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Need advice '02 battery issue 144K miles

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by kirbinster, Oct 3, 2014.

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  1. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    techinfo.toyota.com is a subscription website where you can obtain Toyota factory repair manual info.

    Usually when you see rapid SOC fluctuations, especially with Classic where the two normal SOC states are either 50% or 75% per the MFD gauge, that is a warning that the traction battery is about to die.

    At 144K miles, it would not be unusual that the battery is about to fail. Have a plan ready to either replace the battery or get rid of the car.
     
    #21 Patrick Wong, Oct 7, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2014
  2. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    Thanks. The vast majority of the time the car is at 75% or 50%, I would say it spends 85+% of the time at the 3/4 level. I drove the car about 100 miles on Sunday (50 miles each way) and it never showed anything other than 75%. Not sure what to do, if anything, at this point. When you say "fail" what exactly does that mean? Will I go out to start the car one day and it will just be dead, or will this be a continuous decline with mpg and performance degrading slowly? What am I in store for?
     
    #22 kirbinster, Oct 7, 2014
  3. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    We're discussing all these things here but, to me it doesn't appear that kirbinster's car has a problem. From what I read, the car went into the infamous "balancing" mode once. Since then, its been running normally and hasn't thrown a code.

    While I agree the modules in the middle are hotter and the pack is showing signs of needing balanced, the car seems to be operating normally and its not throwing codes. If it were me and this was my car, I would seriously consider buying a balance charger from the PriusChat Shop and doing a couple of balancing runs on the battery pack.
     
    #23 usnavystgc, Oct 7, 2014
  4. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    Thanks USNAVYSTGC. What is this balancing charger from priuschat shop? What does it cost and what is involved in the process?
     
    #24 kirbinster, Oct 7, 2014
  5. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    #25 usnavystgc, Oct 7, 2014
  6. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    This is the data I collected during a roughly 45 minute 15 mile drive that started at home went about half way mostly down hill and then returned mostly up hill. Hope this helps figure out what if anything is going on.
     

    Attached Files:

    #26 kirbinster, Oct 7, 2014
  7. CARspec

    CARspec Junior Member

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    I see sample #7, #10 and #13 with the highest voltage difference as the only ones out of the ordinary, but not by much. Nothing to be concerned about on a 12 year old battery. It seems Hanover street is the cause?

    Just drive it until it throws a hard failure, then worry about it.
     
    #27 CARspec, Oct 7, 2014
  8. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The main point to the balance charger is that it is better to balance the battery pack before it fails.This reduces the risk of reverse charging one or more of the modules rendering them useless.
    There is no guarantee, but it could greatly extend the life of the pack. A charger would be needed anyway if and when the battery fails if you intend rebuilding it yourself.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #28 Britprius, Oct 7, 2014
    usnavystgc likes this.
  9. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    Is the car throwing codes? If not, then normal things are going on or nothing out of the ordinary.
     
    #29 usnavystgc, Oct 7, 2014
  10. kirbinster

    kirbinster Member

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    No codes, just dropping state of charge when I drive the first have mile; and the one day where it went to 100% and stayed there and then gave me a turtle while it was at 100% but has been fine ever since.
     
    #30 kirbinster, Oct 7, 2014
  11. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    I see no problems with your car.
     
    #31 usnavystgc, Oct 7, 2014
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