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HELP! Hybrid battery died.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Desert Flier, Apr 24, 2021.

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  1. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    #21 AzusaPrius, Apr 25, 2021
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  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Sam,
    The problem is that most of the available "reconditioned" batteries have been quickly and poorly put together and are likely to fail in a short time. Properly reconditioning a battery takes expertise, good equipment and time which is doable as a DIY, but a difficult proposition for a profitable business.

    I had a reconditioned battery done by the originator of this procedure (A ReInVolt from North Carolina, he sold his business to Dorman, but their quality has not been up to par) installed on my 2004 Prius at 195k miles. It was still operating well at 288k miles when I traded it in for my 2016 Prius. I personally rebalanced 27 modules from my original battery (the 28th had a reversed cell) and their capacity after 3 cycles had recovered much of their original capacity (down about 20%) and they still had some useful life left after 195k miles and 10 years of use. Four other Prius owners used my rebalanced modules to bring their Prii back to life and I never heard any complaints from any of them.

    JeffD
     
    #22 jdenenberg, Apr 25, 2021
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  3. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    10 years? I've been looking on the internet this morning and I see that 10 years is standard for new vehicles in CARB states. For replacement OEM batteries I'm seeing 3 years and that's if Toyota does the install. Unless they R&R the battery box in the shop a drop in replacement should take no more than 2 hours tops. I'm seeing a lot of people saying the dealer is quoting 5 hours of labor which seems ridiculous.
     
    #23 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
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  4. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    #24 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
  5. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    I agree. Although the idea of a lithium upgrade has my attention too.
     
    #25 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
  6. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Possibly a small improvement due to more regenerative braking efficiency. The higher capacity of the Lithium batteries would allow more EV driving, but that would have a negative impact on MPG.

    JeffD
     
    #26 jdenenberg, Apr 25, 2021
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  7. AzusaPrius

    AzusaPrius Senior Member

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    @Desert Flier

    Well for starters the lithium pack being much lighter than OEM or any other pack will get you some more MPG.

    Then it is up to the driver how they drive the prius really to see how much more MPG they can squeeze out.

    I personally love it when I can do up to 70mph With just the battery and no ICE on.

    Hard to drain the battery unless you are in major traffic and going up an incline.



    http://www.RedBullet.net

    http://www.ProjectLithium.com

    http://www.Pulstar.com

    http://www.PlugOutPower.com
     
    #27 AzusaPrius, Apr 25, 2021
  8. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    Agreed. I think what I might do is try this on another car that I can use as an experimental project.
     
    #28 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
    Last edited: Apr 25, 2021
  9. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    Yeah it's and interesting concept to keep an eye on.
     
    #29 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
  10. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    First off I appreciate all of the advice and feedback. I think what I am leaning towards is an OEM replacement from Toyota if the price is right. The reliability seems off the charts with OEM units. I'll have to call some dealers tomorrow morning. Giving up some of the warranty due to a self install is not something I'm worried about. I'm a well weathered auto and airplane mechanic and this seems like a straight forward job. I am curious if the batteries from Toyota will be brand new. I'm thinking they will be but will check first.
     
    #30 Desert Flier, Apr 25, 2021
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  11. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    The Toyota ones are new, but they don't come plug and play ready. You'll have to transfer some stuff from your old battery housing to the new one. Once you have the new battery in and you know it's working, then you can take the old one to the dealer to recover your core fee.
     
    #31 jerrymildred, Apr 25, 2021
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the lithium pack sounds good, but availability is still in question. i would wait until they are proven and in good supply, but i'm no beta tester.:p
     
    #32 bisco, Apr 25, 2021
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  13. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Wait. What ??? :confused:
     
    #33 sam spade 2, Apr 26, 2021
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  14. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    I'd be a little interested in how old some of these dealer OEM battery packs are getting to be.
    OK...so nobody warehouses things any more but seriously.....they stopped making G2s 12 years ago.

    If I were sitting in the OPs shoes...I'd give them back.
    Then?
    Just for yucks I would get a dealer quote for a battery including install fee AND I would get warranty terms in months and miles.
    I seem to recall something like 3 years/unlimited miles which might be a deal...IF....the price is right.

    Otherwise??
    A reputable aftermarket seems like the better bang for the buck.

    AS ALWAYS.....
    YMMV
     
    #34 ETC(SS), Apr 26, 2021
  15. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    The NiMh battery modules (the wear out item in the HV battery pack) are still being manufactured and used in current Prii models (My 2020 AWDe uses them). The currently manufactured ones are form, fit and function backwards compatible with the G2 (they do perform a bit better) so you can have faith that the modules in a new OE Toyota Prius GS battery module from a Toyota dealer are actually new.

    JeffD
     
    #35 jdenenberg, Apr 26, 2021
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  16. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Yes, every Toyota HV battery I've disassembled has modules date coded within about 2 months of the date code on the steel case, including new ones. The modules inside the case will likely still be the Gen2/3 style. The Gen 4 modules have some slight changes to the top area, but they are totally interchangeable.
     
    #36 TMR-JWAP, Apr 26, 2021
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  17. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    "Faith" in Toyota is something that comes hard to me - (see also: politicians, journos, scientists, and other people easily influenced by $$)
    This is especially true when dealers are involved, but is is reassuring to know that the 'born-on' date is something that is discoverable for people that bother to look.
    SO...I suppose that it would depend on the install cost.....and the warranty.

    A 36 month actual replacement warranty on an OEM battery back might IN SOME CASES be a 'lifetime' warranty for a 2005 Prius, and it MIGHT also be a good solution for those who do not want to wade into rough seas surrounding aftermarket hybrid battery replacements.

    AS ALWAYS
    YMMV
     
    #37 ETC(SS), Apr 26, 2021
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  18. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    Thanks! Just confirmed that on my first dealer call. He quoted $4200+tax and then almost immediately called my back apologizing for looking up the wrong part number. $1950 was their actual price. Going to keep calling around.
     
    #38 Desert Flier, Apr 26, 2021
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  19. Desert Flier

    Desert Flier Member

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    Thanks! Just confirmed that on my first dealer call. He quoted $4200+tax and then almost immediately called my back apologizing for looking up the wrong part number. $1950 was their actual price. Going to keep calling around.
     
    #39 Desert Flier, Apr 26, 2021
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  20. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    It's worth checking around. But in some areas, I think I've read that that is a pretty good price for OTC. In others that might be the installed price. I have no idea what your market is like. Happy shopping! :)
     
    #40 jerrymildred, Apr 26, 2021
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