replace battery or buy new car?

[philobeddoe]

i burn them

it's hard to set them afire, which is why i use bald eagle heads for kindling

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

i burn them

it's hard to set them afire, which is why i use bald eagle heads for kindling

Wait till the folks who sell scrap metal learn what they contain!

Bob Wilson

[Shawn Clark]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

Wait till the folks who sell scrap metal learn what they contain!

The bald eagle heads?

[tomfreed]

Originally Posted by bwilson4web

<AHEM>

We've had two reports of individual module replacements:

• Germany - worked well and as of last year, still in service
• Florida - worked for about 3-5 months and another module failed

Understand I have no problem with replacing modules but I look at the NHW11 modules as being weak compared to the NHW20 modules. When one of 38 modules fails ... especially due to heat ... adjacent ones are likely to be ready to go too. That was the case in Florida. But I'd like to suggest keeping your "Prius skills" current when you get to Florida.

Hotter climates seem to wear out the modules relatively fast. Also, there is a distinct lack of NHW11 (and NHW20) expertise in the Southeast. It might bring in some 'bread and butter' money if you're interested. Just get the 2003 repair manual and the 2009 repair manual and you'll have the road map needed.

When you head East, you might stop off at Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle PHEV in Scottsburg Indiana. He seems to have figured out how to stay in business rebuilding salvage Prius.

Bob Wilson

Heck heat is a component killer no matter what it is especially battery. Considering the battery pack is ridiculously expensive and replacing the subpack is not that difficult i say it is worthwhile job to do it. I have 34 good subpacks to sell, any buyer?

You don't understand i was never in a car repair business i was a car dealer fixing my own vehicle to resell. When i get to FL i won't be doing it either dealer or fixing car. I had enough grieves with a car business for 4 years in Ca already. I want to do real estate deal if do it correctly one deal can equal to someone salary for the whole year. I am on it for years now is the time to make it big. The market is buyer now for house. I might fix Prius for fun but not for making a living. I am not surprised to see East coast side Prius owner less technical than the West side. More so reason for me to pick up a used one dirt cheap then i will fix it myself for my personal use.

You did not know this but i had a B.S degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Cal. Poly so i am no green when it comes to electricity and electronic. They scare of me instead of me scare of them

[orange4boy]

There is someone on this forum who put gen II modules in an gen I pack. It's very DIY but possible. That's the way I will go if I have problems. Although being in Canada, I doubt that my battery would have heat related problems.

I think Bob is right about modules beside weak ones also having problems. They tend to overcharge while the weak ones undercharge. This is why I posted the info on battery equalization. If the pack is equalized from time to time right from the start, there is less likelihood of pack imbalance causing module failure. I bet the dealers don't even know about the procedure. Although once a pack has been imbalanced for too long, it may be too late to recover with equalization.

My two cents: Re build it yourself with gen II modules or buy a rebuilt pack and have it installed. Perhaps you could request a gen II module pack from one of the rebuilders.

Good luck

[tomfreed]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

There is someone on this forum who put gen II modules in an gen I pack. It's very DIY but possible. That's the way I will go if I have problems. Although being in Canada, I doubt that my battery would have heat related problems.

I think Bob is right about modules beside weak ones also having problems. They tend to overcharge while the weak ones undercharge. This is why I posted the info on battery equalization. If the pack is equalized from time to time right from the start, there is less likelihood of pack imbalance causing module failure. I bet the dealers don't even know about the procedure. Although once a pack has been imbalanced for too long, it may be too late to recover with equalization.

My two cents: Re build it yourself with gen II modules or buy a rebuilt pack and have it installed. Perhaps you could request a gen II module pack from one of the rebuilders.

Good luck

Where is your post on battery equalization?

[orange4boy]

It comes from the factory manual although I got it on "Alldata" which should be called "Somebadlyindexeddata"

HV battery on-board equalization procedure.

This was supposed to be done when a car had been sitting, waiting for delivery for some time. I think it would also be useful every six months or so to reduce back imbalances. It would be best if someone would document the results so we would know how well it works. Equalization is regularly done on deep cycle lead acid batteries to keep individual cells from becoming weak and ruining the entire battery.

[orange4boy]

This is the thread of the Gen II modules in the Gen I pack:

2001 prius battery problem and pictures

[carzen]

Originally Posted by Chipawa

The battery on my 2001 Prius just died. Car has 130,000 miles, and is otherwise in good condition. Now I have to decide whether to replace the battery and get some more life out of her, replace the battery and sell, or just buy a nice new Gen III Prius. Dealer quoted $4400 for a replacement - seems high.

Any advice?

We are in the same boat - 2002 Prius with a failed cell in the battery pack. THe dealer wants $3000 to replace the pack. Why they cant isolate the bad cell and just replace that I have no idea. I have been researching this a bit and there seems to be a cottage industry rising that takes these bad packs and reconditions them to improved specs and performance. I found one business in NC but am looking for a similar business here in Colorado. They remanufacture the pack for about $1500. You would have to get the dealer to uninstall the old pack, ready it for shipment, and then agree to install the refurbished pack. I will update this thread with our progress during the next few weeks.

[guru_del]

There is a company is North Carolina that sells them on ebay as well. I have no experience with them but i did see their listing yesterday while searching for battery packs (just in case, after all i do have 177K miles )