Will my battery die!?

It just depends how you drive it. I have 322k miles on my Original pack. I drive a lot of miles on an annual basis. I was told to expect to need to replace it soon back when it had 205k on it. 117k later it’s still going but it does have some capacity degradation now.

 

Keep driving it and do not keep it without use for a long time. I have 360 K Miles on original battery pack. Fuel efficiency is down about 6% over last two years. I still drive it about 2000 miles a month. But now I do not keep it without use more than 3 days. I do notice significant loss in SOC after a couple days of non use.

 

it's possible, and definite at some point. but we can't give you odds.

get a prolong battery conditioner to help extend the life

 

Eventually

Pixel XL ?

 

Someone told you? That's really vague... There are symptoms that you can identify and treat as the battery ages to maximize it's lifespan. There's also warning lights that will come on and make it so your car won't run because the computers decide to shut it off to protect it...

In other words your car needs to tell you what needs to be done... not "someone" unless that "someone" is helping you to address existing symptoms.

Please tell us more about your current symptoms and maybe we can help?

 

That someone might be right and wrong. There are multiple options. I also heard that in the UK there are 15 years of hybrid battery warranty but you would need to check this with a dealership.

Here are my thoughts on what you can do:

Checking and servicing-replacing the the bus bars can certainly help the hybrid battery efficiency - There are lots of threads covering it.

Here are the 3 signs that your hybrid battery is wearing out. At this point the 'Check hybrid system' or red triangle might come on with error code PA080.

1. The bars on the MFD showing the battery gauge will change not one by one in a few minutes, but more frequently. It could jump 1 or two bars up or down instantly depending on driving faster. A battery in OK health won't do that. This is what I would look out for if I were you.
2. You will notice a rougher change of power between the engine and the electric drive.
3. If you have a PA080 code, all your error lights will be on in the car.

 

Pixel XL ?

 

The portion about removing and cleaning the busbars is more likely to cause problems than solve them. The voltage sensing tabs will be corroded and weak. It doesn't take much to damage them or crack them. You may not even notice the damage until you stat getting strange readings after the battery has been reinstalled. Save yourself a lot of heartache and just order a new WIRE FRAME #2 from Toyota. It's only about $60. For example:


Toyota Prius Wire, frame, no. 2. Battery, electrical, wiring, cable - 8216547040 | Hendrick Toyota Wilmington, Wilmington NC


I know the photo is not clear, but it provides the orange plastic "frame" with the copper bus bars and voltage sensing wires already installed with a brand new harness plug that clips into the ECU.

 

My battery died at 14.5 years old. If yours are approaching this number, you should start worrying. If you are on a 2008 and you don't drive aggressively, and the weather is not super hot, you should be good for another 2 or 3 years.

 

You can get an estimate of the health of your battery by getting a bluetooth enabled OBDII adapter (that plugs into the under dash diagnostic port) and running the DR. Prius app on your smart phone.

It is controversial whether the Prolong system makes a difference. I would not bother with it. Just drive it.

Engine starter: how many miles do you put on your Prius yearly. How long have you owned it? With fuel prices being what they are in the U.K., it could be well worth it to replace the battery if it fails.

 

That someone is right.

Sooner or later the hybrid battery will fail and ruin your day. The one poster is right if you drive it everyday that seems to prolong its life it’s the letting the car sit for a few days a week will increase corrosion and shorten its life.

I agree with tmr going inside the battery at this point might not help unless you plan on load testing every single module to find the softest one in the bunch. That is a very long process.

Now is the perfect time to rejuvenate the battery as it has some life left and
Is healthy so a Discharge if done properly will really wake the battery up.

Use the search forums button up top and search

Prolong

That’s the charger/discharger lots of us use including me. Requires installing a test lead in the battery and also the battery vent fan power supply circuit.

Go to hybridautomotive..com and dig around. Shows you how to install the cable. It works! I have had great success with mine.

