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

Bad HV Battery? Or bad fan?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by koukilights, Jul 6, 2018.

  1. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    So I'm getting the P0A80 CEL every now and then. Sometimes twice a day, sometimes not for a few days. I have typical bad HV battery symptoms.....except when it's cooler outside.

    On a hot 90 degree day with the AC blasting and driving around, all the symptoms show their ugly head. But last night it had rained and it was around 55 or 60 degrees and it almost seemed like my car was normal again.

    My battery temps were back down to the 110-118 degree range (usually they're 125ish), my mpg's were going back up, my pedal response was a lot better.

    What do you think? Bad batteries causing excessive heat and cooler weather helps cool them off better? Or a bad fan that isn't flowing enough air to keep batteries cool, and the cooler weather just assisted in cooling them off?
     
    #1 koukilights, Jul 6, 2018
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,318
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Is the fan clean? A dirty fan can cause the battery pack to run hot. I assume you are running your Air Conditioning at a comfortable temperature when it is hot outside.
     
    #2 Prodigyplace, Jul 6, 2018
  3. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes, fan is clean. I just checked it a few days ago. Bit of dust build up but nothing that would impede it's performance. Hell, I see dirtier fans than mine being sold on ebay.

    I run the AC on auto mode and keep it at about 70 degrees most of the time.
     
    #3 koukilights, Jul 6, 2018
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,602
    3,778
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Yes heat stresses a battery more but there are additional codes for heat related issues. How are you reading the codes? Some apps allow fan testing and/or monitoring of fan speeds. The P0A80 code is for a failed/weak battery.
     
    #4 fotomoto, Jul 6, 2018
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    2005 Prius, I'm just going with early symptom of dying Hybrid Battery.
     
    #5 The Electric Me, Jul 6, 2018
  6. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,324
    3,591
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I do think PA080 in rare cases sometimes is due to clogged cooling fan causing overheat. But you are saying fan is clean, so probabilities are going down further.
     
    #6 wjtracy, Jul 6, 2018
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,873
    49,466
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    can you hear the fan speed increase when you are driving and the light comes on? maybe it isn't operating properly. certainly worth testing before replacing the battery.
     
    #7 bisco, Jul 6, 2018
  8. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, 2005 Prius with 190k miles. I know the batteries are probably at the end of their life, 13 years is quite a long time.

    I'm monitoring temperatures and scanning codes with torque pro and a bluetooth adapter

    I haven't noticed a correlation with fan speed and the CEL but I do hear the fan blowing at full blast sometimes and other times it's quiet and not blowing.
     
    #8 koukilights, Jul 6, 2018
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,873
    49,466
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that would tell me it is working properly.
     
    #9 bisco, Jul 6, 2018
  10. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2016
    1,932
    767
    0
    Location:
    Lagos
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ...working properly, and battery pack already on its way south too!
     
    #10 Dxta, Jul 6, 2018
  11. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    RIP battery pack lol...damn
     
    #11 koukilights, Jul 6, 2018
  12. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,318
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    If you are DIY you may want ot consider a kit of new cells from @2k1Toaster here for $1600 shipped. The website link is in my signature,
     
    #12 Prodigyplace, Jul 6, 2018
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,482
    8,399
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If the fan is causing cooling issues, it would have a code of its own. What you have is a battery code, need replacement
     
    #13 JC91006, Jul 6, 2018
  14. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah, I've seen those replacement batteries by that guy. I'll consider it. I looked into it a few months ago and he never seemed to have any in stock.

    Yeah, that's what I figured, a bad fan would throw a fan code. I'll go ahead and look into a replacement battery pack
     
    #14 koukilights, Jul 6, 2018
  15. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2016
    11,696
    11,318
    0
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    He has trouble keeping them in stock. Sometimes @TMR-JWAP here has battery packs available
     
    #15 Prodigyplace, Jul 6, 2018
  16. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I would caveat my own advice by saying obviously I'm guessing. But since the thread asked in a binary fashion, Bad Battery or Bad Fan, I'm placing my bet on "Bad Battery". But it is only a guess.
     
    #16 The Electric Me, Jul 6, 2018
  17. koukilights

    koukilights Junior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    60
    18
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That's what I was thinking too, just wanted to get a few more ideas going or confirmation of my suspicions
     
    #17 koukilights, Jul 7, 2018
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  18. strawbrad

    strawbrad http://minnesotahybridbatteries.com

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    953
    999
    0
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    II

    Install the free apps Hybrid Assistant and Hybrid Reporter. You already have the bluetooth adapter needed to run the apps.

    These apps will show exactly what is going on inside your battery.

    Brad
     
    #18 strawbrad, Jul 9, 2018
    Prodigyplace likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)