What have I done

I used to live in Prescott just south of there. My '07 Prius started exhibiting the same type of symptoms at 125K miles. It sure sounds like your HV battery is going south. I blamed the desert mountains (heat and cycles) for the relatively early demise. I was able to take my time and find a salvage battery from a 70K mile wreck for $800, then sold my "core" to a hobbyist for $300, for a $500 net. That battery is still working fine at 175K miles. Good luck finding a similar deal. I don't know if I'd try to drive back home with it in that condition--eventually it'll give a hard failure, I hear. There should be a battery shop in Denver, and probably one in Boulder.

 

tire pressure is low most of us keep them around 42
when using the ac or heat your battery has a lot of draw on it keeping the motor running to recharge it charge
try lowering the heater temp setting
battery pack is getting old so Id starting looking into getting it rebuilt away from the dealer
that's all I can think of to help..good luck

 

I wouldn't buy a battery in mountainous area unless very low miles. Good luck on your cross country excursion. Come back and let us know the outcome.

 

maybe try grid charging.

 

...Mountains are a pain even going to Pittsburgh I gotta go over the Appalachians and usually hit purple on the long up hills...one of these days that could do it...wondering if Premium gives a little more power to go over the hills without hitting purple.

Some are having good luck with Toyota getting assistance on HV replacement...that's one appoach to consider ...check back here. Also note you got Boulder Hybrid Conversions (3ProngPaul here) may be able to help. I get the impression later Prii had a bit more power to get over the mountains without jeopardizing batt compared to Gen2.

 

You may have noticed the rear battery fan in the backseat came on too. That was the perfect scenario for overheating the Inverter and or trans which is low hybrid battery charge and high current demand (your insistence to keep it at 60 mph which is why the engine was screaming as there was no battery participation. Prius very unhappy with no battery participation. ) The only thing that saved you is the low outside temps. Many a Prius left on the side of the road in your scenario. You should have pulled over and forced charge the hybrid.

Did you smell anything burning? If you did hear the fan come and if you did smell anything I would imagine you smoked up a cell in the hybrid battery. Time will soon tell with dash & mfd dtc's.

Are you running on the original trans fluid?

 

...how do you do that force charge Ed, put your foot on the brake and rev up in D?

 

Yes.

And my name is Ray.

 

You should be able to force charge the HV before you totally ascend, all or most current users Off or low.
Seat heater does not draw a lot of current, HVAC system does. Try not to use it. Coast down the pass and charge on the way down.

Correct.

While we are on subject, the PIP will not force charge. I am assuming because we are not really seeing the total battery health but only the PIP charge. Any comments. ????

GOOD POST

 

That's good. Go to the battery fan vent in passenger side rear seat and smell the vent inlet and see if it smells bad in there.
Can't be too bad as it has not thrown any codes yet.