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

Is the battery about to fail in my 05 Prius?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by caitnash, Mar 13, 2013.

  1. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I bought a used 2005 Toyota Prius back in August 2012. It had 99,000 miles on it then and now has 107,000 miles. Today a few warning lights came on, one being the check engine, VSC in yellow, (!) in yellow, and a large red triangle with an exclamation point inside. I checked the manual and beside most of the symbols listed all it said was "contact dealer". I called the dealer and they assured me that it was still okay to drive for a while until I could have someone look at it (the nearest dealer in 1 hour and 15 mins away). I took the car to an auto parts dealer who said they could run a test to find out why the check engine light was one, but that their computer couldn't tell me anything about the other lights. Their system showed a code (can't remember what one) and said "Replace Hybrid Battery Pack". I was scared to drive it, but did anyway. Everything seems to be working some what normally. When I'm driving, the battery charges and stays charged. The only change I've noticed is that when the car is running but parked, the battery seems to drain quickly. Going from being totally charged in bright green, to having 2 red bars. Once I start driving again though, everything is fine again. So I'll ask again, is my battery about to fail? This afternoon, all the warning lights went off and the car seems to be back to it's usual self. HELP!
     
    JMD likes this.
  2. sandman

    sandman Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2008
    277
    31
    0
    Location:
    kentucky
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Could be your 12volt battery, when they go they can set off all kinds of lights and alarms..
     
  3. Valencia Orange

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2007
    192
    80
    0
    Location:
    Valencia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I just had my hybrid battery changed. The car had 96000 miles. I had the same symbols show up.

    I live in California. The hybrid battery has a warranty for 10 years 150000 miles. Where are you located? Several states have the 150000 warranty. Many do not.

    PS. I changed the 12 volt battery one day before the symbols showed up.
     
  4. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I live in GA but bought the car in FL. I ran a test to check the 12v and it seems to be fine. I hope the warning lights don't come back in the morning. I'm going to take it to the dealer (not the same one I bought it from) tomorrow afternoon to have it looked at. Hopefully it's nothing major. If it's the Hybrid battery (which they quoted me at $3,200) I'm totally screwed. I do not have that kind of cash right now!!
     
    JMD likes this.
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    JMD likes this.
  6. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm a broke college student. $1500 is a whole lot of money when you don't have it. Much better than $3200, but still a lot. Plus I'd be buying that "as-is". I'd be worried that it would fail too.

    I have another question. If the hybrid battery totally dies, will the car still run?
     
  7. boppo

    boppo Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2009
    799
    138
    0
    Location:
    Owego, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
  8. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    No the Prius needs the battery to be operational. The 150,000 or 10 years warranty applies to where the car is registered not where you bought it.

    You need to find out if GA is a CARB state thus your battery is under covered under warranty.

    Th dealer can assist.

    You may be able to find a Salvage yard battery for $500 + labor to install.
     
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The HV Battery starts the engine. No battery, no start.
    I would map out how far it was to Sanford NC
    Our Installers
    Home Page
     
    JMD likes this.
  10. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    From what I originally posted, does it sound like it's failing? I went though the paperwork I have from buying the car and I found a Car-fax buy back guarantee which is good for 1 year after the purchase date. Does anyone know anything about that? I don't remember getting it from the dealer so I honestly have no idea where it came from. Should I just sell it back to them if I can? I'm afraid this car is going to end up being much more than my empty pockets can handle....
     
  11. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Based on your not even trying to test the (relatively) cheap 12 volt battery, I doubt we can ever diagnose what your problem really is.
     
  12. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I did test the 12v. It was fine.
     
  13. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I did a Quick search and it looks like Georgia is not a CARB state
     
  14. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,862
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I am impressed, step one was let it sit over night and you are done already! Makes those of us without a time machine jealous.
     
  15. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    That's too bad. Thank you though!
     
  16. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
  17. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Please keep us informed on the final outcome and what happens.

    Are you near Atlanta?
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The Re-Involt authorized installer list extends beyond what's currently listed on their site. Give them a call, let them know where you are. There's an installer in Seattle for example, just down the road from me ;)
     
  19. caitnash

    caitnash New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2013
    11
    2
    0
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No, I'm in South Ga. I read the thread you sent me and this part "I have been watching the MFD battery SOC bars and it has been acting differently since this problem. It is running a lot more in the highest green level than ever before and then it goes to the purple one bar mode and back up into the green area very quickly. I don't think the battery can change SOC that quick. It never was bouncing from one extreme to the next and recovering that fast." Is a lot like what my car is doing now. Which i thought was odd too sicne it's never done that before. That person susspects a wiring/corrosion issue.

     
  20. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four