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Time for HV battery work

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Ruming, Mar 30, 2024.

  1. Ruming

    Ruming Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2020
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    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    2004 model. Bought the car used 4 years ago @220,000km, now 310,000km. HV battery likely original but not 100% sure.

    Symptom:
    Noticed decreased fuel mileage, from 49mpg when 4 years ago down to 42mpg recently.
    A few days ago I found the battery voltage lower than usual on start thus engine kicked in earlier.
    Today it throws error code and the triangle. code.jpg
    Dr. Prius confirmed one module's voltage stayed consistently lower than others. Other bars move up and down but #12 is dead there. dr.jpg
    Hybrid Assistant battery test can't get SOC above 60% but #12 is lagging. hv1.jpg hv2.jpg

    Any suggestion on different options?

    Replace bad module: When a module is bad, does it usually happen to 1 block or 2 blocks?

    OEM pack: Will call the dealers to see what their quote is.

    Refurb pack: C$999+tax with 6 month warranty and C1300+tax with 1 year warranty from FB.

    Lithium: While Project Lithium is sold out while I'm up north in BC this doesn't seem to be an option.
     
    #1 Ruming, Mar 30, 2024
    Last edited: Mar 30, 2024
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Well it just depends on what you want to do play games with your battery you have lots of time and no money or you need the car back on the road getting the highest mileage possible because you just want that 7 miles per gallon that's not huge but it is what it is getting your battery back up to snuff is either you play whack a mole in the driveway because you have the time and no money or you replace the battery like you do in your flashlight when the beam becomes dull and lifeless you go to the store and you do what buy new duracelles or new batteries it's the same in your car you can play all the games or you can buy new and generally be back to where you were when all these discussions start. It's a choice only you can make for your situation.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Mar 30, 2024
  3. Pioneerscot

    Pioneerscot Junior Member

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    Location:
    Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Bought my Japanese Toyota battery from the dealer at 222k miles it was easy to replace on my own because it looked exactly the same as the original. Granted, it was a bit more money, but they had it in stock and I walked out the door with it in the back of the car to take home
     
    #3 Pioneerscot, Mar 30, 2024
  4. Ruming

    Ruming Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
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    N/A
    Toyota OEM battery costs C$ 3200 +1000 labor 5yr unlimited mileage warranty.

    For that price I'm considering LFP too. What's it like in sub 0C days? There aren't many but a few months here in Vancouver area.
     
    #4 Ruming, Apr 3, 2024
  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    The cheapest option is just replacing that bad module; depending how mechanically inclined you are and if you want to do that.

    The refurb option isn't much better than just replacing your single bad module. IMHO, your just gambling since the modules are 20+ years old and you'll probably just be playing wack-a-mole. The reality is 310K km and 20+ years of wear.

    The safe bet and most reliable fix is a totally new traction battery pack.

    Those are your options and just my 2 cents....
     
    #5 BiomedO1, Apr 3, 2024
  6. Ruming

    Ruming Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2020
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    Location:
    Vancouver BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I've just crossed out refurb option. They don't seem to last much, thus a local store stopped selling them.

    Replacing module itself is simple, the PIA is cycling/pairing process which takes quite some time even with $100 4-ch >=12S NiMh chargers. Or maybe I should just buy 4 of them to do the job in parallel?
     
    #6 Ruming, Apr 4, 2024
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