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

Drive battery discharges over 7 days of no use

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017.

  1. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    29
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I have an 05 Prius with 75K miles and for the last 18 months or so am developing a problem where the traction battery discharges when I don't use the car. I live at the bottom of a hill that is just long enough to run the battery up to the full 8 bars on the charge indicator when I park the car. This morning after sitting for 6 days I only had 2 bars of charge. A year ago it took 2-3 weeks for this level of discharge. The battery will come back up to charge when I run the car so it's not an issue with charging. It acts like there could be a small drain on the battery or perhaps the battery is failing?
    Can anyone offer advise on how to troubleshoot this or offer insight on how to proceed?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    more like ly just due to age. you would need tech stream to read the battery under load. another option is grid charging with a pro long charger from the prius chat shoppe.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Your HV battery is showing its age; prepare for the inevitable.
     
  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    edthefox5 and Raytheeagle like this.
  5. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    29
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yeah, my sense is the battery is failing.
    A couple things: Are reconditioned batteries worthwhile? They are certainly cheaper but if I intend to keep the car for another 5 years or so are they worth it? Also, I'm reading that the battery is cooled by air from the cabin and this system can get loaded up. I often have my big, hairy dogs in the car and there is often hair swirling around the cabin. I'm wondering if dog hair could be impeding the airflow. to the battery? Is there an easy way to check/clean? If I'm going to invest in something like the Prolong charger I want to be sure that I don't have this issue.
    Is a Toyota dealer the only source of new batteries?
    Thanks for all the advice.
     
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Yes, yes, yes PLEASE clean the battery fan ASAP!!!!

    5 years? Only real option is to get a new Toyota battery. $2500-4,000
     
    edthefox5 and Raytheeagle like this.
  7. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2006
    316
    127
    0
    Location:
    Houston, Tx.
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Here is a video how to for cleaning the fan.




    2006 Gen 2
    2014 Gen 3 v wagon
     
    #7 hchu1, Jul 29, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2017
    Raytheeagle and bisco like this.
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    would you diy the battery swap?
     
  9. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    29
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Ok, did the fan cleaning. It was dirty but not blacked at all. But now I get the red triangle when I try to run the car. Electrically all I disconnected was the traction battery and the fan. The display just says "problem". Do I need to disconnect the 12V battery to reset the system?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    check the orange safety switch. you have to slide it after locking it down. there's a youtube video...
     
    kenoarto and Raytheeagle like this.
  12. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2013
    29
    7
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I had to both finish locking the orange safety switch then reset the 12V system to clear the problem.

    Thanks, guys.
     
    kenoarto and bisco like this.
  13. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Fussy little things aren't they.
     
  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Why did you pull the hybrid battery orange interlock?
     
  15. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Better safe than sorry???
     
  16. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2017
    68
    37
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Yeah you don't wanna mess with that stuff. Source: I just finished my hybrid training at the Toyota training center.


    iPhone ?
     
  17. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,409
    395
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Many reports of successes and failures with used/refurbished batteries. It's a crapshoot and they range in price from $500-$2000. Some guys will come to your house! Brand new Toyota batteries can be purchased Toyota dealers for as low as $2000. You can choose to DIY, find an independent mechanic, or have a dealership do the work. Alas, even with a genuine, new Toyota battery, the best warranty is only 3 years.
     
    bisco likes this.
  18. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2017
    68
    37
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    We charge about around $400 to swap. I wouldn't risk DIY. I mean in training, they tell you if you see someone being electrocuted by a hybrid battery, that we aren't supposed to do anything to help, because they are already gone.


    iPhone ?
     
    bisco and kenoarto like this.
  19. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2006
    1,409
    395
    0
    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II
    What are the prices of your batteries?
    What is your warranty?
     
  20. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 16, 2017
    68
    37
    0
    Location:
    Baltimore, Maryland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I'm not exactly sure about the warranty. I can check tomorrow. I don't think it's that great though.


    iPhone ?