Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues

dbear · 01-21-2008, 08:35 AM

OK, hjere is my situation:

as stated my Prius is an 04 model. I just turned over 150,000 miles and I am having the following issue.

The hybrid battery doesn't seem to be holding power. It discharges rapidly when going into a headwind or up a hill. When it hits the pink zone, the vehicle begins to surge and slow down.

I am getting no warning lights and my dealer says he can't figure out any problems.

Also, I am in central Vermont, so we deal with cold, etc.

Thanks!

**efusco** · 01-21-2008, 08:44 AM

Hard to offer much in the way of "help". What you describe could be a sign of impending battery failure, but they should be able to test the battery to determine it's condition...in fact they should be able to tell you the condition of each individual cell.

Have they actually tested the battery or just checked for codes? I'd specifically ask them to check the battery condition....there'll probably be a signficiant charge for it and the news you get may not be news you want to hear since you're well out of warranty.

hill · 01-21-2008, 12:27 PM

Did you buy it used, recently? New? Salvaged? As Efusco sez, a little more info is needed. It's uncommon that a Toyota hybrid tech would just walk away saying, 'beats me'. I mean heck, there's $$ to be made! Was it an actual dealer, or just the local shloemoe who made that judgement call? It is not unheard of for the high voltage system, including the nickel batteries, to make it into the 200k longevity range. Is the car garaged? Do you have a block heater? Anyway, the hybrid tech we've used is more than willing to ride with us to watch unusual conditions ... did the repair person repeat your condition so they could see it for their self? All unanswered questions aside, congrat's on membership in the 100K miles plus club, and let us know how things evolve.

john1701a · 01-21-2008, 01:37 PM

Doesn't sound like there's a problem, simply less charge available due to battery age.

If there are no codes and pink is only seen during times of strain, all is probably just fine.
.

HappyPig · 01-21-2008, 01:58 PM

What dealership was this in Vermont? I want to make sure it's not mine!

dbear · 01-22-2008, 02:10 PM

Sorry - more info

I purchased the vehicle used from a Toyota dealer in 2004. It had 13 k miles.

I have owned it since then. All service has been done at a franchised Toyota dealer in Burlington, VT. Not garaged. No block heater. Starting is not an issue. First mile I drive every day is all downhill and results in full green on the display when I hit the main road.

Rapid discharge and stuttering is becoming more prevalent.

Service writer told me "Well, there really isn't a diagnostic we can do to see what is going on."

I'm thinking I'll take it to another dealer in a larger metro area.

usbseawolf2000 · 01-22-2008, 02:13 PM

Get it checked out technically and historically as well. You don't know if the previous owner ran out of gas and ran down the HV battery and caused some damage before.

john1701a · 01-22-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbear

I purchased the vehicle used from a Toyota dealer in 2004. It had 13 k miles.

That makes a difference.

Why did the previous owner part with the car after so few miles? Was it a rental? Whatever the case, battery abuse could have easily occured before you purchased it.

Good luck.
.

usbseawolf2000 · 01-23-2008, 08:14 PM

It may not be the previous owner but it could be your driving habbit, terrain of your home, etc... Why don't you tell us about how you drive and the history about the car? Do you have an EV mode and how often do you use it? Have you ran out of gas before?

I am just trying to collect data points to understand the battery issue so that maybe I can avoid too.

dbear · 01-24-2008, 04:49 PM

Have never run out of gas.

No EV mode.

Live in Central Vermont. Moderate hills, but 80% of my driving is done on the interstate.

Driving habits?

Cruise control 70-75 on the highway. Feathered accel foot around town.

Obviously, I put a lot of miles on the car. Mornings, I will do a 3-5 minute warm up if it is below 10 or so, otherwise I get in and go.

