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05' Prius sat for over a year...CEL and Red Triangle

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by irishluder, Apr 26, 2020.

  1. irishluder

    irishluder Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
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    Location:
    SF BayArea
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hi guys,

    So I messed up and didn't realize I couldn't leave my 2005 Prius off a trickle charger or running it weekly. AUX battery was stone dead and I jumped it and it did start the engine, so that's good, but the hybrid battery is all messed up I'm sure.

    I know you guys probably get questions like this all the time, so I apologize in advance.

    I am very mechanically inclined but not with electronics per se... and won't be keeping the car just want to get smogged so I can sell it.

    But my question is what are my first steps for diagnosing, my simple OBD reader isn't picking up all the codes and I have an iPhone so I guess that Torque pro app I see won't work for me.

    What is the most cost effective way to get a replacement pack, get it balanced and get her running again?

    Or is there a simple step to test in the car before removing the pack and doing load tests?
     
    #1 irishluder, Apr 26, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    #2 SFO, Apr 27, 2020
  3. irishluder

    irishluder Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
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    Location:
    SF BayArea
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Hi SFO, Im in Walnut Creek

    I did see that Dr. Prius in the App Store... I may have to give it a shot.

    I purchased a OBD wireless plug from amazon that works with these App's so waiting on that...and my GF is gonna let me borrow her android tablet so I can see if Torque Pro can work.

    SFO, any idea on the best charger to troubleshoot with on the cheaper end? I saw someone recommend the Imax B6AC ($40) .... but then saw another thread that said it didn't charge at a high enough rate to push the battery back up since it was only .7 vs 3A or 5-6A?

    Any help is appreciated!

    Can I cause any issue by resetting the codes and driving it to try to charge and discharge in the car? Over and Over? Currently it will load up the battery and then show current being driven to the wheels in the both directions and then that stops and its all the combustion engine... I'm just messing with it but don't want to damage other cells or modules
     
    #3 irishluder, Apr 27, 2020
  4. irishluder

    irishluder Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
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    Location:
    SF BayArea
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Last code reading was:
    P3020
    P0001
    and two N/A's... my scan tool is basic and apparently cant read those

    SFO, that F1 wheel is pretty sick
     
    #4 irishluder, Apr 27, 2020
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    if you aren't getting the triangle of death, and the car is starting, the battery is probably fine. relatively speaking
     
    #5 bisco, Apr 27, 2020
  6. irishluder

    irishluder Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
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    Location:
    SF BayArea
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the reply! I am in fact getting the big red triangle of death.... I keep reseting my eco codes with my scanner
     
    #6 irishluder, Apr 27, 2020
    bisco likes this.
  7. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
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    Though possible, it may not be prudent to drive the vehicle if you plan on reusing the existing battery pack. There are a bunch of "module" RC hobby level chargers available, and another PC member will be able to offer the best direction on that purchase. Some here use the EV Peak (model CQ3), the HiTec model 44167 (the X4 AC+ model), all the way down to the IMAX mini (needs external AC source), Tenergy TB6, Turnigy Acucell 6 (or 8), or a knockoff IMAX B6AC (B6AC v2). Some hobbyists prefer chargers with an external power supply, but the choice is yours. You may also want to pay more for a charger with extra wattage, unless time is on your side :whistle:

    The least expensive "grid" charger option could be kludged together using LED power supplies.

    The next "grid" option would be the EC-570 "Electrophoresis Power Supply" for top end balancing/charging, you can find one for around $100. There could be an even less expensive PS if you spent time reviewing the various specs for used electrophoresis power supplies, as some sell for half that price. If you do find another option, please share the make, model, and specs here for others to reference.

    Many here on PC use hybrid automotive gear for grid "reconditioning", which includes a charger and discharger, it requires a harness that is specific to the hybrid vehicle model and generation. Some members here will share equipment ownership, and at times rent it out for others to use. There is a shared HA setup here in the bay area, and it should be available to loan in the near future.

    Now might be a good time to tear apart the rear trim/seats so that you can gain access to the HV battery, which will also allow you to clean the HV fan at the same time. Later, once you have a usable OBD2 scanner and have recorded the DTCs (and battery health scan), you can remove the HV pack to swap in the needed module(s). Then either charge by the "module", or "grid charge" the whole pack at once.
     
    #7 SFO, Apr 27, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2020
  8. irishluder

    irishluder Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    14
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    Location:
    SF BayArea
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the info SFO... very in-depth and appreciate it. Sorting out a setup now to as far as chargers goes.

    Any idea how I could get into contact with a member as far as renting that Hybrid Automotive setup?
     
    #8 irishluder, Apr 28, 2020
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