 

As like me you are in the UK you won't suffer from the the battery killer of heat. With an 11 year old battery it may die tomorrow or it may last a few more years my 2007 died last year with 104,000 miles replaced it with a new one from Toyota my advice if it does go and you still enjoy your car don't piss about with reconditioned/rebuilt ones

 

The real question is: Does it make a significant difference and is it worth the money ?
My considered answer to both is NO.
Not worth the time or the money.......unless you get great joy out of tinkering with things like that.

Seems like I saw that the price of the charger was around $800.
If that is true, it is about half the cost of a new battery.

 

Sure, and other things that may or may not happen eventually...or may not happen include:
Bad info screen
Blacked out cluster
Wheel bearings
Oil burning
Headlights
12V
Brakes
Struts
AC compressor
AC evaporator
Invertor coolant pump
Brake actuator

Replacing everything in this list probably adds up to somewhere between $5000 and $10,000. May happen --- may not --- cause it is a used car and unpredictable.

In my case (bought at 140k and currently 225k) I replaced all the struts (not necessary just did for smoother ride), the front wheel bearings, the front brakes, and it burns oil. No major repairs for me and still drives like-new.

 

So if the car is currently under warranty (5 years) and has had a Toyota hybrid service every year they will extend the warranty upto 15 years. If the warranty has lapsed then they won't re-warranty the car I'm really gutted about this but oh well.

Toyota will do a hybrid service that will tell you about your battery for around £40

You could try apps such as Hybrid assistant and hybrid reporter along with a bluetooth OBD2 reader. Alternatively get techstream with a usb obd2 cable and check the voltages yourself.

Options for replacement are: Toyota for a new battery - £1,205.29 then fitting is extra.
Hybrid Batteries | Toyota Hybrid Cars |Toyota UK | Toyota UK

2nd hand battery from a scrap yard (have a look on ebay) £400-600 unknown lifespan, unknown condition. You may be able to get one for less than this. For example:
TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID BATTERY COMPLETE WITH SUPPLY & FIT SERVICE 03~09 | eBay

Have your old battery rebuilt £300-400 unknown lifespan but normally 12 months warranty. Varius places offer this, I've not used any so far but have a look on ebay, facebook etc

New battery from China (£971+import duty):
Hybrid Car Battery For Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery - Buy Battery For Toyota Prius,Hybrid Battery,7.2v Car Battery Pack Product on Alibaba.com
Judging by my other Chinese parts I'd stick with Toyota but it's an option.

Buy another Prius with a working battery but broken internal combustion engine and swap it over then scrap the rest of the car. Gumtree might help you out.

Good luck!

 

I have made the mistake of letting mine sit too long and I got it running a couple of weeks ago and left it running while I cut my grass. I was shocked to see that the car was still running each time I checked on it. I wasn’t able to drive it because of having two flat tires after hitting a pothole and not having the replacements mounted and balanced as of yet. I managed to move the vehicle back-and-forth a little bit just to rock it back and forth and then when I shut it off I couldn’t get it to even start up and I didn’t know what the problem was so I went ahead and just plugged my battery tender back in and left it until yesterday when I went to move it so I could install the replacement wheels and tires. I unplugged my battery tender got in the car put the key in the ignition and nothing. I placed it in neutral and was using my utility vehicle to try to push it back and I don’t know if the rotors are seized up or the drums or both. I have the same lights light up on the dash and I don’t have a clue as to how I can get this thing running. Any suggestions as to how I can get it running?

Thanks, Mike

 

If the traction battery is not able to start the engine, there is not much you can do without charging the battery using a grid charger like Prolong. ( I do not have one).

However if the car is sitting idle due to problems like flat tires, there is a way you can charge the battery without driving it.

You can have the car in ready mode. Then press Break pedal with left foot and put it in drive and without releasing Break, use right foot gently to press gas. The engine will run and charge the battery. I use this to force charge the battery when I have to leave the car unused for any significant time and pray the car starts after I return.