01-21-2008, 08:35 AM	#1
dbear Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: People's Republic of Vermont Posts: 6 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues OK, hjere is my situation: as stated my Prius is an 04 model. I just turned over 150,000 miles and I am having the following issue. The hybrid battery doesn't seem to be holding power. It discharges rapidly when going into a headwind or up a hill. When it hits the pink zone, the vehicle begins to surge and slow down. I am getting no warning lights and my dealer says he can't figure out any problems. Also, I am in central Vermont, so we deal with cold, etc. Thanks!

01-21-2008, 08:44 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,228 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Hard to offer much in the way of "help". What you describe could be a sign of impending battery failure, but they should be able to test the battery to determine it's condition...in fact they should be able to tell you the condition of each individual cell. Have they actually tested the battery or just checked for codes? I'd specifically ask them to check the battery condition....there'll probably be a signficiant charge for it and the news you get may not be news you want to hear since you're well out of warranty.

01-21-2008, 12:27 PM	#3
hill High Fiber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South OC So Cal & the Flathead Valley MT Posts: 3,873 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 15 Thanked 93 Times in 68 Posts Friends: 12	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Did you buy it used, recently? New? Salvaged? As Efusco sez, a little more info is needed. It's uncommon that a Toyota hybrid tech would just walk away saying, 'beats me'. I mean heck, there's $$ to be made! Was it an actual dealer, or just the local shloemoe who made that judgement call? It is not unheard of for the high voltage system, including the nickel batteries, to make it into the 200k longevity range. Is the car garaged? Do you have a block heater? Anyway, the hybrid tech we've used is more than willing to ride with us to watch unusual conditions ... did the repair person repeat your condition so they could see it for their self? All unanswered questions aside, congrat's on membership in the 100K miles plus club, and let us know how things evolve. __________________ I Prius Chat

01-21-2008, 01:37 PM	#4
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,373 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 9 Thanked 145 Times in 70 Posts Friends: 12	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Doesn't sound like there's a problem, simply less charge available due to battery age. If there are no codes and pink is only seen during times of strain, all is probably just fine. .

01-21-2008, 01:58 PM	#5
HappyPig Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lyme, New Hampshire Posts: 24 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues What dealership was this in Vermont? I want to make sure it's not mine!

01-22-2008, 02:10 PM	#6
dbear Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: People's Republic of Vermont Posts: 6 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Sorry - more info I purchased the vehicle used from a Toyota dealer in 2004. It had 13 k miles. I have owned it since then. All service has been done at a franchised Toyota dealer in Burlington, VT. Not garaged. No block heater. Starting is not an issue. First mile I drive every day is all downhill and results in full green on the display when I hit the main road. Rapid discharge and stuttering is becoming more prevalent. Service writer told me "Well, there really isn't a diagnostic we can do to see what is going on." I'm thinking I'll take it to another dealer in a larger metro area.

01-22-2008, 02:13 PM	#7
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,254 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 106 Thanked 178 Times in 111 Posts Friends: 59	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Get it checked out technically and historically as well. You don't know if the previous owner ran out of gas and ran down the HV battery and caused some damage before.

01-23-2008, 08:14 PM	#9
usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 3,254 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 106 Thanked 178 Times in 111 Posts Friends: 59	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues It may not be the previous owner but it could be your driving habbit, terrain of your home, etc... Why don't you tell us about how you drive and the history about the car? Do you have an EV mode and how often do you use it? Have you ran out of gas before? I am just trying to collect data points to understand the battery issue so that maybe I can avoid too.

01-24-2008, 04:49 PM	#10
dbear Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: People's Republic of Vermont Posts: 6 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Help! 2004 - 150K miles and battery issues Have never run out of gas. No EV mode. Live in Central Vermont. Moderate hills, but 80% of my driving is done on the interstate. Driving habits? Cruise control 70-75 on the highway. Feathered accel foot around town. Obviously, I put a lot of miles on the car. Mornings, I will do a 3-5 minute warm up if it is below 10 or so, otherwise I get in and go.