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Used 2013 w/ 8K Miles Battery Concerns

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by DavidA, Jun 28, 2017.

  1. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    My wife is looking at a used 2013 (Lexus CT-200h - same as Prius inside) at a dealer with a "certified" 8K miles, at a local Lexus dealer. I'm sure they'll say anything to move the vehicle, but I have some concerns about general traction battery health with so few miles.

    With the car going into it's 6th year of service with an average of only 1,600 miles per year, there might have been some history with the car sitting a long time with the traction battery uncharged. How badly can that affect the long-term health of the hybrid system? And what else should we ask or look into with such low mileage? Thanks!
     
    #1 DavidA, Jun 28, 2017
  2. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    I would not be too concerned about the traction battery. They do not lose charge while sitting, like a typical lead-acid battery. So I'd be more concerned about the small-ish 12v battery at that number of years old. That said, a traction battery should level out at about 6 (of 8) bars on the state of charge (SOC) gauge in level, steady driving. You don't want it below 3 or above 6 bars unless you have sustained uphill or downhill driving. The SOC should only vary a couple of bars in either direction from 6 in normal driving. Larger swings from low to high and vice versa are indications of a aged traction battery.
     
    #2 FuelMiser, Jun 28, 2017
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not sure there's any way to know what effect sitting that long will have on the battery, especially in the long run.
     
    #3 bisco, Jun 28, 2017
  4. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    maybe i'm not good with math, but thought 2017-2013=4?
    i think what temp the battery sat at is more relevant than how long. basic chemistry teaches us speed of reaction doubles every 10C increase.
     
    #4 Former Member 68813, Jun 28, 2017
  5. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    I was using car model years
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    ------
    5 in car model years, 4 in math years.

    Next year's 2018 model would have been August 2017 (but Lexus disco'd the CT-200); > August year 6 for model years, 5 in math years.

    Anyway, thanks, all, for alleviating my concerns of traction battery degradation from low-use. I've had a 12v die unexpectedly and it caused some havoc with my gen3, so at the very least we'd be looking at the age of that. Still, such low mileage is suspicious for something that old.
     
    #5 DavidA, Jun 29, 2017
  6. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    I see. NiMH or Li batteries don't suffer from storage in partially discharged state like Pb batteries. Make sure to test the 12v battery, as it's probably bad if not replaced. Makes you think why they didn't use a compact 12v Li battery like in a laptop.
     
    #6 Former Member 68813, Jun 29, 2017
  7. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    I'd run the VIN at ToyotaOwners just to get an idea where the car has spent it's life til now, and any other possible clues to it's story. If it's from the deep south/southwest there is the chance it's spent time parked outside with the battery cooking in the sun. If it's lived in a moderate climate, there should be less concern as to battery health, although keep in mind extreme low-mileage battery failure has tended to be a real thing as reported here at PC. Regardless, you'd likely have enough hybrid warranty, even if the car was originally registered in an 8/100 state, for any problem to surface and be tended to on Toyota's dime. If the car has 10/150 warranty, I'd have no reservations at all.

    A good friend has a 2012 CT and I've driven it some. It is Lexus-like in fit/finish and comfort and destroys a Prius in this regard. It is tiny, however, being Matrix-like in interior/exterior dimensions. It still offers a decent level of hatch convenience, though. Good luck.
     
    #7 m.wynn, Jun 29, 2017
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  8. harrysprius

    harrysprius Active Member

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    I'd jump all over it. Can I ask how much?
     
    #8 harrysprius, Jun 29, 2017
  9. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    I lived abroad for a year. My 2010 Prius had about 50,000 miles on it, then sat for a year. The 12 volt battery died but the traction battery has worked like new as I have put about 27,000 since returning almost 3 years ago.
     
    #9 royrose, Jun 29, 2017
  10. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Looks like we're buying the car. Extended test drive in the AM Friday. They'll replace the 4+ yr. old 12v included in the (high) price. Working on making it a better deal beyond that. Color combo kinda sucks, but it will actually match one of our cats! Can't wait to take that photo. Another plus is it doesn't have that ginormous newer style Lexus Predator maw grille! I'll know more later tomorrow night.
     
    #10 DavidA, Jun 29, 2017
  11. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Done deal, or it will be in a few minutes. Extended test drive went OK. Traction battery seems to provide just as much EV use as my Gen3 Prius did back in the day. I'm liking this car (hate the nav menus). This is appointed so much nicer than my level 5 trim ever was. That's my old Gen3 in the background -- which will morph into a new Prime about 130 hours from now.

    [​IMG]

    Next task is having a trailer hitch installed for the bike rack. Ideas on that would be welcome.
    Thanks, all, for your comments and suggestions!

    EDIT: WTH is the deal with that totally useless 3-inch long rear wiper?
     
    #11 DavidA, Jun 30, 2017
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, al the best!(y)
     
    #12 bisco, Jun 30, 2017
  13. harrysprius

    harrysprius Active Member

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    That is one sharp car. I think the only reason there is wiper on the back of there is to clear the back window when you first get in the car or sitting in traffic, ect. The back of mine doesn't seem to accumulate anything when driving at normal speeds. Not sure why its so small though. Maybe you could put a bigger one on if it's an issue. Again, really nice.
     
    #13 harrysprius, Jun 30, 2017
  14. harrysprius

    harrysprius Active Member

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    How are you making that happen?
     
    #14 harrysprius, Jun 30, 2017
  15. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Re: the Gen3 morphing into a Prime...
    Dealer magic!
     
    #15 DavidA, Jun 30, 2017
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  16. harrysprius

    harrysprius Active Member

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    Are you trading up, or actually converting it?
     
    #16 harrysprius, Jun 30, 2017
  17. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Dang! I never considered converting it into a Prime. I wonder now how easy that might have been vs. trading in the blue beast. I may never know. The trade is set to happen this coming thursday-ish. In the end, I guess that's less work for me than conversion. I'd bet I'd need to buy a bunch of new parts if I did that. :D

    Side note. I was at work while my wife was wrapping up the deal on her new CT200. Guess what tricks they tried to throw at her at the closing? Nothing. No extra warranty, no vin-etch, no fabric treatment, no add nitrogen to tires (because they said it was done by the previous owner or some-such b.s.), no "Oh, there was only one key fob that came in with the car. Would you like us to order a 2nd key?"

    Nada. Just plates. Um... Maybe I should have bought a Lexus from them (if they sold a Prime, that is)?
     
    #17 DavidA, Jul 1, 2017
  18. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    I love white cars. Small white cars look gorgeous and this one is no exception. I see very few of those cars around here. How is the rear visibility?
     
    #18 Former Member 68813, Jul 1, 2017
  19. Dreamerzcc

    Dreamerzcc Member

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    I wouldn't worry about it. Our 2015 has sat for 5-6 months at a time with no issues.


    iPhone ?
     
    #19 Dreamerzcc, Jul 1, 2017
  20. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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    Not great. It is better after the rear 3 headrests were removed (temporarily without rear passengers). But, yeah, the blind spots suck, but not worse than those in the Gen3 Prius.
     
    #20 DavidA, Jul 3, 2017
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