Bought a 2006 w/ 87k miles, might have P0A80 issues already

welcome! it is unlikely that the lights and code came on for no reason. the first thing to check is the 12 volt battery. is this a local reputable toyota dealership? a/c doesn't effect mpg more than a mile or two. reset your mpg meter and take it for a slow drive in the country. if you're not getting 50 mpg, you have a problem. check your tyre pressure and read up here on gas mileage problems and solutions. if you can't return it, you're gonna have to deal with it. don't panic, we'll sort you out.

 

The HV battery probably drained out while the car was sitting on the dealer's lot unused. If you put a grid charger on the HV traction battery and rebalance the cells asap you can most likely avoid further battery issues for a long time. For best results, you should get the discharger as well and deep cycle the battery a few times. This is what two deep cycles did to a 2005 with 140k miles:

 

if the battery drained out, it won't start?

 

Resetting the 12V system can make the HV battery errors go away for a short time. It takes the car a few driving cycles to re-diagnose a failed battery. It doesn't mean the problem is gone, it just means the car has temporarily forgotten about it.

 

there's a surface charge on the 12v for a few hours after turning off. check the it in the morning before starting the car. if it's below 12.5 replace it.

is the hv battery indicator behaving normally? it should hover around the middle and once in a while, slide down to two purple bars or up to full green bars. it it fluctuates rapidly, talk to jeff above.

 

#1 - Are you in a Carb State where the car would still be under warranty through Toyota?
#2 - If yes, you can have Toyota replace it.
#3 - If no, you can always try to ask Toyota for a goodwill warranty, they usually cover a good percentage at your low mileage.
#4 - If you haven't had the car for 3 days, some states have laws in which you can return the car to the selling dealer.

 

You do not qualify for CARB based on my understanding. But I'm guessing if you approach Toyota with this issue, they may cover the repair because your car is not too far out from the 8 year/100k miles regular warranty.

Is it too late to return the car?

 

I guess PA did not join CARB until 2008 and PA does not cover batt to 150k. But NJ is CARB and all USA Prii are CARB compliant, so it gets into Toyota's special rules. This is a case where Toyota might help cover batt costs if it eventually comes down to that. If you read the 2006 warranty you'll see it doesn't get around to saying Toyota disqualifies these situations (more recent warranty language does say that). So in my mind there is some wiggle room.

 

Since time is if the essence I would take it to a Toyota dealer and have them hook there Techstream laptop
To the car and interrogate the hybrid battery module
Voltages and there delta. You will get a printout of all 27 modules and there voltage. It costs minimal one hour labor. Here that's $130.
When see see tluck.module voltages we can definitively tell u if that battery is good or bad. Until we see that its just
A guessing game with time against you.
Good luck.

 

The inspection wouldn't be very good if it passes a Prius with a failed traction battery...

It does sound like your car's traction battery needs to be replaced.

 

find a reputable hybrid shop and ask them to assess hv battery (and the whole car while you're at it). in my area the 3 toyota dealerships don't typically know how to deal with an hv battery issue except to declare that i need a new one.

make sure the 12v is good, too. if the hv still has life (better than 40% from what my folks told me), research the grid charger...pretty dang cool. that might be a long-term solution. but since this car is new-to-you, get baseline info on it. sounds like you did with getting it checked out, but i HIGHLY suggest getting the hv battery assessed now, as a new owner. it could mean the difference between refurbing it ($) or needing a brand new unit ($$$$).

what did you name your prius? i can't stop myself from calling her Blue Egg, (and obviously declaring her a female).

it's a great car, so congrats!

 

Just for records module info is available at OBDII and can be read by Torque (Engine link for iPhone owners)

 

NJ inspection is just emissions. As long as the car isn't throwing a code when they plug into the OBDII connector the car will pass. I don't know if it will pass if it is throwing a code that doesn't relate to emissions.

Autozone probably didn't clear the code. The idiot light will eventually turn off.

One of the symptoms of a failing traction battery is that the State of Charge fluctuates rapidly between fully charged and fully discharged.

Take it to a Toyota dealer. Get the battery diagnosed. Let them tell you that you are out of warranty.

Does the parent of the Ford dealer also have a Toyota franchise, like Holman?

A warranty is a legal document. The Lemon Law is the law. Whatever it says is covered, is covered.

Something is wrong because you got an idiot light and a code. There is no way a healthy Prius in NJ only gets 38mpg. My worst tank in the 2006 was 39.6mpg and that was between tanks measured at 64.5mpg & 57.9mpg so attributed to a fueling error.

Here's the opinion of Luscious Garage:
Luscious Garage | Blog | 2004-2009 Prius Hybrid Battery Options P0A80

 

If you could get some help from Toyota and maybe dealer give some discount to help, you could have a new batt and better car. Optimistic but possible win/win.

 

Only thing in play is he's sweating having to pay for a new hybrid battery which has become quite a quagmire of choices.
Everything else is just bullshit till we see the module voltages. Time being of the essence pony up a hundred dollars and find out.

I expect to see a few modules going south.

We need the copy of the Techstresm report pasted here and all the codes the car has thrown. That is what your paying for so if you walk away without them we cannot help you. This is what you will use to get out of this deal. Giddee up.

Good Luck.