Hybrid High Voltage Battery Problem

The HV Battery is compatible from 2004 to 2009.

 

G'day Tyming,

I think a lot of us on Prius Chat will be interested in your experience -- tell us a bit about how it failed (any early warning, scan codes etc), how many miles / kM on the clock, any rear-end accidents? Did the IC engine keep you going after the battery "failed", at least for a while?

How much will a new or reconditioned battery cost in Cambodia? Will you try fitting it yourself?

Good luck in the project - please keep posting.

 

Just for fun I would try charging the 12V battery first OR replacing it: Then see what your symptoms are. Things may improve and it is much cheaper than immediatelly delving into the high voltage battery.:target:

 

If the HV battery has been sat for a long time - whilst waiting for shipping in the US, during shipping and then whilst being repaired in Cambodia - it could very well have lost charge. It is feasible that the car could have been stood for 6 - 10 months?

It is my understanding that if the HV battery is too low to start the engine then it needs to be charged by Toyota or their dealers/agents using special equipment.

 

Yeah it sounds like it needs a charge, not a replace...of course nobody knows its condition.

Price the charge and weigh the cost vs risk.

 

You can remove the battery, carefully disconnect the front bus bars (makes the battery safe by isolating the modules in pairs), and use a module recharger/balancer to charge, balance and test each of the 28 modules. Then carefully discharge each module using a 10ohm-10watt resistor and a digital voltmeter to 80% SOC (7.8v). Then reattach the bus bars (carefully - there be high voltages) and reinstall. If any of the modules have low capacity or failed cells, replace them with modules that have gone through the same procedure. (note: a module must be in a pressure clamp while being charged or it will burst. The battery assembly does have all 28 modules clamped)

I used a Supermate DC6 (low-cost ~$30 US but needs a 12v supply) to do this on my modules (set the parameters to 5a charge, 7250 mah limit) but it takes 32 hours to do a 3-cycle discharge/charge rebalancing per module so it takes a while to do 28 modules. You can run up to 14 simultaneously (every other module - run a fan to control heat) if you are willing to spend the money for the equipment.

Good luck.

JeffD

 

A very interesting post, certainly good info for the DIY.

 

Let us all know if you get it working again and post some pictures if you're able

 

So, how did the 12V Battery charge or replacement go? This battery is responsible for many quirky behaviors including, not being able to go to ready, to run the ICE, to charge the HV Battery. etc. :yo:

 

Hi Tyming, congratulations on your Prius. As GrumpyCabbie said: your car has been stored after the collision, during the storage BOTH batteries (HV battery and small 12V auxiliary battery) has both discharged. During the shipping and delivery the battery has discharged even more.
andyprius has really good idea to charge -or- replace 12V small auxiliary battery. Coincidentially the small 12V battery is also in the rear of the car (in the boot on the right side under the plastic/carper cover)

Below is very usefull link to Prius Repai r ma nual.

For all future repairs and you could share these with your friends who will repair your car, I recommend you to download the Technical Documentation from this link:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ownloadable-toyota-prius-repair-manual-2.html

it will be help for you to maintain your Prius.

Please charge or replace small 12V battery and let us know how Car behave.

Wait with replacement of HV battery until you do some testess as it may not need to be replaced.

 

Could you please provide link to order this item (recharger/balancer) from US to Cambodia?

What sort of 12v supply does it require? would simple converter from Mains 110v/ 220v/230v to 12v suffice?

It look's like $30 it's not too expensive and it's worth trying this equipment!

Perhaps Tyming could order this item or some forum member in US could accept delivery to US address and forward it via courier/registered mail to Tyming in Cambodia.

That way Tyming could charge his HV battery for less than 80$ ($30 + $50 shipping).

Makes sense?

 

Great, does the car drive well now?

It's always great to be present while mechanics works on your car and take some educational pictures and post here for us to share them.

Was that the large flat HV battery that was replaced or did mechanic just replace that small 12v auxiliary battery in the right hand corner of the car.

Remember: this car has two batteries.