now if I can I only find a place I trust to do the work! I've used the local dealership for all scheduled maintenance when I lived in California, but I don't know the reputation of my Colorado neighbors.
     
    #5 leftheaded, Jan 11, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2018
    Aaron Vitolins, wastoooo and bisco like this.
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Prius brakes routinely get that way if the car has been sitting in damp weather at all. It is surface rust and you will be surprised how easily it goes away if you simply shift into N a few times while moving and brake to a stop. Don't worry, that doesn't break anything, even though you are braking the car. It doesn't break the brakes to get a little surface rust and then remove it again by neutral braking. This could be all you need to get your brakes smooth and quiet again without breaking the bank!

    -Chap
     
    #6 ChapmanF, Jan 11, 2018
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    your car needs regular maintenance, more now than ever. don't neglect it, and it won't neglect you.
    how often do you check the oil?
     
    #7 bisco, Jan 11, 2018
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  8. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    If that brake noise doesn't go away fairly quick you need to have the brakes checked. You should check your brakes when you rotate tires, especially the front.
     
    #8 padroo, Jan 11, 2018
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  9. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    yeah, definitely needs to be serviced right away. I've been having the oil changed every 5K miles at the Toyota dealership, and did some super long prepaid maintenance, extended warranty.. the works. Have all the records for the scheduled maintenance and the stamps in the log that came with the manual.

    That said, I've totally neglected this car for all of 2017 as it's just sat in the driveway just over a year now. Literally drove it < 100 miles all of 2017. That means the last oil change and service was back in 2016... I'm going to dig up the service records and see what all I've had to do... nothing major that I recall. Sorta expect some surprises when I take it in this time. ... sitting for so long, and it's right at 100K miles.
     
    #9 leftheaded, Jan 11, 2018
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  10. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    On a Gen2 your 12v battery will discharge slowly upon sitting for weeks/months unless you turn off the SKS system...under the steering column there is a button
     
    #10 wjtracy, Jan 11, 2018
    M in KC and leftheaded like this.
  11. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    had the 90K service done. anything else I should do at this point?
    • oil change
    • rotate tires
    • replaced brake fluid
    • SDC cooling system and cleaning (SLLC fluid)
    • coolant service drain and fill inverter (SLLC fluid)
    • SDC transmission service (ATFWS fluid)
    only things I did not do were filters and spark plugs (they wanted to charge me for the nicer 6cyl even though the prius is 4cyl). and they didn't mention it, but I did nothing with the serpentine belt.

    The breaks noise is gone.

    car is running like a top again!
     
    #11 leftheaded, Jan 12, 2018
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  12. leftheaded

    leftheaded Junior Member

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    it seems I've learned nothing about storing a Prius in the driveway. it's been about 4-5 months since it was last driven, and this week I took time to jump it with my "jump and carry". Drove it around for about 30 minutes yesterday. This morning it won't start, no dash lights, nothing. Is my 12v dead again? can I charge or restore it, or should I replace it again?

    THIS TIME i'm going to turn off the SKS system since the vehicle routinely sits unused.
     
    #12 leftheaded, Feb 26, 2019
  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Yes. You can try, but it depends on how low it has sat in a discharged state. You will know when you try.
    THIS TIME, as well as doing that, go get, if you don't have one already, a fully automatic multi stage battery charger (one that comes with a permanent attach pigtail) that includes failing back to a maintenance cycle once the main charge has completed. Then use it every time the car is idle.
     
    #13 dolj, Feb 27, 2019
  14. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    The 12V and HV Battery will live a shortened live, since the car sits for long periods of time.

    Get a smart AGM 12V battery charger: Noco G3500 or CTEK MUS4.3
    With these two smart AGM battery chargers, you could just leave these attached and plugged in, so it will ensure the 12V battery is charged. This assumes the car is garaged.
     
    #14 exstudent, Feb 27, 2019
  15. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    My advice is to sell the car and buy a non hybrid to replace it if you even need another car.
     
    #15 Skibob, Feb 27, 2019
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