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Help: P08A0 Hybrid battery pack deterioration

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by kenlav, Nov 13, 2024 at 12:14 PM.

  1. kenlav

    kenlav Junior Member

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    I Have a 2006 Prius with trouble code P08A0 Hybrid battery pack deterioration.


    This code appeared pretty suddenly, id say I noticed Some symptoms for about 2-3 days, where the engine would turn on at random moments, and the battery charged and discharged very quickly, and inaccurately showed charge levels. Coolant and oil levels all normal. Oil Changed about 1000 miles/2 month ago.

    A few other unusual things I noticed:

    Its been cold and I turn on my heater to max, 2 days ago I started smelling a burning electrical smell, this smell now shows up every time I turn on the heater. (Please Note that I'm not 100% sure its a electrical burning smell but if I had to guess that's what I'd describe it as.)
    When I Open the hood after driving, i can smell the same burning odor.

    After I turn my car off, I hear a hum for about 5 seconds. The car always makes sounds after i turn it off so I wasn't sure if I just didn't notice it before. I think its a bit louder than usual. (This sound is not the coolant control valve, which I'm familiar With and had replaced about 6 months ago.)

    I Tried clearing the code with a scanner, and it stays off for the trip until I restart the car.

    When the code is cleared, hybrid battery still has the same quick charge/discharge problem, and the engine stays on even when completely stopped / in park.

    While in park, the hybrid battery Drains rapidly and the engine comes on every 5-10 seconds. For just a few seconds.

    A few other notes:

    I recently washed my car, which I haven't done since buying it used 1 year ago. I didn't do anything crazy, just a normal exterior wash, the only difference was I used a low power electric power washer. Not 100% sure but this feels like it may have started after I washed it.

    Previously just a few days before this started, I was still getting 42-44 Mpg per fill (calculated by miles and gallons, not MDF display value). From what I've read online, usually I'll start getting worse mileage gradually and hybrid battery failure usually doesn't happen this fast.

    Thank you for any help/advice.
     
    #1 kenlav, Nov 13, 2024 at 12:14 PM
    bisco likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there can be varying symptoms, but you need a new battery. a proper scanner will tell you what cells have fallen outside acceptable parameters.
    if you want to go diy crazy, you can save a lot of money reconditioning it. it's a big learning curve, and time consuming, but short money.
    otherwise, a new oem is the way to go, or you can get a reconditioned pack, but reliability is iffy.
     
    #2 bisco, Nov 13, 2024 at 2:35 PM
  3. kenlav

    kenlav Junior Member

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    is that what the smell is coming from as well? the hybrid battery failing can cause it?
     
    #3 kenlav, Nov 13, 2024 at 5:09 PM
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Do you hear the fan running behind you pretty much constantly turn the radio down and listen when you're at a stoplight or in the home Depot parking lot Do you hear that fan It shuts off when you turn the car off when you turn the car back on does it immediately return? How old is the pack take a guess maybe original 200 and something thousand miles and 13 plus years old? It's probably time.
     
    #4 Tombukt2, Nov 13, 2024 at 5:45 PM
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i can't say where the smell is coming from. i'd do some more investigation in the engine bay. maybe the inverter, or a pump going south?
     
    #5 bisco, Nov 13, 2024 at 7:58 PM
  6. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    Your 06 Prius is doing it's best to keep on running. The battery is toast. Negative and Positive re-calibrations like you describe seeing are a dead ringer of the hybrid battery pack being unbalanced and one or more of the packs 28 modules being very weak.
    Grid charging may help give you some more time before you need a new pack. A lot depends on how much you can pickup from the thousands of posts about how to do it and what are some of the failure modes to keep a eye out for.

    The short story is your hybrid battery pack.
     
    #6 vvillovv, Nov 13, 2024 at 8:50 PM
  7. kenlav

    kenlav Junior Member

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    are there any companies that still offer a lifetime warranty on the battery? i only have about 120k miles on it.

    i also ran it with pro torque and only 1 of the cells is bad. what would you recommend?

    ill add a screenshot of the page. the 12v seems low as well. this picture is after driving about 5 miles local around 30-40 mph. maybe 30 mins round trip to and from work.
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 kenlav, Nov 14, 2024 at 3:04 AM
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2024 at 3:16 AM
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you could replace the bad cell and see how it goes. idk anything about warranty, every company sets their own policy.
    sometimes when you open the battery you get lucky and it's just corrosion
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 14, 2024 at 2:13 PM
  9. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    After you clear the dtc. how long before it comes back? And how are the charge and discharge times looking?

    One screenshot from an app doesn't always show what's wrong.
     
    #9 vvillovv, Nov 14, 2024 at 2:16 PM
  10. kenlav

    kenlav Junior Member

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    charging and discharging varries, but the light comes back on around 10-15 mins of local driving.

    Also yesterday, the rear battery fan (behind passenger seat) got really loud as if it was blowing/sucking in air really hard. I was just a few blocks from home so i got back, but when i scanned, i got another code (P3017) I think.

    I dont mind getting another battery, i just want to make sure its the battery and not the inverter pump or anything.

    Also, if anyone has any current reccomendations on where to buy one, id highly appreciate advice. Right now im looking at this company. Greentec Auto | EV and Hybrid Battery Replacement

    off topic: ive been asking for quotes on the traction battery... and most mechanics so far dont know what that is., they keep asking if i mean the 12v... is it not called the traction batter?!?!
     
    #10 kenlav, Nov 14, 2024 at 4:32 PM
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2024 at 5:23 PM
  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Technically, it is called the hybrid vehicle battery, but they likely would not know what that was either.
     
    #11 dolj, Nov 14, 2024 at 8:43 PM
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