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need help please , hybrid battery low

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by sebasendallas, May 21, 2012.

  1. sebasendallas

    sebasendallas New Member

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    My car was driving good when i had an accident just the fender and door was hit, but i lived the car in the body shop for 1 1/2 years now i went to pick it up and the battery is low, the gas engine start and stall in 3 or 4 seconds . Can i tow the car with the wheels on the ground and been presing the breaks a little to re charge the batery, jiji just an idea, i have no money to take the car to the dealer( 2007 prius 120000 milles )
     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If the Prius will not become READY, then towing the car with the wheels on the ground will do nothing with regards to charging the traction battery. The original battery may be near-dead after 1-1/2 years of non-use.

    The engine no-start may be due to other problems besides a bad traction battery but you will need to have the DTC read to determine whether that is the case.

    A used battery from a salvage yard is a potential low-cost alternative to new, if you need a replacement traction battery.
     
  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Replacing your battery before knowing what is wrong seems like good money after bad, but here are some batteries.

    prius battery | eBay
     
  4. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    The HV battery cranks the engine, so if it starts then the hybrid battery (while low) is probably not the actual problem. I'd say there must be another reason why the engine wont run.
     
  5. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    What's the condition of the +12 volt battery? If that is shot due to 1 1/2 year storage time, that would explain some of your problems. I would drain the gas, put some fresh gas in. Why did you let it sit for a year and a half, if I might ask?
     
  6. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    This is a good example of why you can't let these cars sit for more than a few months. I'd say it is more likely that the ICE has a problem. Valves tend to stick, fuel is stangant, etc, etc.

    You had maybe 2-3 chances to get the car started with a hybrid battery that sat that long. Probably by now the hybrid battery state of charge is too low to crank the engine.

    The 12V battery is easy, just put a regular car battery in there for the moment.

    The hybrid battery may need to be charged up. There are a few people out there with the equipment to do it, me included, but you may have to go to a dealership and have them fly in the special charger.

    You really need some sort of diagnostic tool to read codes and things like hybrid battery voltages and state of charge. Techstream would be preferable but even a ScanGauge would work. Do not buy a generic OBDII scanner at an auto parts store because it will not give you the information that you need.
     
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  7. sebasendallas

    sebasendallas New Member

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    thanks guys for the info , 2 more questions , 1 does the car has an alternator ( cause when start the gas engine how should stay runing with an alternator or with the hybrid battery , and how i know when the car is ready ?Sorry for this questions i just traing to learn how works thanks
     
  8. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    The inverter has a DC converter which performs the function of the alternator. It is powered by the hybrid battery.

    The sequence of events is a follows:
    1. The 12V battery must have sufficient state of charge (SOC) to boot up the computers. Sagging below 10.5V will cause failure to become ready.
    2. If all computers boot successfully and there are no dire problems, then the car will become Ready, and the Ready light on the dash will be lit.
    3. The car will try to turn on the gas engine a few seconds after the ready light comes on. The hybrid battery will send power through the inverter to MG1 (as motor) to crank the engine. After the engine starts running, then the engine will start turning MG1 (as generator) to create power to charge the hybrid battery via the inverter.