2006 Gen II, I think the hybrid battery just went.

Up until this year, I would have described my 2006 as 100% trouble free - the only maintenance it has required to date is disposable items (12v battery, tires, wipers, oil/filters, fluids). The little rubber cover on the hatch latch is coming off, but I see that's not uncommon. This year started with having to replace the HID headlights, not unexpected, but not cheap either.

Last week the hybrid battery showed signs of being cranky. Friday it lit up the dash board, and was clearly struggling (all the regular HV Battery Failure symptoms). Decided not to temp fate and drive it around over the holiday weekend. Drove it to the shop today, wasn't sure I'd make it the 9 miles to get it in. (It was really, *really* unhappy).

10 Years, 8 Months - so to a degree I was running on borrowed time. Now I'm waffling, because I was already thinking of replacing it in a year or two. How much do I want to put into it if I'm only going to keep it a couple of years. Do I commit myself to owning it for another 5 years. If I replace it, what do I want to replace it with. Waffle Waffle Waffle...

 

I just ok'd a new battery. But I see what people mean when talking about good deals on 2016's, I saw quite a few *very* good ones floating around - but none of them had the packages I wanted. I'm one of those people that just wouldn't be happy knowing there were features out there I wanted - buying a new car that didn't have them - even if it's a good deal.

So I'm going to fix up the 2006, but keep looking. Maybe I see a deal on a car I like, maybe I wait until this time next year when they're trying to get rid of the 2017's to make way for the 2018's. Maybe I keep the 2006 for 3 more years. I think I'll probably poke a few dealerships to see if they can find me a 2016 #4 with PCP+ATP, see if they make me an offer I can't refuse.

 

It's back, happy, and well behaved so far. For the record, 10 years 8 months - only 62K miles (Time got me, not distance traveled). I figure at almost 11 years, I was on borrowed time for an original traction battery (and an original set of nearly everything else, including brake pads) anyway.

It threw (at the very least, I'm not sure every every battery cell code was transcribed for me):

P0300 (Hybrid Battery Control)
P0A80 (Hybrid Battery Malfunction)
P3022 (Battery Cell R Weakness)
C1241 (Ignition Circuit Open)
C1259 (Regenerative Malfunction)
C1310 (Hybrid Malfunction)
U0126 (Steering Angle Communication)

Check Engine Light, VSC light, Power Steering Warning (I think), and Master Warning were lit up. On the MFD, the indicated a hybrid systems fault - little car with an exclamation point in it. (I have seen some screenshots of a separate hybrid battery warning icon that can appear, I do not believe it appeared on mine). The battery cooling vent would come on within 5 minutes of starting the car. And steering was, odd.

Comparing the car's behavior now, (how slowly and steadily the battery bar moves over time, and how the engine runs), it's clear that there were signs of issues for longer than I initially thought. They just happened gently enough that it didn't register that the battery indicator was moving faster and faster (and twitchier), and the engine coming on at unusual times more and more (as the degradation happened gradually), until the last week or two when it was obviously flaky. By the time I realized how fast it was going from blue to 1 purple, then working it's way back to 3 blue, then jumping to full green while running the engine 100%, falling to 3 blue if I faced a hill - it was probably in pretty bad shape. The final straw was probably me not going anywhere for 3 days (noticing that i put it away fairly blue, and woke it up 2 purple), throwing it in reverse, and driving a short distance - went back into drive with no bars, and next time I hit the brakes, it lit up and said enough was enough.

The above all seems fairly consistent to me with a failing main traction battery.

I limped it 8+ miles onto the shop on Tuesday. It's possible I shouldn't have (I'd be interested in opinions on that from both a safety, and 'additional damage' point of view if applicable). It was *really* unhappy. And four times on the way (facing a minor hill), it went into a state where it would rev, but would not accelerate. (Two of the events I think match what has been referred to as Turtle mode, I think the other two it put itself in neutral, it felt that way, I don't think I looked). Knowing it's state, I drove every minute of the trip with a plan for coasting the car somewhere safe if lost power, so I was in each case able to move to a side street and stop (at an angle where a Tow-Truck could easily get me). But it restarted each time with full power. Possibly a stupid trip, but by the time it exhibited it's first failure, I was past the half way mark, so I carried on. I already had a plan to get it tow'd if necessary, but to it's credit, it never left me stranded anywhere.

Hybrid battery replaced. Brake work done (it was coming up anyway). Some minor engine maintenance. Stupid little rubber cover for the rear hatch released glued on (I see that's not an uncommon problem? What are others doing to fix it? It appears on first glance not to be an orderable part, and can only be obtained with a complete latch replacement (>$150) which is silly).

Anyway, it's fixed and back in my hands. I am still looking at 2016's. I eventually found a few 2016 Four+PCP+ATP's in the area in acceptable colors and decent prices, but not prices i would jump at. Poked a few salesmen, if the cars in question are still on the lot in a week I may see how badly the want to get rid of them. Since I'm no longer in 'need' or antsy about being caress (one car household), I can be quite laid back about it all.

Thanks for the input (and if this double-posts I apologize, the forum is being a bit twitchy)