Hybrid Battery Dead at 50K?

Guys, I want to know something from you.. What happens if one of the HV battery cell is dead? Let's say it's interrupted and the HV battery doesn't provide any voltage..

The car works without this HV battery or not? I was thinking to buy a cell from eBay, it's 30USD and can fix my problem if appear.

At this moment I have 36.000km with my car, it's from 2007.

 

Your Prius must have thrown diagnostic codes to indicate this failure. It cannot be driven until the cell is replaced. There may be concern about equalizing the charge on all the cells, as one cell will now be different.

It's worth trying, far cheaper than a new pack, assuming you can do the work yourself or cheaply

 

If the cell causes an open condition, the battery unit (cells wired in series) is effectively dead.

If it shorts, it could feasibly keep providing power, since there is still a path.

Both should be 'do not drive the car!' situations. The car will not run without the battery pack, since the 'transmission' is electrically controlled. No electricity, no control.

 

Thanks for reply!
You're talking about which transmission? Anyway, that transmission, computer units and the rest of electronic devices are not powered from 12V, just like is at a non-hybrid car?

I've read here on the forum that the HV battery pack charges the 12V battery, so can he can give power to the rest of the car. Basically, not the 12V battery is charged from an alternator/generator (like at an conventional car),and this battery uses the HV battery pack to get charged.

Am I right? If not, can you tell me how it is? I don't know so much my car..

 

The CVT works by how MG1 and MG2 are phased. This is a good read

Toyota Prius Hybrid Car E CVT Transmission Info

Prius driving simulator

This is a good site that offers a clear graphical view of what the sun gears are doing

Toyota Prius - Power Split Device

 

The car will not operate at all without the HV battery. It is needed to start the engine, to run the two motor/generators in the transmission, to power the air conditioning, and to recharge the 12V battery. Without the HV battery the 12V battery will run the radio and the lights for a few hours, and then die.

As has been described in other threads all of the modules in the HV battery must be matched in their internal resistance. It is very unlikely that one random eBay module will match the others, and it will fail quickly.

 

The HV battery can't harm the MAF sensor. It can get fouled over time or if the engine oil is grossly overfilled, or damaged by some object or inappropriate cleaner going into the throttle body. But a faulty MAF can keep the engine from running right and that may have contributed to the HV battery problems.

There's nothing for it but to keep driving and working through these problems as they appear. They may all be due to neglect or abuse by the previous owner.

 

I love my prius...