Advice on replacing Gen1 battery

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Now the following codes (and only these codes according to the dealer) are displaying and indicating faults in the main battery: P3006 and P3000

The P3006 means one or more of the 19 module pairs is off by 0.3 V from the rest. The dealer should be able to give you a list of all 19 module pair voltages. This is key to understanding if there is failed cell versus a weak one. A failed cell will be off by 1.2V or more. A weak one will be less than that.

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1) does anyone know any Prius savvy mechanics in the Vermont/NH area? I live in zip code 05143. If I don't find a local place to take it I will probably use a mechanic I know in NY state.

Call these people who do hybrid training. Fortunately there are some very skilled Prius people in that neck of the woods. Jeffery would be my 'go to' guy in this forum for advice.

2) In either situation in your estimation would it be best to have my car towed to the mechanic? If it goes to NY - it is about a 160 mile drive. Can I at least drive it home from the dealer ( about 30 miles)

Folks have abused these batteries in the past for months so you are likely to be OK but I'm not driving up from Huntsville to give you a lift and a tow (remember this is the Internet.) If you had a Scangauge II or other Prius aware scanner, we could go over how to read out the battery health and how to avoid the problem ("Heat is the enemy.") If the dealer can give you the module voltages, folks here can give an informed opinion.

3) The dealer did ask me if I wanted them to remove the part they just installed but I am of the mind to keep it (just in case) - do you think that is the wisest choice?

This is a hard one to answer as we don't know what they saw before. Ask for the 19 module voltages and see if that triggers a more professional response. Also, ask them if they can do a 15 minute test drive and then read out the four battery temperature values, 19 module voltages, and whether the battery cooling fan came on.

It sounds as if the car is 'far away' from your home. My thinking is if one module is bad, 1.2V lower than the others, I would probably risk driving home. But if more than one looks bad, I would be concerned that something worse might happen. We haven't had many reports of folks 'stranded' with bad batteries so we don't know exactly what cause the last fault.

A bad battery runs hot and it transfer some of its heat to the neighboring modules (there are 38 in 19 pairs.) So the bad module proceeds to cook the neighbors. But we know some folks have driven months without a problem.

Going back to the deal question about the part, if you can't get a more professional answer, my thinking is get that car away from them. But if they bring in their "A" team . . . and you can afford being apart . . . I would let them impress me. Sometimes a customer who asks the right technical questions gets better service than a lay-person. <grins>

Be sure and keep the original parts, if you decide to go that way, as you can offer them on Ebay. But they are also negotiable items for a better repair.

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GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

I forgot to include this link:
Auto Careers Development Center - Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair Training

Their web pages lists different independent shops they have trained. But it is best to give them a call as their web page is not always current.

Bob Wilson

 

Kari--
I live in the west central Lake Champlain Valley. Did you ever find a local mechanic to help with these problems? Did you contact that training center in Worcester and were they helpful making a referral? And, lastly, what was the outcome for you and is the any advice you'd offer for someone likely facing the same problems? Thanks for whatever help you can give me. Don Peabody

 

If anyone else gets told by the dealer they need battery computer/ECU return it if you can. They almost never fail and used ones are plenty cheap if you truly need it.

Mike Powers in Greenfield MA (just south of Brattleboro VT) is a good independent Prius repair guy that knows what he is doing. He is semi retired working from his home so his rates are very fair. (and he didn't pay $60k to be a franchisee in "The Hybrid Shop")

I highly recommend him. [email protected]