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New batteries 6 mos ago. Now this...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Cheryl A, Jan 15, 2020.

  1. Cheryl A

    Cheryl A Junior Member

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    Replaced the main traction battery with Toasters kit about 6 mos ago and couldn’t be happier. Mileage back up to 50mpg.
    A funny thing happened last night. When leaving work the battery was down a couple bars further tan normal. I began my drive home and kept an eye on it. Battery kept dropping and no sign or evidence of charge on the dash. It got down to two bars and I turned around and left it there hoping to look it over today on arrival.
    Obviously not charging but no codes or at least dash lights warnings.
    Is there something I should check first? I also installed a new 12v Toyota brand battery at the time of the traction battery replacement.
     
  2. JayRock_PHX

    JayRock_PHX Member

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    How long did you drive it? Sometimes every now and then my takes a min to build up the battery if it’s low.
    What is this toasters kit?
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    When you turned off car, were there only 2 bars left while ICE was charging?
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    This I think:

    Prius Battery Replacement (GenII) Like you've never seen - NEW Cylindrical Cells | PriusChat

    All in all strange, especially that it's not trying to charge. And no lights/codes.
     
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Sounds a bit paranoid to me.
    IT will determine when to USE the battery and when to CHARGE IT......and you probably can't really judge if it is doing the "right" thing or not.
    Having the battery at 2 bars and still seeing no evidence of charging might be perfectly normal under some circumstances.
    I've seen it happen a few times.
    Even at one bar for a VERY short period.
     
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think we should invoke the bat-signal:

    @2k1Toaster
     
  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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  8. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Have you had the Inverter firmware updates?
     
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  9. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Thats paranoid but maybe you had a bad experience when the original battery died.

    That battery is probably fine.

    If it makes you feel better to have a fuller battery just pull over and force charge it. Requires 2 feet. With car in drive put left foot on the brake pedal the right foot on the gas pedal. Hold brake pedal down and then gently give it the gas while watching the charging flow meter. Give it enough gas to see charge going from engine to battery on the screen. Works good and does no harm. Takes like a minute or 2.
    Not necessary to floor it just push the gas down enough to start the charging on the screen. Careful dont lift your foot off the brake in the middle of this as car will do a zoomie.

    I do it all the time on my G2 prius and have for the last 10 years.. With a fairly healthy battery it will charge up quick doing this. You will get so good at it you will do it at a stop light.
    '
    This is a good test for your situation. See if it charges while doing this if no charge flow while power braking something is not right.
     
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    But it can also be more confusing.
    My C will not start the gas engine via accelerator action IF your foot is on the brake.
    Pretty sure that my Ford won't either.
     
  11. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    Gen3 and my 2014c does charge in D with foot on brake and gas pedal
    Need to do that for Dr Prius testing
     
  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Guess I will have to do some more testing.
    Maybe it is that the engine won't speed up in response to pedal input.
    Maybe it is that it won't come on/speed up in Park.
    I don't remember for sure.
     
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  13. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    That is quite a possibility
     
  14. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    How many miles did you drive? What was your speed?
    If I have 2 bars, and only drive 30-40mph it doesn't charge very fast.
    I believe, but an not certain, it will depend on the load the engine needs to go.
    If you are driving slow, the battery seems to charge slowly. If you drive faster, 45mph and faster,
    it charges faster. At least on mine.
    If you were going slow enough, it was using the battery, and won't charge. When I'm around town,
    that's what I try to do. If you use cruise set at 2 miles under the speed limit 10 seconds or so,
    them press the cruise lever up to increase the speed waiting 3 a few seconds in between to increase
    to the speed limit, the engine will kick in and charge the battery.
    That's what mine does. BUT, as always, results may very! :)

     
  15. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I was not aware you cannot force charge a G3.
     
  16. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Every morning I start at 2 bars, drive 41 mph for 3 miles, SOC will start from low 40s and reach 58 - 60%. It depends on distant, traffic, acceleration and regen braking.
     
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  17. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Quote: "That's what mine does. BUT, as always, results may very! :)" Unquote
     
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  18. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    A 2015 Gen3 you CAN force charge.

    Not sure about earlier years tho. I don't see why not.
    It is a requirement for the Dr Prius app battery test.
     
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  19. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Ours seems to pitch a fit if you hit both pedals at the same time. Lots of beeps and an angry message on the display.

    I guess it's changed since those old 2nd generation rigs.
     
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  20. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I thought I had seen posts about force charging a G3 leadfoot.. Do you mean just simultaneously holding brake and giving it a little gas it detects this and flips out? I was saying just gently push the gas pedal enough to see that charging bars from engine to battery. But I do not own a G3 so not sure.
     
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