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"new" 2002 w/260k

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Eric Baker, Jun 13, 2018.

  1. Eric Baker

    Eric Baker Junior Member

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    Two
    Long story short, we've had a 2014 V for about 6-months and like it way more than I thought we would. Was out running one day and stumbled on a 2002 with 260k miles advertised for $500 with bad HV battery. Bought it for $300...

    Pulled the battery pack, did a lot of reading on this forum and whatever I could gather with Google and wind up deep cycling as many of the modules with a Turnigy Reaktor as possible eliminating ones with shorted cells. Cycling restored the cells to at least half capacity. I bought 20-used cells off ebay measured all of the internal resistances and matched pairs to get the resistance of each pair as close as possible to the other pairs within the lot of 38-modules.

    Changed all the fluids - engine oil/filter, transmission oil and cleaned pan, both engine and inverter coolant, and flushed the brakes. The car is up and running great with about 80-miles on it so far and just remeasured the HV battery modules with excellent matching throughout.

    Not quite as refined as the 2014 but for 260k it runs great! These must be really over-engineered to last like they do. The batteries are unbelievable for 16-years old with some recovering almost all of their capacity in three cycles 1-A discharge down to 6.0V and 3A charge.

    Anyway just wanted to introduce myself and say how impressed I am with the technology behind these. I am normally a go fast kind of personality but the mileage that these are capable of along with the e-cvt really peaks my interest on the engineering side.
     
    #1 Eric Baker, Jun 13, 2018
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, i hope you have great success with it!(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Jun 13, 2018
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    This will be a very nice project, especially for only $300
     
    #3 JC91006, Jun 13, 2018
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  4. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Keep an eye open for one in a wrecking yard. I would "bank" a brake booster pump. Mine had a bad one and the lady that sold me the car was told it would be $1200 to fix. I got one from the wrecking yard and it only cost me about $26 to fix. Congrats! If you're not fighting rust you can keep fixing these things and they'll last. My $400 02 Prius has 205K on it, I figure (and hope) it will last the rest of my driving life! Nicest car I've ever owned.
     
    #4 Brian in Tucson, Jun 13, 2018
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  5. VacantStance

    VacantStance Junior Member

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    Brand new here and figured this was the perfect thread to share my first ever hybrid acquisition. I just purchased an 02 Prius with an astounding 355k on it for $450. Engine light points to misfires of some sort, one small dent, but it is otherwise pristine and virtually rust free. I figure I can sort this out for such a low investment and learn about this technology since the car is otherwise perfect. Besides, it's got a Kenwood AM/FM/CD/AUX unit that's selling on Ebay for about $150, so I figure I'm up.

    My daily commute to work is 80 miles round trip, so if I can clear the misfires, it will get good use from me.
     
    #5 VacantStance, Jun 16, 2018
  6. MDNHW11

    MDNHW11 Junior Member

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    For misfires, in your area (assuming road salt is used for deicing), my first suggestion would be to check for DTCs. If you have EVAP DTCs, pull the fuel filler neck out and check for rust up at the very top. The perforations from the rust allow water to enter the tank, resulting in misfires.
     
    #6 MDNHW11, Jun 17, 2018
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  7. VacantStance

    VacantStance Junior Member

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    No evap DTCs. I unscrewed and re-seated all four ignition coils and I received a misfire for cylinders 3 & 4 only. I cleared the codes and now no more DTCs. I drove it for like 30 minutes and nothing. So far so good.

    I ordered new plugs, ignition coils and air filter and I'll swap them out when they arrive. I'll keep you posted in a new thread should DTCs re-appear. Thanks!
     
    #7 VacantStance, Jun 17, 2018
  8. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    When you cleared the codes, you also turned off the readiness monitors. When you get enough drive cycles in, the readiness monitors will be back on. And your DTC's will very likely reappear.
     
    #8 Brian in Tucson, Jun 18, 2018
  9. VacantStance

    VacantStance Junior Member

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    How many miles does that generally take?
     
    #9 VacantStance, Jun 20, 2018
  10. MDNHW11

    MDNHW11 Junior Member

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    Your other option or a different suggestion is also to check for water in the fuel.
     
    #10 MDNHW11, Jun 22, 2018
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  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Indeed, that was discovered a few years back to be a growing problem with older Gen 1s (which they all are, now): fuel tank filler neck would develop rust holes where it passes above the wheel in the wheel well; in wet weather, water thrown up by the wheel would enter the tank and dilute the fuel. Worth a check.

    -Chap
     
    #11 ChapmanF, Jun 22, 2018
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  12. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    Less than 25 miles. but just idling it in a driveway won't turn the readiness monitors back on, it needs to be driven. Then any codes will start to reappear.
     
    #12 Brian in Tucson, Jun 23, 2018
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  13. Eric Baker

    Eric Baker Junior Member

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    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Quick update - first fillup:

    r5baker user 818357 on fuelly com (apparently you can't post a link to anything until you have at least 4-posts)

    Right about 43-mpg on first tank. I usually just pull away right after starting and the system seems to draw from the battery quite a bit during warm up. Once warm the mileage comes up nicely. I only have an 8-mile commute so the mileage seems pretty good to me. I imagine it takes a nice hit to the mileage in the winter with the warmup?

    I have yet to change the spark plugs or air filter so there may be a little more in it. I had to wait a little while after rebuilding the HV battery to see whether it was going to be worth doing much else to the car. Overall I am very impressed with how it drives with all those miles on it.
     
    #13 Eric Baker, Jun 25, 2018
  14. Eric Baker

    Eric Baker Junior Member

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    Two
    Well, had to replace 3-more modules in the hybrid battery. With the cold weather, they just couldn't keep up and could hold very little capacity when cycled. I went on and replaced the lowest 10 and now all modules have at least 2-Ah of measured discharge capacity at 2A.
     
    #14 Eric Baker, Jan 7, 2019
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