Battery issues after replacing 6 months ago

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MaryEllen1102, Jul 12, 2020.

  1. MaryEllen1102

    MaryEllen1102 Junior Member

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    2007 Prius
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    II
    2007 prius, 155K miles. How many 12V battery problems is too many?!!
    The TLDR: replaced in 2018, then in 2020 January. Now 6 months later it's failed again. Is this indicative of a larger issue?


    January 2018- new battery put in at home. Bought from Autozone. Fixed my issues (car dying, needing to be jumped prior to driving each time). Thought the problem was solved.....Then around january 2020 i started having same issues again....carrying around a portable charger to jump my prius all the time sucked. Luckily under warranty at autozone, they swapped it, i replaced, everything was fine.
    Now a few weeks ago my car started beeping after i turned it off. i thought it was weird but i ignored it. Then it gave me the familiar not turning on issue. Jumped it, all was fine. did that a few times.
    Now it's sitting in my driveway, won't be jumped, and is giving me the "there is a problem with the transmission "p" lock mechanism.Park your car on a flat surface and fully apply the parking brake "
    Do I just go buy a new 12V again (actually hoping this one is still under warranty)?
    I'm broke, COVID19 job loss sucks....But i need my car to work!
     
    #1 MaryEllen1102, Jul 12, 2020
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Have you tried checking the voltage at the jump points under the hood, and again at the battery using a voltmeter?

    How many hours per week is the vehicle being driven?
     
    #2 SFO, Jul 12, 2020
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  3. MaryEllen1102

    MaryEllen1102 Junior Member

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    II
    No, i don't have access to a voltmeter. I know hey did test at the jump points at Autozone in January, before they would replace the battery under warranty.
    Due to covid/sheltering, the car is being driven less than usual. Maybe only 5 hours a week.
     
    #3 MaryEllen1102, Jul 12, 2020
  4. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Five hours per week should be enough drive time. Do you have the SKS entry system, and how close do you keep the key to the vehicle?

    You can find an affordable (under 10 dollars) multi-meter online , or at Harbor Freight.

    If there are no warning lights on the dash, then check the 12v cables for tightness, including where the ground strap attaches to the body.
     
    #4 SFO, Jul 12, 2020
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Your not driving anywhere near enough to not only charge the 12 volt battery but the really bad news is it’s gonna kill the hybrid battery too.

    Bad hybrid battery is #1 post on this site peruse the g2 forums and you
    Will see, it’s 13 years old.

    I make my wife drive the car 20 miles a day just to keep the battery charged as my hybrid battery is on life support. We are seeing huge amount of hybrid battery failures since covid.

    Sorry but if you don’t drive it at least 20 miles every day both battery’s will fail and if a single mother that failed hybrid battery will total the car.
    Unless you can afford dumping $500 to $1000 into and that just a sketchy rebuilt battery that will fail on you again.

    It’s a real hassle owning a 13 year old g2 if a single mother. The 12 volt shenanigans alone will make you nuts.

    Drive that car!
     
    #5 edthefox5, Jul 12, 2020
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