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Newb Buying 2nd Gen

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by BigDadSmallPrius, Oct 16, 2023.

  1. BigDadSmallPrius

    BigDadSmallPrius New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2023
    1
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    Location:
    Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I’m a newb. I’ve never owned a hybrid.
    but alas, I’m here looking for one.

    I found 2 local to me. They seem nice and well put together. Clean interior/exterior, both run and drive, no leaks/knocks/taps/sqeeks/squeels/etc.
    Higher mileage but both are in my price range.

    So my question is, with these 2 cars being at the height of my price range, how do I test the hybrid batteries to ensure they are good have good capacity?
    I know people are going to suggest the DrPrius app and the OBD plug-in scan tool. But alas, if I buy those(as cheap as they may be) I won’t have the money to buy the car because the prices are firm(I’ve already negotiated them to their bottom dollar amount).

    So, I’m wondering how I can ensure that the batteries are good, have good capacity, etc from just a test drive?

    I’ve obviously did my google searches as well as YouTube. But I haven’t sound a definitive answer as of yet.
    The stuff I found was after the car was already in need of a hybrid battery. Red Triangle, fast discharge/charge, etc.

    So, what can I look for while driving these to see if they have a good battery? Anything to look out for?

    Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!
     
    #1 BigDadSmallPrius, Oct 16, 2023
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,635
    49,358
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Welcome!
    Unfortunately, there is no good way to test the battery capacity/life remaining.
    Even doc Prius or tech stream can only give you a snapshot of current health.
    It’s like going to your doctor for a checkup.
    They might tell you everything looks good, and then you have a heart attack on the way home.
    The saying around here is:
    If you’re gonna buy an old Prius, you better have a big rainy day fund
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 16, 2023
    BigDadSmallPrius likes this.
  3. txexplorer

    txexplorer Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2023
    49
    20
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It's worth $30 for the Veepak OBD2 bluetooth so you can run Dr. Prius and check the Modules, voltages, and other info. I also use Car Scanner it's another free app with useful info. Otherwise you'll have to take the battery out, take the case off and bussbars to test each module individually.
     
    #3 txexplorer, Oct 16, 2023
  4. Moving Right Along

    Moving Right Along Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2016
    690
    540
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    If you already know signs that a hybrid battery is bad (no power, rapid charging & discharging from full to empty, etc), then if the car is not doing any of those things, the hybrid battery is probably good.

    If you are adept as a mechanic or know one, you could inspect the battery fan to see if it’s clogged. A relatively clean battery fan should indicate a fairly healthy battery.

    Ultimately, you’re buying a 14+ year old car. More Prii make it to 200,000 miles plus than most other car models, and as a rule, they are very reliable. And if you’re buying one now with lots of miles, it was probably well cared for. But it’s also old. 25% of cars on the road are 16 years old or older, and only around 12% are 20 years old or more. So the statistics say on average, less than half of the 2nd Gen Prii currently on the road will still be running 6 years from now. That just means you should consider the length of time you plan to own the car.
     
    #4 Moving Right Along, Oct 16, 2023
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2023
    txexplorer likes this.
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