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Finally won the battery lottery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by JC91006, Sep 1, 2015.

  1. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Congrats JC. :)
     
    JC91006 likes this.
  2. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

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    Modules do not die an even death. This is a 2009 pack from a junk yard with about 164,000 miles on it. Shown is the date tested and the mAhr's measured from full to 5.4 volts at a 20 amp rate. This was a working pack, none of the modules had failed. The SOC display would look fine on this pack. Note that there is a 1009 mAhr capacity difference between the strongest and weakest. That weakest module has begun it's slow march to failure.

    DSC00176.JPG

    This is a 2007 with 200K miles. The two failed modules have been removed. The strongest has almost twice the capacity of the weakest. This failed battery has 18 modules with greater capacity than the worst of the working 2009 pack.

    DSC00174.JPG


    This is a failed 2005 with 300K. It has 21 modules with higher capacity than the worst of the working 2009 pack. I wonder how much abuse would be needed to send the module with 1872 mAh capacity over the edge.


    DSC00175.JPG

    Before your pack failed it looked like the last two pictured. It takes just one bad cell in on module to cause the symptoms you saw. There were still many modules with usable capacity.

    It takes a 1.2 volt difference to light the Jackpot triangle. In the Gen I repair manual pack replacement is recommended at .3 volt difference in a swing test. I have not been able to find the swing test in the Gen II manual. When you were having drivability issues your car was certainly past the point of the official replacement recommendation. So I agree that it should qualify for replacement at that point. If you brought a Prius in that condition out of warranty Toyota would be happy to sell you a new battery.

    Weeks ago you were just one 30 mile drive from having the warranty expire. Letting the car sit was just enough of a push to send your battery over the edge.

    Congratulations!
     
    JC91006 likes this.
  3. HGS

    HGS Member

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    Can a battery be disassembled, tested and reassembled without Toyota dealers being able to tell?
     
  4. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

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    I rebuild batteries. I could tell. One tough spot would be a piece of tape over the small cover for the high voltage connections. But many of the tapes have been broken long ago. Who knows how close they would look.

    How about painters tape over the battery fan intake vent? Painters tape does not leave residue behind.

    Darn ethics.:(
     
  5. HGS

    HGS Member

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    With my luck, I would try to ruin my battery and it would fail after 100K.
     
  6. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Sweet, well played!
     
  7. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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    Kidding me would be: ODO at 149,999miles, and you pushing the car into the dealership (more dramatic), to avoid 150,000miles.

    Good for you. Hope I hit the Prius Lotto too.

    Enjoy the "reset."
     
    #27 exstudent, Sep 3, 2015
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2015