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Driving on bad hybrid battery

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Keepdriving, May 23, 2018.

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  1. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    Yes, must cleat the error code to drive normally. You could still drive but cruise control doesn’t engage and the ICE sounds like it’s gonna die if I try to push past 40mph. Also mpg sucks big time.
     
    #21 Keepdriving, Jun 15, 2018
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  2. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    The hybrid battery must be on its last legs. Chs light came on 4 times during 15 miles of driving with AC set at the lowest setting. Made it home with ac off with no problem getting 53 mpg for those same 15 miles though. But definitely the battery is almost done, I think.
     
    #22 Keepdriving, Jun 19, 2018
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  3. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    Keep us posted -- I've liked reading this thread because so few people are willing to just drive a car into the ground, even when that is the best option. That you have gotten an extra year out of the car shows that it was a good decision.
     
    #23 Johnny Cakes, Jun 20, 2018
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  4. PokerMunkee

    PokerMunkee Junior Member

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    I agree, keep us posted! Also what option you go with replacing it. I was quoted by a local place that they charge $2k for re manufactured battery pack. Surely there are cheaper/better options!
     
    #24 PokerMunkee, Jun 20, 2018
  5. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    It rained quite a bit last two days and I had on the lights, defogger, and wiper at the highest setting and the energy level went down from 7 to 2 in less than a minute. Turned off the defogger and set the wiper to intermittent setting and thankfully chs warning didnt come on. Also, this never happened before where the energy level showed 8 bars but since the chs first came on last year, several times it went all the way to the top. I guess it means not good. upload_2018-6-22_18-41-1.png
     
    #25 Keepdriving, Jun 22, 2018
  6. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Yes, as you've pointed out correctly this is the car subtly telling you it's sick. That battery is doomed. It may last another year though you just don't know. Lots of people, myself included, have run such sick Prii vehicles for 2-3 years before the actual failure lights come on. And in my case, I ran for almost 8 months after that before I replaced a module with just clearing the codes more and more often.

    If you love the car and want to keep it, start saving for a new pack. Either new from Toyota or new from me. Don't even bother with reconditioned/refurbished.

    If you are looking for a new car, now would be the best time to trade it in. When the dash lights up like a Christmas tree, the trade-in value takes a huge beating.
     
    #26 2k1Toaster, Jun 22, 2018
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  7. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    What’s an actual failure light? Does the car not start then? If I could drive for another 2-3 years I would be very happy. Probably will go over 250k miles by then. This weekend drove over 140 miles at 52mpg. Other than the battery discharging very fast, mpg hasn’t really dropped. I do pulse and glide more than before though.
     
    #27 Keepdriving, Jun 24, 2018
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  8. Wayne

    Wayne Active Member

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    An actual failure looks like your post #21 at the top of this page. I still wonder about intermittent connections, maybe corrosion on the battery, as an expended battery doesn't have the capacity yours seems to have when it it working. Also, I would expect a few more years out of a 2010. However, if you swap it out you will fix any corrosion. ;-)
     
    #28 Wayne, Jun 24, 2018
  9. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    Just re-read that you already had a failure 10-months ago. You're on its last legs then undoubtedly and the value has already dropped. So either keep it and fix it or sell it as junk.

    You should have seen this battery behaviour for the past 2-3 years just getting gradually worse and worse and worse. Then you get the code you got 10 months ago. You're driving on borrowed time. Eventually the codes will come back. And you will have to clear them weekly to keep driving, then daily, then it just won't move. Other faults like HV Isolation faults can strand you anywhere so make sure you have an OBDII reader/scanner/clearer with you. Driving on a known bad battery will make it run hotter. This can lead to the pack exploding, in the sense that the vent tops will forcibly blow off and release gas into the car and potentially the entire pack will start to deform and warp the assembly.

    [​IMG]
     
    #29 2k1Toaster, Jun 24, 2018
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  10. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    Yup, that’s me. I had to clear the code 5 times in one day, 4 times within an hour period a few days ago with ac at lowest setting. Hopefully it will last me a few more months before I get a new car.
     
    #30 Keepdriving, Jun 24, 2018
  11. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    I think it’s best if I just get a new car instead of spending more money into a car that has 210k+ miles. I just don’t like the looks of a newest Prius. Maybe certified older model Prius might be the way to go when the time comes.
     
    #31 Keepdriving, Jun 24, 2018
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  12. Ray Moore

    Ray Moore Active Member

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    Inspiring story.
     
    #32 Ray Moore, Jun 24, 2018
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  13. Keepdriving

    Keepdriving Junior Member

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    A year ago today my chs light came on. Drove exactly 20k miles since. Battery discharges faster each day it seems, but as long as I have the energy monitor on, and make sure the battery is charging as I’m driving, so far so good. But chs light came on about 10 times last week when in the parking lot looking to park. Bad battery doesn’t like me going at 5 miles per hour.
     
    #33 Keepdriving, Jul 26, 2018
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  14. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    You are my hero! You are playing with house money right now.
     
    #34 Johnny Cakes, Jul 27, 2018
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  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Maybe you just have a bad gas cap
     
    #35 JC91006, Jul 27, 2018
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  16. DLC82SV

    DLC82SV Member

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    Dealers will do it for 2k now.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #36 DLC82SV, Jul 27, 2018
  17. DLC82SV

    DLC82SV Member

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    So am I missing something? Why are all of you buying this techstream OBDII scanner? Does it clear something I can't from the MFD? I use the display button combined with flashing my headlights on the off 3 times and it brings me to a service menu on my center screen. I can view and clear my codes and voltage and everything right from there? Am I missing something or are you guys? 20180724_080916.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #37 DLC82SV, Jul 27, 2018
  18. DLC82SV

    DLC82SV Member

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    ROFLMAO Or bad gas!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #38 DLC82SV, Jul 27, 2018
  19. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Apples vs oranges.
     
    #39 Grit, Jul 27, 2018
  20. DLC82SV

    DLC82SV Member

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    #40 DLC82SV, Jul 27, 2018
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