How long can I keep driving after getting P0A80 code (dying hybrid battery)? Options to buy cells?

These are two different things. Warning lights are most important. You can get an inexpensive device that will read the error codes and subcodes that were logged when those lights went on. Once we know the error codes we can give you options for repair at whichever price range is best for you. Here's buyer's guide for that device: Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus

As for the rapid fluctuation of charge levels in battery that you're seeing, it's normal for an older pack... It's a sign of degradation/loss of battery capacity and can be easily restored to normal by deep cycling the battery pack to lower and lower levels of discharge three times.

 

Your car is living on borrowed time. If you want a dependable car stay away from Green Bean or any other company selling repaired battery packs. They cannot afford to spend the time to properly test and balance the pack.
The cheapest option, if you can find it, is the modules from a low mileage scrapped Prius.

The next lowest option for DIY is the kit of new cells from newpriusbatteries for $1600 delivered. @2k1Toaster here has designed a good kit that basically gives you a new battery.

The only other good option is to get a Toyota OEM pack. Dealer installed has a longer warranty.

 

#1) Have to know what the error codes and subcodes are saying. Until then it's entirely premature to blame the pack

#2) Have to find out the budget of the person asking for help and without knowing error codes the money spent on a replacement pack may prevent fixing other problems that are a greater priority.

#3) When you say car is "living on borrowed time" myself and others by choice, or of necessity, think borrowed time is way more sustainable than borrowing money to pay for a new or nearly new car.

 

I was referring about continuing to drive it unrepaired with the error code.

 

Basically, yes. "limp mode" MAY be available.

And without the proper equipment and time to test & balance the pack you would end up with an undependable car.

 

The auto parts store only read the code that said their was a problem with the battery system. It didn't read the subcodes which will help you determine if it's an inexpensive repair related to corrosion or something more expensive. Toyota was very dishonest with the label they provide for P0A80. But the profit motive follows the path of least resistance and the path of least resistance is what makes the river crooked.

Before you go any further down the rabbit hole, you need to use either a mini-VCI dongle for Toyota Techstream or more easy, use Dr. Prius App and an OBD2 Bluetooth reader to get the error subcodes so you know what the problem is. Here's buyer's guide for OBD2: Hybrid battery diagnostic and repair tool for Toyota and Lexus

Once you know what the exact problem is we'll be able to advise you how wise it is to keep clearing the red triangle as you keep driving.

 

You are not comparing apples with apples.

• Green Bean is a conglomerate of old used modules that may last a year or two longer. We have had reports of some not even lasting a month before problems came back. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
• newpriusbatteries is a kit of brand new (although a different design to OEM) modules that will easily last 8 years without problems

Is that worth the extra $150. My opinion, yes, in spades. So save a bit longer, (they are back-ordered by two months so far so you have time). And carve out the time to do it, or pay someone to do it for you. Newpriusbatteries can connect you with an installer in your area.

I would whack-a-mole (as we call it) to buy yourself some time. @ericbecky can sell you good modules and is happy to talk through your options if you want to give him a call. Click on his profile to find his contact details. How well this might work is hard to tell, given the mountain driving which is known to hammer the HV battery pretty heavily.

 

I absolutely agree to the last letter of what’s said here but want to add...check the age of your 12v battery. There’s a code on it and mine was way overdue. It did some strange things like reving at a stoplight etc.
Your Prius will not have regen braking once the code sets off the triangle. Living in mountains will probably if not surely wear on brakes. we installed the TOASTER pack and haven’t looked back. I didn’t want to pull the battery pack more than once as it’s a PIA so we did take somewhat a leap of faith. I only say that because “battery experts” and keyboard jockies in general has downplayed them for a number of theories.
I am very happy with the performance as it gets consistent 48.5 to 50+ MPG.
My only complaint is I have a Gen3 and the pack was targeted for the gen2. It fit and worked fine but the instructions were a bit confusing. This is especially important because one wrong connection and you have Chernobyl and they clearly warn you in the instructions. Now if that don’t give you sweaty palms....
Overall it’s been about 14 months and all is well. I did have a situation that alarmed me a few months back where it drained completely down to the last bar. When I went to the map screen it didn’t show it was charging. I disconnected the 12v battery for 20 mins reconnected and all has been well since. I could’ve waited to see before doing that but didn’t want to walk home or get stranded. Good luck whichever way you go. Good to have all that behind us.

 

There are different wiring harnesses for Gen 3 vs Gen 2. @2k1Toaster has been good at shipping the correct harness if a mistake was made.

 

Welcome. It appears the pack is failing. To insure a reliable car it is usually best to get the kit of new cells from @2k1Toaster here. When installed that basically gives you a new pack for $1600 delivered. You can sell any usable modules from the old pack to lower the cost further. The link is in my signature.

Manually jus replacing a module or 2 usually results in a car that could fail at any time leaving you stranded.

 

@nathandavidhall

Two things.

1. Your Gen 2 has no EGR system to worry about, so there's some minor relief for you.
2. Everyone has their own degree of reliability they can live with. If you want a car that will likely go 10 years with no HV battery problems, the choice is easy..go with a new Toyota battery. The 2K1 battery will likely get you there also. If you're looking for an inexpensive fix that will get the car going again and you don't fear a bit of DIY, swap a module or two. Just do it with the understanding that swapping a module(s) with no real additional testing can sometimes be a very short term fix. There's always a bell curve. There are 'swap jobs' that have lasted days and some that have lasted years. Regardless, you can get phone apps like Hybrid Assistant that can do real time battery tests that provide a graph of all 14 blocks to show how they compare to each other, making it very easy to see a weak block that may become a problem down the road. If you have questions or just want to discuss, shoot me a PM and I'll provide contact info.

 

What is a methodology of restoring to normal by deep cycling the battery pack to lower and lower levels of discharge three times? Thanks.

 

There's two ways of going about it... One is doing the whole pack while it's in the car via a high voltage charger and discharger equipment from companies like: hybridautomotive.com, which have detailed instructions on their website.

The other version is to work on each of the 28 individual 8 volt modules by discharging each with a 12v 50w halogen bulb and then recharging with a bunch of these hobby chargers: iMAX B6 V2 Changer

The first discharge I go down into 5 volts then fully recharge... The second discharge I go down to 3v and recharge and the third time I go to under 1v and recharge. Also use lots of fans to keep things from heating up.

 

I had a 2004 that drove with a failing battery pack for about 100k mi. before it completely died. When it dies completely, the car looses the "Ready" status on the dash and there is no engine power, thus rendering the car immovable.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Talked to a lady once who sent her daughter off to college in her old Gen1 Prius with the red triangle on and 4 years later her daughter graduated from college and the red triangle was still on and car still ran great. This is an extreme exception though.