2006 Prius suddenly developed really bad problems today, VSC, check engine, etc.

I tend to shy away from low mileage hybrids. If nothing else I would like to see them have at least some kind of maintenance grid charging done to keep the batteries a bit healthy from the lack of use.

 

This can be normal behavior when the HV battery is very full. If the car is forced to charge the battery beyond it's preferred maximum (by doing down a hill or doing regenerative breaking when the battery is already at full green bars) it will use the HV battery to run the electric motors and spin the ICE. This does not propel the car nor does it use gas, but it does consume energy from the HV battery. The car will do this until the excess HV battery energy is used up and the voltage is back in spec. Often this will happen as pulses. To the driver it seems like the engine is revving up and down several times.

 

Then put us out of our suspense and just take a quick look if the inverter coolant pumps is running or not. It takes about two minutes to do.

I posted some pictures of how to check it here: maintenance and repair in Anchorage AK | PriusChat

 

Get the codes. It will help identify how it failed and may provide other options.
Overheat.
out of balance
etc

 

Damn... I was sending positive vibes your way for a lesser problem but who knows- maybe Toyota will foot the bill and you'll be out nothing with a new battery! This might still have a silver lining after all...

 

Thanks for keeping us up to date on this.
I'm sure there are plenty of low-mileage hybrids that do just fine. My shop, and the forums just tend to hear about the ones that go bad.

 

There are other options if you are no longer covered by the battery warranty, and I think somebody might have reviewed already but if not, here goes:
Note: no labor price included

New battery from Toyota $2300 or so

Dorman battery: $1760

Rebuilt battery from various rebuilders: Around $875

Salvage yard battery from lower mile Gen2 Prius: $300- $800

 

Heres what I found, after doing a search on the site:
The HV battery is warranted for 10yr/150K miles in CA and states that adopt similar emission standard.
Read the following copied out from Toyota eBrochure for CA.

.....

Basic: 36 months/36,000 miles (all components other than normal wear and maintenance items).
Hybrid-Related Component Coverage: Hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and
inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. The HV battery may have longer coverage under emissions warranty. Refer to
applicable Owner's Warranty Information booklet for details.
....
California Emission Control Coverage: In California and any other state that adopts California emission warranty provisions, defect and performance
warranty is 15 years/150,000 miles. The Hybrid Vehicle Battery is warranted for 10 years/150,000 miles.

Read more: http://priuschat.com/threads/2007-prius-10-year-or-150-000-mile-hybrid-battery-warranty-whichever-comes-first.26588/#ixzz2uvITdyqK
Follow us: @PriusChat on Twitter | PriusChat on Facebook

 

Should be 8 years.


Can you see if they are willing to do a balance charge on your battery?
It may breath some life back into it.

Cheaper than a new battery.

Otherwise, do you know anyone locally who has a grid charger? They could grid charge it for you and see how that works for you.

Or else you can buy a grid charger for ~$500 and install it yourself.
(I don't have my price sheet in front of me.)

 

Apparently, the warranty is 8 years. The "technician" is full of crap. I would ask to speak to somebody in the service department who is in charge, or somebody who knows what they are talking about.

 

Uhhh if you are still under the 8/100 warranty, it should ALL be covered by Toyota.

I would also call Toyota and get their reassurance that it IS covered. They can call the dealership perhaps and educate them:

Support | Toyota.com

 

Gotchya. I didnt realize you were over the warranty period.... I was thinking you had been misled thinking you had 1 less year.
Toyota was usually pretty good at helping with this kind of thing. However, I heard as of recent they had tightened their belts so to speak. Keep us posted!

 

I heart Toyota and Im so glad it worked out for you!!

You got your birthday present early! lol