1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius Complete Shutdown (Almost)

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by longtimetoyota917, Aug 23, 2016.

  1. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    why charge the 12v, I thought we had ruled this out?
     
  2. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Ok let me try again. Thank you again everyone.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Since you've actually taken a drive, I'm thinking it's not your battery right now. But do the test again and see.

    Next step....read the codes
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    jc knows way more than me, but i was under the impression that a low 12v can cause phantom problems.
     
  5. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Ok, so I ran the test instructed above and after leaving the car in accessory mode the red triangle came on, I was able to press the foot break and power button and turn the car on with the red triangle on.

    Should I avoid starting my car unless to diagnose this problem to prevent further damage to the HV battery?
     
    #25 longtimetoyota917, Aug 25, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 25, 2016
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    so that means you have a leak in the HV battery. You probably have a leaking module......which isn't that hard to fix

    You can't really damage it anymore. If there's a leak, that module would need to be replaced.

    Has the hv battery ever been replaced before? is it a rebuilt battery?
     
    #26 JC91006, Aug 25, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 25, 2016
  7. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Well great that is very great news! So what would you guys suggest to do from here if you were in my position. Is it unsafe to drive the car?
     
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If this is your car....fix it. If the car does not belong to you.....give it back lol
     
  9. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    the battery has never been replaced or rebuilt to my knowledge, How much do you think it will cost to fix the module assuming its this? and can this be confirmed by reading the codes on the car? Giving back the car is not an option at this point as it is what I'm relying on for a daily driver, and he also gave me an amazing price on the car, I don't mind fixing it as I knew it would have some kind of issue with 180k miles on it, but more than anything I need a car i can Rely on and not end up towing in circles while waiting to get it fixed and being on foot so (figuring out) the problem is more than half the issue at this point. Thank you guys so much regardless of being able to fix this. Really feel like I'm learning more about this car than any other car I've owned!
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    sent you a PM
     
  11. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,479
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Stay pragmatic, the hybrid battery is the big boy, and repair or replacement is not trivial, can get expensive.
     
  13. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Hey guys, thanks for all the help first and foremost! Secondly so heres an update on the car: So since yesterday the car has sat overnight and turned on without any codes but if i leave the car in ready mode the red triangle comes on (atleast have tried retesting once) and Im wondering how immediately I need to change the battery and also that we're 100% sure its the battery and if theres anything else I should be testing for before i pay for it to be exchanged. I have read many many stores on refurbished/rebuilt batteries going bad within the first 6 months. Are we 100% sure its the battery/is an immediate battery swap is necessary or is there no way to tell really?
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no, not sure. have you had a dealer look at it? i would want a definitive code before dropping several thousands of dollars.
     
    #34 bisco, Aug 26, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2016
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  15. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Hi guys so heres an update with two questions. The car has been continuing to function using the method of disconnecting and reconnecting the 12v every time I shut off the car, but Im wondering if this is causes further damage to the battery and I should not operate the car at all until getting this fixed.

    And to the second question, i have pretty much rounded up 2 options outside of getting a new battery for the toyota dealership and 1 possible option: get a reconditioned battery, or have the 1 or 2 (more than likely) bad cells in my battery replaced out. I found an option of a reconditioned/rebuilt batteries for $400/$500 and the cell swaps for $200-$300, where I have the option to keep my original battery. Pros and cons of each?

    Also heard multiple things about Battery balancing, the majority of the battery mechanics I spoke to said it is not something Toyota does and is not necessary but have read in a couple independent articles in can help prolong the life of your current battery. Any thoughts from the battery experts? Thank you everyone.
     
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    To answer your questions

    1. Yes you can "potentially" do more damage because the reason the car won't start more than 1 time per reset, it's a safety mechanism Toyota put in place. In bypassing this safety mechanism, you are risking further damage to your car's system.

    2. If you are out to save money and don't really care about a long lasting repair. You can do a module swap and cross your fingers. Your car will probably run after replacing failed modules but nobody can tell you how long that type of repair will last. Could be 1 day, could be 1 year.

    3. Balancing of the battery is essential in getting a lasting repair. Imagine a flash light that takes 4 batteries and you put in 4 different batteries of unknown condition and capacity. That will probably not last that long. This goes for the replacement modules without balancing the pack.
     
  17. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Hey guys, so here is an update. I had my family mechanic run the codes and he pulled up a P0AA6 code which he said (and I also google'd) can be caused by many electrical issues including the HV battery a leaking battery module (as JC mentioned earlier). I also spoke to the person who I received the car from and he told me when he had the battery tested about a year ago it had a weak module but that the battery was good for the time being. (I was somewhat aware of this but not the full details) Now being aware of everything is there a step I can take to make 100% sure its the battery before changing it. (my only reliable option seems a brand new toyota battery for well over 2k+ (which is almost the cost of what this car is worth) or unreliable options as low as $500 thinking of looking for a new car), and wouldn't a leaking cell not indicate a whole bad battery so maybe in this situation a battery cell swap from a certified expert can be a good cost effective solution? Any opinion from battery experts would be much appreciated. Thank you everyone.
     
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,464
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Starting from post #17, you've tested the car and it's in the battery
     
  19. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    The battery is composed of 28 modules hooked together in a series. Think of it as a chain with 28 links. If any one of those breaks, the chain is broken. Finding the weak link and replacing it with another makes it whole again but any one of those old links can (and eventually will) break too.

    A repaired or used battery is only as good as the warranty and the person/business standing behind it.
     
  20. longtimetoyota917

    longtimetoyota917 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2016
    29
    3
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    So i guess the only way to have any kind of certainty in this situation is to pay for it :-(. Wish there was some kind of reliable fix- isn't there a way to test a replacement battery to see if its good, or test all 28 modules and be sure to replace the weak ones so it stays reliable for atleast a couple of years. The new battery is a great option but i don't think is for me because honestly i would be happy just getting 2 more years out of this car, but the uncertainty of breaking down at any minute unless i buy the brand new battery from toyota kind of motivates me to sell it.