Can Enginer kit kill 12v Prius battery?

hi I was one of the orginal Enginer kit users, kit died a few months after purchase, a few months ago installed 4 kwt version, last week added new BMS. Yesterday my car died about 5 minutes after starting it with all 5 idiot lights coming on and quickly losing power.

On November 26 car slowly died on way home with every minute a new light coming on and had it flat bedded to Toyota dealer. On November 27th the Toyota dealer said it was my 12v battery, cost $350 to replace. Yesterday car died again with all 5 or so idiot lights coming on at once. I'm about to have it flat beded back to the same Toyota dealer. Previously, it was just the Hybrid light and the triangle that came on. I didn't tell the Toyota dealer about the Enginer kit cause I was pretty sure they'd blame any problems with the hybrid system on it. Now I'm wondering if others are having similar issues with 12v battery life? These 12v acessory batteries are very pricey and I'm hoping it's not related.

Please post replies if you've had hybrid light issues since installing your Enginer kit or if you've had to replace your Prius 12v accessory battery. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the input, to answer your question cproaudio, I haven't done any other after market items other then the Enginer kit. Also, kit was installed by Jack Chen (owner of Enginer) so there shouldn't be an issue with install. I just got off the phone from the Toyota dealer, shop foreman and crew don't come in yet. Service tech thinks it's possible that it's the traction battery that's farting out and in turn may have killed the 12v battery. If it is, she thinks it's probably still coverd by toyota, since my car has under 120k on a 2004 Prius. If that's the case, it will be a free traction battery and install, still fearful that if they attempt that they're going to freak out when they see the Enginer kit and blame it on that, thereby voiding the warranty. If they feel it's the traction battery and want to replace it, should I have the Enginer kit removed prior so they don't see it or will they see it when they go to test the traction battery? I'm feeling really trapped now. So far, they haven't noticed the Enginer kit. I turned off only the Enginer switch on the dash, nothing on the Enginer box. Please advise. Thanks!

PS Just went to research the warranty on traction batteries, and found this 2 year old post:

In the US, the entire hybrid system (which includes the hybrid battery pack) is warrantied for 8 years/100,000 miles.

If you are in a California-emission state, the hybrid battery pack in a 2004-2009 Prius is further covered under the CA emissions warranty for 10 years/150,000 miles. (But that is just the hybrid battery and certain emissions components, not the entire hybrid system...) Last I heard the upcoming 2010 Prius will have a longer warranty.

That's a full warranty (not pro-rated). No cost to you for parts or labor.


I now have yet another issue to add to the mix, I bought my car used in Arizona 1.5 years ago specifically so I could be one of the first to install the Enginer kit. So, would I be covered under California's law or not? Yikes, this gets complicated. Thanks again all of you for your help.

 

I just researched and it looks like Arizona has adopted California emission standards, so that should solve it right? As for leaving Enginer out of the question, I would love to do that, I just have a murphy's law life and need to be prepared with info if the dealer goes there. These kits are still in their infancy and few dealers will just rubber stamp them. They're going to see the kit when they go to change the traction battery, and based on past exp, with similar issues, OEMs tend to blame the addon for the problem and say it voids their warranty.

 

latest and greatest info, just got off phone from dealer, they say the traction battery and 12v battery are fine. They say the code shows the problem is either a "Current Sensor or the transmission." In order to rule out the current sensor they have to access it by (get this) removing the traction battery! Needless to say Ca-Ching! So far I'm into them for $240 labor and the meter is still running. I decided I didn't even want to know the worse case senario if it's indeed the transmission. I haven't heard back from them about complaining about the kit so it's either a non-issue or still not discovered and they've been doing all the diagnostics through conventional ports. Thanks for the heads up on the possiblity of them adding to my troubles with the possiblity of them screwing up the Enginer kit. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Really appreciate all the input you folks have and the endless knowledge.

In order to remove the kit at this point, I'd have to sneak into the dealership with a few weight lifters. So, that's not very likely. Just wondering if I had one of those extended warranties they're always trying to push, if this all would have been covered. That will be my next question I ask them after I recover from hearing the sticker shock of what this will add up to.

 

Waaaaaaaaaa! I just got a call from the dealer, they say it's not the Current Sensor, it is the transmission and it will cost get this....$5,693 to fix! Waaaaaaaaa! @&($#()*#$#!!! I now am totally screwed. I am now the owner of a beautiful blue Prius planter. An extended warranty would have covered it they said. I will call tomorrow to a local transimssion place to see if they can do it for a fraction of that cost. I am screwed beyond belief! Toyota dealer still says I owe them $240 for their labor on top of all this.

 

Not sure, at $240 for each opinion I'm going to be screwed either way no? Originally last year, when I started getting the hybrid light and triangle coming on, they did reset it (something like $165 diagostic fee though they couldn't tell what was wrong with it) and I was good for a few months. Then they said it was the 12v battery, and now they're saying it's the tranny. No way in heck am I paying 5700. Maybe I'll try contacting the regional service manager, but this all feels hopeless. I started a new thread on asking about replacing the Prius Tranny so I'm checking on there as well now.

 

Wow thanks for all the info, you guys are amazing. Luscious Garage in SF Bay is like 400 miles north of here. I wish that was an option. I'd drag it kicking and screaming up there if I could. I just called and the service department closed at 4 PM. They won't be open till Monday morning. This is a Toyota dealer so I would hope they are qualified and trained to work on a Prius. I find it hard to believe none of these issues are related as they claim. I hope by Monday morning I have a clearer idea on what to do. Yeah, not 100 percent faith they've got it right this time, but perhaps when I post the codes from them on Monday you can enlighten me further. I'm learning way more then I ever hoped to. I just want to drive me Prius and drive by gas stations. I wish it were that simple.

Again, you guys rock! I really appreciate the help and moral support.