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Got a Prius for free, looking for some advice. Have some DrPrius info.

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Helgaiden, Mar 23, 2022.

  1. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    So my brother in-law stopped driving his 2001 Prius that was bought from the original owner who took very good care of it and was well maintained. However, my brother in-law only had a 10-15 minute drive to work part time, so the car would sit for days at a time and when it would get driven, it wouldn't be for very long. Eventually, the car needed to be jump started to go anywhere and jump started even after immediately turning it off. He replaced the 12v, and it was okay again for a bit but then it all started happening again at which point he parked the car, got a different one, and let this one sit. Been sitting for maybe a year and a half.

    Fast forward to now and gas prices are killing me. I ask him about the Prius and he tells me to take it. I get it towed home then get suspicious about the 12v battery issues because I really started to think about how he drove the car. Bought a new 12v battery and put it in, and it started right up. This was expected at least, according to him. Its been a few days, no issues, but have been driving it for 30ish mins the last few days. Starts and drives fine. However, given the amount of tie it sat, i expecting the HV battery to be bad. I don't know if i've driven it enough for the battery to report any issues or anything so I'm kind of at a loss at the moment. Wanted to get the car diagnosed for any issues but the mechanics have been telling me to drive it more since I only swapped the 12v battery out a few days ago.

    That aside, I got PanLong OBDII adapter and download DrPrius and to my surprise, driving it around today reported battery voltage around 300v and blade voltage around 8v...and capacity at around 65%. Driving it around, I got it up to 71.50% capacity. Later on in the evening i drove it some more and it got down to 60% then got it back up to 69% before bringing it back into the garage. I wonder if the HV battery pack is still good? Crossing my fingers.

    Here's some screenshots of DrPrius as I was beginning, driving, and ending earlier today


    Here is a video link to the same session while driving


    And lastly...it has a deep whirring noise coming from the rear somewhere that I'm not sure what it is. Speeds and slows down with acceleration and deceleration so I feel like it might be a wheel bearing? Have had two family members way better with vehicles than I am listen and they didn't think it was a wheel bearing though. I verified it isn't the front wheels but jacking the fronts up and spinning/shaking the wheels. Solid as a rock, no noise. Didn't get a chance to check the rears while I had access to a floor jack though. I can record the noise to post if it helps but maybe some of y'all might be familiar.

    Any feedback on any of that? Thanks in advance you guys.

    If the battery checks out, I plan on doing a full fluids exchange and tune up and all that to bring it back tip top shape. Here's to hoping.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!
    if the battery was bad, you wouldn't be driving it. i can't tell you how long it will last, but it is pretty amazing that it isn't bad after sitting that long. i wonder if it is really 20 years old, or replaced more recently.
    plan on plenty of problems down the road, gen 1 prius are not for the faint hearted.

    other than that, just drive and enjoy!
     
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  3. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    Thanks! Well that's certainly interesting. Hopefully once I leave it at a local hybrid repair shop they can maybe pull some info to give some kind of possible health rating or life expectancy remaining on the battery. What kind of problems down the road should I be expecting? Well...aside from the HV battery I guess.
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Nothing to it you'll buy a gen One battery pack one time comes to keep her on the road or maybe you won't you'll have a gen too that he want to put more on the road or something who knows but it's a great little car and certainly worth the 14 1500 for a brand new battery to go another well maybe 20 years that's a daily cost of not even worth the discussion seems like
     
  5. Wrecit

    Wrecit Active Member

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    Ok I see you are in so cal. It's a gen 1 and not worth doing anything with it. I will on my own dime fly out from Pittsburgh Pa and take it off your hands lol. Loved my gen 1 and would kill for another one that rockers were not shot.
     
  6. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    Having absolutely no rust anywhere or any kind of wear and tear like that is definitely nice haha. The biggest issue with the car is the clear coat peeling because of...too much sun. (y)


    Here are some photos of the car actually

     
  7. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    If that car sat for over a year, yet fired right up after installation of a new 12v battery, then that hybrid battery is in amazing condition. I would say it's unheard of for an original 2001 battery. Tells me it's very likely a newer HV battery. A brand new HV battery can sit on the shelf for 2+ years and still fire up. Not recommended, but it can do it. You may have a gem, that just wont shine until it's driven consistently.

