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I have installed my second rebuilt battery . Only get the P0A80 code. I think it's me, not them.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015.

  1. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    I purchased a rebuilt Gen II battery. Installed it and it operated great for 2 weeks. Then the P0A80 code comes back on. That was the only code generated. I thought those so-and-so's sent me a bad battery. Sent it back, got another. It started up just fine with no codes, but after 40-50 miles, the code is back on. I'm starting to think my car is causing this, but can't find any indication of how. Before installing 2nd rebuilt, we replaced the 12 V battery. We recently replaced the inverter, and it appears to be operating (swirling motion etc.) Has anybody got any ideas on other things that we could check out? I hate to send this one back if it is my car causing it, plus, although I am getting really good at taking apart and putting back together, I am getting a little tired of it.

    EDIT: what I am still wondering is if there could be a faulty relay or computer part causing the problem, and actually the traction battery is perfectly fine?

    EDIT 2: Update after two weeks. I think it is me, not them. After the car went into turtle mode, I took it in and a new code, Engine does not Start, came up. They couldn't replicate it, and cleared all the codes. I cleaned the throttle body and the MAF... everything seems to be operating perfectly right now. Further research suggests that this can be very damaging to a hybrid battery, so I think the engine was acting up and may have damaged battery number 1 and 2.
     
    #1 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    It's the so and so's not doing a good job at rebuilding. Is this a Dorman product? Rebuilders usually install for you.....unless it's Dorman.
     
    #2 JC91006, Apr 20, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2015
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't think it would cause that code, but did you check/charge the 12 volt before installing?
     
    #3 bisco, Apr 20, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
    #4 bisco, Apr 20, 2015
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Hope your not absorbing this Hybrid Battery replacement carousel ride on exclusively your own dime. That's an expensive way to experiment.

    I don't know what to offer here outside of perhaps seeking a second hands on opinion from someone familiar and trained in hybrid repair and maintenance might be valuable. If you are doing this all yourself maybe you are missing something?

    Good luck, I've solved problems in my life by throwing money at it...but the key is if you are going to take this approach...you want the problem solved.
     
    #5 The Electric Me, Apr 20, 2015
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Since the car operated fine for a brief period of time after installing both "rebuilt" batteries, there apparently is nothing wrong with your installation technique. As P0A80 is the only DTC logged by your car, it is most likely that both replacement traction batteries have failed.
     
    #6 Patrick Wong, Apr 20, 2015
  7. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    No, it's not Dorman, it's Falcon .... But I am having a hard time believing they sent me two bum batteries. I expected it to at least last a few months or just past the warranty expired. So I am blaming myself or the car, at this point. I could be wrong.
     
    #7 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
  8. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    12 volt seems to be fine. I don't think that's the problem, since, as I said, we just got a new one, shortly after the first rebuild gave us the triangle of death code. When we installed the second one, it started right up, and ran for a couple days before new death triangle.
     
    #8 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
  9. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    I think I'm going to lose the price of shipping the second rebuild back to them, although I am planning to scream bloody murder about it. But they already lead me to understand that they were not going to pay shipping for me if I returned the battery for refund rather than warranty replacement. (I originally asked this outfit (Falcon Hybrid Solutions out of New Jersey) to give me a full refund but they actually talked me into accepting a replacement. I wasn't happy about it, but I went along with it because I didn't want the argument). Now I find out there are lots of local rebuilders I could have gone to. I don't know why they didn't turn up when I first was researching the problem :(
     
    #9 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
  10. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    #10 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
  11. Lisa Volk

    Lisa Volk New Member

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    I didn't mean JUST before installing the second rebuild. We actually have had it in for 7-10 days and had been driving the Prius around with the code light on. The 12 volt seems to be fine.
     
    #11 Lisa Volk, Apr 20, 2015
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you're probably right. what brand of 12 volt did you go with?

    as far as the hybrid battery is concerned, it could very easily be two bad ones in a row. rebuilding them isn't an art, it's a science. and too many companies either don't understand what they're doing, or don't care. it's possible that the amount of work needed to do it properly would bring th price close to a new one.
     
    #12 bisco, Apr 20, 2015
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Who pays for all this back and forth with the bad batteries? Well I believe it......
     
    #13 JC91006, Apr 20, 2015
  14. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Do you have Mini VCI? If you do, there are tests you can run to observe in realtime what your battery is doing. It will show up bad blocks and will give you definitive data you can take back to Falcon to support your case that it is a defective battery pack.

    If you don't, it would be worth the ~$35 it will cost. You will need (preferably) a spare laptop that runs Win XP or Win 7 (32 bit) and will not be internet connected, to be safe from internet nasties.

    I found this link to be quite helpful.

    All the best for a successful outcome.
     
    #14 dolj, Apr 20, 2015
  15. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I was searching for a post by member strawbrad where he details how to use MVCI to test the battery for my previous post. I couldn't find at the time to include, but have now so here it is:

     
    #15 dolj, Apr 21, 2015
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Brad says,

    Techstream starts the module count from the end opposite the battery ECU.

    This is definitely new........
     
    #16 JC91006, Apr 21, 2015
  17. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Yup, which he is aware is controversial. :)
     
    #17 dolj, Apr 21, 2015
  18. Jasvinder

    Jasvinder Junior Member

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    I have the same problem on my gen 3 batteries please keep the post Alive I will do the same if I find the solution.
     
    #18 Jasvinder, Nov 21, 2015
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'll do my best!(y) lisa?
     
    #19 bisco, Nov 21, 2015
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