Power loss, High Engine RPMs, Turtle Help!!!

Actually, you have a generation 0.

That's the model with the "D" cell battery-pack rather than the prismatic module that was introduced with generation 1.

10 years is a long duration for that type. They had thermal limitations. So... the impression is that replacement is now required. Not the best news, but that's better than not having any idea what you're dealing with.

Good luck!
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I agree that it sounds like the traction battery (not the 12V) has died.

If you are concerned about the 12V battery, measure voltage across the battery terminals when the car is READY. Should be ~13.8V or so.

Is your model NHW10 or NHW11?

 

That's a North American conceit. The 1997-2000 Prius is indeed referred to as a first generation vehicle in most of the markets where it can be found, including England, where the original poster apparently resides.

Nomenclature varies a bit, but "Mk1" appears to be the most common descriptor.

 

I would recommend joining the Yahoo group for Mk1 Prius. You can find it fairly quickly with a web search.

While the traction battery is a concern in these vehicles as they age, you'll be able to get fairly specific information on diagnosis on the aforementioned forum. That way, you'll run less risk of misdiagnosis.

There are a few folks in the UK, as I recall, who have an aftermarket scanner that can read Mk1 codes. The code structure is completely different than OBD code structure.

PriusChat is pretty North America-centric, and few folks on this forum have even seen a 1997-2000 Prius, much less understand its operation.

 

I would recommend joining the Yahoo Group, Mk1_Prius:

Mk1_Prius : Mk1 Prius (Japanese export) global owners group.

They have a lot of expertise with your car and you can find other UK owners of similar cars.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

No, it's a compromise.

I was among those who fought intensely to increment the number from 1 in the first place. Sadly, some fell for the greenwashing and combined the two into one... allowing those wanting to undermine by misrepresenting Prius design.

What would you call it?

Remember, many programming languages start counts at 0 anyway, not 1. Again, the point is to prevent combining.
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What's to understand? I was under the impression it was the exact same car as a 2001-2003 Prius except had a smaller engine, and used a different battery pack.

Wouldn't that battery pack be an advantage in some ways? Since they are more off-the-shelf style of cell, wouldn't it be easier to find replacements without going though Toyota?

 

Actually there are many detail differences between NHW10 vs. NHW11:
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius"]Toyota Prius - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

As jk previously pointed out, one in particular is that NHW10 does not produce DTC that is readable using an OBD-II code reader. It uses some obscure Japanese standard instead. Of course, all instrumentation is in Japanese since it was intended only for the JDM.

It won't be cheap to buy 240 1.2V NiMH D-cell size batteries. Probably sell for $7-$8 each. Also, the reliability of those batteries is questionable.

So with NHW11, where you can potentially install salvage 2G battery modules which appear to offer a long service life, you have a better solution to the battery replacement problem.

 

I'm well aware that some folks in North America refer to the vehicle as a Generation 0. That's why I pointed out - correctly - that it's a predominantly North American term.

However, this person was writing for help with their vehicle. And the most common term for that vehicle among the community of enthusiasts who work to keep them alive in countries where they are not supported is Mk1. Knowing this will help the original poster serach for help more effectively.

Many if not most of those enthusiasts reside in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, although a few vehicles have made it to Canada. The original poster needs to know that to search effectively for information. That's why I directed the person to the online group that has the most experience with these vehicles. They refer to it as Mk1.

It's a 1997-2000 Toyota Prius, model code NHW10. I don't need to make up a name for it. But if other folks want to, it doesn't bother me.

 

you are showing signs of the fact that one or more of the main battery modules has dropped very low and out of balance, down too bellow the minimum of 10% of the voltage range, and the hybrid ECU is asking for the ICE (petrol engine) to genorate a high level of its power into electricity to boost it back up again. Instead of using that power as driving force.
basiclly the main battery brobably wants an Equilization charge "baddly". Contact me directly if you still have the car, i can probably sort it out for you, Using the proper equipent for the job. Takes about 4 hours for the service including the battery EQ charge.
P.S I own 2x NHW10 cars.