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Multiple replacement of 2007 hybrid battery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Fatherof2, May 19, 2020.

  1. Fatherof2

    Fatherof2 New Member

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    Hi everyone,
    I'm hoping someone can shed light on my problem. My question is, if i have replaced the hybrid battery multiple times, can it mean something else is wrong which is causing the hybrid battery to fail?

    The background is this: I bought a 2007 Prius in 2017 with 125k miles. I've put about 40k miles on it. I bought it from a small used dealership that specializes in hybrids. The dealer/owner (no longer in business) put in a new hybrid battery before he sold it to me. The car ran fine as a car, but not as a hybrid (i average 34-37MPG, and the engine is almost always running even while coasting downhill or driving in a parking lot).

    Last July, the red triangle came on and sure enough i needed to replace the hybrid battery. I found a guy that was affordable and would drive to my home and had a 2 year warranty. He has been in business since 2012. He came out, hybrid battery was replaced and the car drove like normal.

    In early March the code came back on. The warranty was honored, but i had to drive 70 miles to his shop to get another battery.

    The battery worked well for about 6 weeks, until my wife left the lights on and killed the 12V. After the car was jumped, it drove fine for 3 days before the red triangle came on again. I drove back to the mechanic yesterday and i also had him replace the 12V and hybrid fan (based on forums I read on this site). I had driven about 60 miles before the red triangle came on AGAIN.

    I know it's not a faulty sensor, because it went into limp mode both times I drove it to the shop. I know it's possible the batteries that were installed could be bad. But, the OEM hybrid battery lasted 10 years, the used car dealer's battery lasted 2 years, the next battery lasted 8 months, the battery after that lasted 6 weeks, and the current battery lasted 1 hour. It really makes me think something else might be wrong. Oh, and as far as the low MPG, I read forums on this site on how to boost MPG and got the average to increase from 34-37 to 37-40.
     
    #1 Fatherof2, May 19, 2020
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Seems like you never actually got a 'BRAND NEW BATTERY'. All you've been getting were rebuilt/module swapped batteries.

    Yes you can have multiple failures over and over again if you've only gotten used rebuilt batteries installed.

    A used car dealer will most likely give you a rebuilt battery vs a new battery that would cost him $1500+. His profit depends on not giving up $1500+
     
    #2 JC91006, May 20, 2020
    SFO likes this.
  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    If you like the vehicle, put a new OEM battery in it for 1600+. California is a fairly large, which metroplex are you near?
     
    #3 SFO, May 20, 2020
  4. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    You're playing whack-a-mole with the battery. Welcome to the exact reason why used batteries are not worth anything except if you're going to dump it on some other unsuspecting fool (like the used car dealership did to you). If you want to keep the car, replace it with a new pack. If you don't want to keep the car or put $1600 to $2500 into it, junk it now and buy something else.
     
    #4 2k1Toaster, May 20, 2020
  5. Fatherof2

    Fatherof2 New Member

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    Thanks everyone. Yes I doubt I got a new hybrid... especially since I bought the car for $5,500.

    SFO, I live in Riverside County; about an hour from San Diego, Orange County, and San Bernardino County.
     
    #5 Fatherof2, May 21, 2020
  6. Fatherof2

    Fatherof2 New Member

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    Also, I've heard a lot about Greentec. There is a location near me and they are selling a "Hybrid Battery Pack with BRAND NEW CELLS". Does that count as a new hybrid battery, or should I look for something else?
     
    #6 Fatherof2, May 21, 2020
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how much are they charging?
     
    #7 bisco, May 21, 2020
  8. Fatherof2

    Fatherof2 New Member

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    $1650
     
    #8 Fatherof2, May 21, 2020
  9. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Don't know enough about their 'new' product or if the claimed capacity is verified in any way, which would push me towards the longevity of a new OEM from the dealership or a similar offering from @2k1Toaster at NewPriusBatteries (there could be supply delays with this option).

    What are your thoughts on DIY installation of the HV battery, or would you need someone else for that?
     
    #9 SFO, May 21, 2020
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  10. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    I have tested the CEBA modules they are using. They are "brand new 8.5Ah modules" and they look really shiny. Put to the test, they fail. Capacity is less than half as advertised when I run through my tests. My modules are labeled at 6.5Ah and test at 6.5Ah. Some rando on Youtube even qual'd them at 6.4Ah with his basic equipment on a first pass.

    Also keep in mind higher capacity means lower life. You don't get capacity for free. It's a trade-off between life and capacity.

    We have an installer in SFO area (he does 2 hours around SFO) if you don't want to do it yourself.
     
    #10 2k1Toaster, May 21, 2020
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you called around for dealer pricing?
     
    #11 bisco, May 21, 2020
  12. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Looks like the OP lives in the SoCal area.

    Could you please expound just a tad on the capacity/longevity trade-off.
     
    #12 SFO, May 21, 2020
  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    WELL first of all, if the engine was almost always running, amd you were only averaging 34-37 MPG, the vehicle was NOT running fine. These are Hybrids, HSD, Hybrid Synergy Drive, they are not designed to be either running on ICE or a Hybrid. If it's not running as Hybrid, it's not running fine.

    Then I have to ask, when you say "Normal" is that Normal with the engine running all the time? Or Normal with it running as a Hybrid?

    Plus when these Red Triangle of Death are appearing? Are you actually retrieving the codes?
    If something else is wrong, knowing exactly what codes you are getting might help track down the problem.
     
    #13 The Electric Me, May 21, 2020
  14. Berch1943

    Berch1943 Member

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    There's your problem right there.
     
    #14 Berch1943, May 21, 2020
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