I am getting the P3006 Code, meaning an imbalance in battery voltage, which seems to translate to "Replace Battery" from other discussion on this board. Not unexpected and I had the code once, cleared it, but seems to be coming back now. The battery, if "Best Hybrid Batteries" will contact me back is under warranty for almost another year. Late in the day so don't know if they will contact me today or not. Hopefully they will contact me back because I have found their communication when I last replaced the battery was not the best. Assuming that I replace the battery and in another year I get the code again when out of warranty, or if they never contact me back, does the battery cells causing the 3006 code usually show something physical that will allow me to know which cells need to be replaced? If not, how do I tell? Also, if I do replace cells on my own, do I need to do some kind of load balancing that is NOT automatic? If not, is it something you do through Techstream in the car? If I understand I can use 2nd and 3rd generation cells and not limited to first generation cells? Theoretically you can get the battery from Toyota but it is pretty expensive (~3000 + 1500 core) but I am at least going to try to milk this one as long as possible at least if I can. I just thought about that they may have been $2000 before new tariffs hit us.
Usually you can find the battery guy on Facebook marketplace that's a good job you just likes building batteries these guys have real jobs etc my guy chgs 499 exchange . Had really good luck with him . He can run like 56 modules at a time .
If you want a complete “new” battery, see http://www.greentecauto.com. I had them do a mobile install on my ‘02 last August, with excellent results, right in my driveway. Highly recommended!
Yeah, I just realized this too. If you google “greentec hybrid batteries” you’ll find their main site. Try this link: Greentec Auto | EV and Hybrid Battery Replacement & Repair For your '03, this page: 2001-2003 Toyota Prius Hybrid Battery Replacement | Greentec Auto Looks like they have a shop in Bowie, MD, too. May be close to you? In my case, I live in Allentown, PA, which is about 75 miles from Livingston, NJ, where the installer guy drove out from. Worth every penny, IMO.
Best Hybrid Batteries" did get back to me, wanting to know the code. Sent them the code and hopefully by the end of the day they will send me an invoice for a shipping box. Never knew when started buying Prius, how many battery swaps I would do. Edit: I have to pay shipping but they are sending me a new battery. I then send the old one back. If and when this new battery fails, I will see what other options there are. Hoping it gives me at least year and a half like the first battery while this one only lasted about a year.
This is not fun at all. Got the new battery, put it in, started the car and everything seemed okay. Returned the old battery. Was going to try a drive test and before even putting it in drive, got codes 3009, 3000, and C1213 Not a happy person right now. Maybe damaged in shipping?
Got the new battery. Went for a short drive. Everything seems okay at the moment. Have not put the seats back yet this time. Going to take it to work tonight and see how things go.
Guardedly I will say that the new battery seems to be working. This makes the fifth battery change out with four of them in this car specifically. Going to probably send out the old battery Tuesday. At least this time they did NOT charge me shipping
Check up on your 12V battery condition. Opinions about that do vary, but that's a weird collection of codes not there before (I'm guessing) that appeared after the car sat for a while (I'm guessing) waiting for the new HV pack. Again, opinions vary, but don't trust any codes in these cars if you don't KNOW that your 12V is up to snuff.
I got a second hybrid battery and it solved the problem, at least for now. It also is my fourth battery for that car. problem with "reconditioned" batteries.
I’m on my third replacement HV. The first was defective, and quickly failed. The second, a warranty replacement, only lasted about 40k miles. Both of those replacements were from a well-known aftermarket source whose company name rhymes with “floor pan.” The third (current) one is from greentec, and claims to use “new” ( or “newer,” depending on when I read the website) cells. Replaced August 2024, less than 10k miles yet, so far so good—-fingers crossed.
Not including the one that was bad on arrival, the two refurbish batteries gave me about a year and a half each.
Mine has a three year warranty as well but they charge shipping each time. Likely still save more money than driving a non hybrid car. Since replacing the spark plugs, have been getting 48+ mpg.