    Put that VIN into toyotacarowners.com and get the maintenance history. You may be surprised if the original owners really kept it up.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  9. ammdb

    ammdb Active Member

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    That's the real wheel bearings. Changed mine recently, and this post was helpful. rear-hub-removal.68560
     
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  10. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    I really do hope its a gem, thats for sure. I tried going to that website but nothing comes up. Typo maybe? Curious about that.
     
  11. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    Googled around regarding finding repair history online and landed on the owners page of the toyota website. It looks like this thing was regularly serviced at a dealer most of its life. Some relevant info i found:

    11/2016 at 152,722 miles: MISCELLANEOUS BRAKES - REPAIR. BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY IS MAKING NOISE.
    RECOMMEND REPLACE ACTUATOR ~|~ ~|~,CUSTOMER DECLINED SERVICE - CUSTOMER
    DECLINED, MISCELLANEOUS BRAKES - REPAIR. BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY IS MAKING NOISE.
    RECOMMEND REPLACE ACTUATOR

    Could this be contributing to the noise im hearing that might seemingly also be a bad wheel bearing?

    and then this...

    1/2014 at 139,087 miles: FRONT BRAKE JOB, INCLS. REFACING, W/O HARDWARE, R&R, FRONT STRUT ASSY, R&R, FRONT
    LOWER CONTROL ARM, R&R, FRONT DRIVE AXLE SHAFT C.V. BOOT, R&R, BATTERY, R&R,
    REPLACED BEZEL, FRONT STRUT ASSY, R&R, CUSTOMER DOES NOT WANT WORK DONE, BAD
    CELL IN BATTERY, REPLACED BATTERY
    , REFER TO LINE #5, REPLACED BEZEL, REPLACED BRAKE
    PADS. CUSTOMER DECLINED MACHINING ROTORS, REFER TO LINE #1, ADJUSTED TIRE PSI TO:
    FRT:35 REAR:33


    interestingggg
     
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  12. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Sorry, toyotaowners.com
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or toyota.com/owners
     
  14. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    You're correct about it being interesting. Makes you wonder if it was a 12v battery or HV battery. It's kind of slipped in there like it's no big deal. PO passed on machining rotors for probably a $100, but said sure throw a new HV battery in for 3k? Anything is possible, and I hope so!
     
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  15. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    Oh damn you're right. It says Bad Cell not Bad Module. If it said Bad Module I'd be more likely to think HV battery. Gonna have to run this by a Toyota dealership and see if maybe they can explain. Hmmm.

    Drove the car again around last night for another 30-ish mins. Battery went down to 59% then back up to 71% by the time I was done driving it around. Saw it peak at 73% but the little loop I drive around makes it difficult to really drive it specifically to charge well.
     
  16. ammdb

    ammdb Active Member

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    Really only need to worry about the HV pack once it starts setting battery related trouble codes. Under normal operation it rarely gets to 100%. Periodically the car will keep the gas engine on for extended periods to overcharge the battery, which is a way to balance the modules, but if this happens often it can be the first sign a module is starting to fail.
     
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  17. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    Interesting. Well hopefully I'm able to leave it at a hybrid repair shop tomorrow and they can give me an idea of the battery health in more detail.
     
  18. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You need to take the car out and drive it don't let it drive you like you know down Mulholland drive or I don't know where you are but somewhere where you can go this car is just been sitting most of it I guess life or whatever that's the worst thing for the Prius that can ever be that car needs to be on the road with an Uber driver or somebody delivering meals on wheels or something where the car is driven every day 75 to 200 mi won't bother it a bit my Gen 2 does this every day of the week including Sunday 75 to 200 miles just goofing off running service calls going to the store my truck and van and all that sit parked. Once in awhile I drive my 70 mpg Aprilia scarabeo scooter.
     
  19. Helgaiden

    Helgaiden Junior Member

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    I plan to make it my work day commuter. 30-50 minute drives each way to work (depending on traffic) 5 days a week. Maybe even just the "local traveling car" instead of my wife's car (2015 Camry 4cyl) or my diesel pickup (2.8 liter 4 cylinder diesel, the truck can get into the 30s mpg highway but diesel is just plain expensive regardless right now). It'll get driven plenty once I get it all sorted.
     
  20. AlexY

    AlexY Member

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    First sign of dying traction battery will be reduced "max charge" value, but it is reduced when battery is getting hot too. At end of trip check if it is still 30HP