Traction battery failure at 113k

[mona_tony]

Our traction battery failed at 113k and now any money spent on repairs is going to take away from any savings in high mpg.

My coworkers are saying "I told ya so" and are taking joy at my expensive economy car just got more expensive.

I am still able to drive around in what I was told "safe mode".

Can any damage come from driving around in "safe mode"?

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by mona_tony

Our traction battery failed at 113k and now any money spent on repairs is going to take away from any savings in high mpg.

My coworkers are saying "I told ya so" and are taking joy at my expensive economy car just got more expensive.

You have my sympathy but there will always be a percentage of failures with any vehicle. It doesn't help that you 'drew the short straw,' but it happens.

My traction battery studies have been on the NHW11 version with one example of an NHW20 battery module. That the NHW20 modules are better does not mean there can't be problems. The one lesson learned is "heat is the enemy." Without fail, the car should be kept out of direct sunlight in the summer and avoid driving patterns that can induce higher traction battery temperatures.

Originally Posted by mona_tony

. . . I am still able to drive around in what I was told "safe mode".

Can any damage come from driving around in "safe mode"?

The failed battery module will continue to get hotter and hotter. As another poster reported, they can get hot enough to 'explode' or fracture the case from the heat and gas.

Personally, it is time to shop for a salvage battery, $400-500, and/or consider that for ~$2,200-2,500, you could buy the battery and do the change yourself. This will return your Prius, a 45-50 MPG vehicle, to service.

The other option, is to put in a salvage battery and sell the car. I suspect you'll soon discover the best replacement car is the one you are selling but you'll have to make that judgement.

As for the opinions of co-workers, that is something you'll have to decide about.

Bob Wilson

[FireEngineer]

What were the cars symptoms? How does the dealer know it's the hybrid battery? What codes did they retrieve? I've seen a lot of claims of hybrid battery failure but it was something else.

Wayne

[patsparks]

I agree with Bob. Personally I'd go the salvage route. Why get new when used will do and the failure rate of the Prius battery pack is so very low.
Wayne makes a good point. I recall people being told their car needed a traction battery but a poor 12 volt battery caused a mis-diagnosis.
Get and post some codes.

Can I ask a couple of questions?
Have you had the car from new?
Have you ever driven the car on the traction battery after running out of fuel?
Just a little personal research.

[phoebeisis]

Bob,(hi)I thought the NHW20 battery pack was modular, and you could just replace the module(aren't there 30 or so modules) that is bad?

I've seem Prius II battery packs on Ebay for $600 or so. I wonder if you can just replace the battery and drive off into the sunset? I would expect Toyota to have some special gadget to "tell" the electronic control unit that "this is a new battery"-they never seem to make it easy for DIY repairs.
Is it strictly plug in the new(used) one, and that is it?
Thanks,
Charlie

[Celtic Blue]

Seems like replacement would make the most sense. The OP has put 113k on a 2005, so with that sort of annual mileage keeping a vehicle longer makes a lot of sense.

In order to determine whether or not the mileage savings was really lost, one would need to compare the upkeep with another comparable vehicle. Brake jobs and such would factor in. Plus, if one gets another 113k out of the next battery, the car is going to be down to minimal value anyway, and the effective cost of this out of warranty replacement will be half of what it appears to be now.

[FBear]

I thought the traction battery on the 2005's were warranteed for 150k?

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by mona_tony

Our traction battery failed at 113k and now any money spent on repairs is going to take away from any savings in high mpg.

My coworkers are saying "I told ya so" and are taking joy at my expensive economy car just got more expensive.

I am still able to drive around in what I was told "safe mode".

Can any damage come from driving around in "safe mode"?

shop around. i recently talked with someone who salvages wrecked Pri's and he had one that had a damaged traction battery and he says you can get one for total of around $1000-1200 installed (most of that cost is labor) . in fact, he would do it. traction batteries are usually the first things salvaged in wrecked Pri's and can be had for cheap

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by mona_tony

...I am still able to drive around in what I was told "safe mode".

Can any damage come from driving around in "safe mode"?

Yes, I do not recommend that you continue to drive the vehicle in "limp home" mode.

Originally Posted by phoebeisis

...I thought the NHW20 battery pack was modular, and you could just replace the module(aren't there 30 or so modules) that is bad?

I've seem Prius II battery packs on Ebay for $600 or so. I wonder if you can just replace the battery and drive off into the sunset? ...Is it strictly plug in the new(used) one, and that is it?

Although it is possible to replace individual modules, the modules all need to produce similar voltage under load or else the battery ECU will produce a fault code. This implies some amount of charging or discharging of the modules that are being added, so this may not be easy to do.

The battery can be replaced with a good salvage unit without problems - assuming that you are comfortable dealing with high voltage and high current situations.

Originally Posted by FBear

I thought the traction battery on the 2005's were warranteed for 150k?

This is true only for vehicles sold, operated, and licensed in CA and other PZEV states.

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

...i recently talked with someone who salvages wrecked Pri's and he had one that had a damaged traction battery and he says you can get one for total of around $1000-1200 installed (most of that cost is labor) . in fact, he would do it. traction batteries are usually the first things salvaged in wrecked Pri's and can be had for cheap

Yes, this is a reasonable idea if you can find an independent Prius mechanic who will do this, or else DIY.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I recall people being told their car needed a traction battery but a poor 12 volt battery caused a mis-diagnosis.
Get and post some codes.

Have you had the car from new?
Have you ever driven the car on the traction battery after running out of fuel?

Ditto that!

Check the 12V battery voltage at the jump points under the hood. Weird stuff can happen when that battery is near death (that is, 12.0 or less). With the car OFF it should measure 12.6 V to 12.8V. If you don't have a voltmeter use the selftest procedure given here:
http://www.myhybridcar.com/forums/to...ry-health.html