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Hybrid Battery Dead at 50K?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by 06BluePrius, Jun 20, 2009.

  1. mandrei83

    mandrei83 Member

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    Guys, I want to know something from you.. What happens if one of the HV battery cell is dead? Let's say it's interrupted and the HV battery doesn't provide any voltage..

    The car works without this HV battery or not? I was thinking to buy a cell from eBay, it's 30USD and can fix my problem if appear.

    At this moment I have 36.000km with my car, it's from 2007.
     
  2. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Your Prius must have thrown diagnostic codes to indicate this failure. It cannot be driven until the cell is replaced. There may be concern about equalizing the charge on all the cells, as one cell will now be different.

    It's worth trying, far cheaper than a new pack, assuming you can do the work yourself or cheaply
     
  3. Frayadjacent

    Frayadjacent Resident Conservative

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    If the cell causes an open condition, the battery unit (cells wired in series) is effectively dead.

    If it shorts, it could feasibly keep providing power, since there is still a path.

    Both should be 'do not drive the car!' situations. The car will not run without the battery pack, since the 'transmission' is electrically controlled. No electricity, no control.
     
  4. mandrei83

    mandrei83 Member

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    Thanks for reply!:)
    You're talking about which transmission? Anyway, that transmission, computer units and the rest of electronic devices are not powered from 12V, just like is at a non-hybrid car?

    I've read here on the forum that the HV battery pack charges the 12V battery, so can he can give power to the rest of the car. Basically, not the 12V battery is charged from an alternator/generator (like at an conventional car),and this battery uses the HV battery pack to get charged.

    Am I right? If not, can you tell me how it is? I don't know so much my car..
     
  5. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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  6. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    The car will not operate at all without the HV battery. It is needed to start the engine, to run the two motor/generators in the transmission, to power the air conditioning, and to recharge the 12V battery. Without the HV battery the 12V battery will run the radio and the lights for a few hours, and then die.

    As has been described in other threads all of the modules in the HV battery must be matched in their internal resistance. It is very unlikely that one random eBay module will match the others, and it will fail quickly.
     
  7. 06BluePrius

    06BluePrius New Member

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    Another update (hopefully the last for awhile):

    Driving home the next day, CEL appeared. I called the dealer and they asked me to bring it back. Found out the next day that the MAF sensor was fault but they "cleaned it off" and reused it during my first visit. Well, now they replaced it N/C. I know these sensors are sensitive but could my problems with the hybrid battery going down kill the MAF or something else? For what it's worth, air filter changes are all current.
     
  8. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    The HV battery can't harm the MAF sensor. It can get fouled over time or if the engine oil is grossly overfilled, or damaged by some object or inappropriate cleaner going into the throttle body. But a faulty MAF can keep the engine from running right and that may have contributed to the HV battery problems.

    There's nothing for it but to keep driving and working through these problems as they appear. They may all be due to neglect or abuse by the previous owner.
     
  9. Sandy

    Sandy Hippi Chick

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    I love my prius...