244k miles. . . Replace battery or say goodbye?

Not worth it. If you need a new transmission, one from Toyota (part only) costs about $4,000.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

The error codes for battery problems will sometimes raise concerns about anomolous transmisison error codes, but they almost always go away once battery problem is resolved.

Gen 1 had a problem with bad stators in its transmisison but I've seen almost zero transmission problems on Prius in Gen2 and Gen3...

 

It only takes 2 hours to replace a battery pack with a new one that can be found from some dealerships for as low as $1600...

So your mechanic is clearly not familiar with this type of work... When an experienced mechanic sees error code that says: "PA080 - Replace Hybrid Battery" they know that's just a primary code that doesn't identify the problem and you need to get the subcodes.

One of the most common problems I see with PA080 is a failed voltage sensor harness... It's a $50 part and 2 hours of labor to repair. I've also seen subcodes of PA080 that point to corrosion in the cooling fan circuit, which can be fixed in 5 minutes.

In other words, there's lots of different problems that this error code may be referring to and you need to find someone who can help you sort it out for lowest cost possible...

 

Any rust issues?

If there is, time to let it go.

 

A 2005 with 244k miles and the original HV battery that has been sitting unused and un-started since December of 2019.

The 12v battery is dead.
The HV battery, at an absolute minimum, has multiple discharged modules causing HV Battery failure codes. The HV battery was apparently working up to the moment of the initial 'rattle/loss of power' failure occurred. Whether this failure was caused by the battery or something else is a guess, as any stored codes are long lost. A loud rattling noise and loss of power could be as simple as a failed spark plug or ignition coil.

The HV battery can be replaced cheaply by any of the many $500 craigslist 'specialists'. Longevity is questionable, but it would at least get you going.

I think we also have a few members in the Nashville area that may be able to chime in with some more local advice.

 

Ideally you'd want to get someone who has a spare 12v and spare hybrid battery and put those in and start the diagnosis of what else it needs that way. I'd be wary of putting any money into it until you know what it needs. Quite often a new 12v, an engine tune up and hybrid battery clean up inspection & reconditioning is all you're going to need.

Has the mechanic worked on hybrid cars? Because there's a few things said that are common misunderstandings: 1) the car only staying on briefly is often simply the hybrid battery spinning the engine and it never starting, 2) the transmission problem could simply mean that the computers detected a problem with hybrid system and shut down all functions of the transmission other than going into neutral. 3) the error codes that you need are specific to Toyota Prius and most generic code readers that mechanics use don't get these subcodes.

 

You can find a replacement battery for less than $1000 You can install it yourself otherwise it is another $250. I Just installed a Highbrid battery At 244 k for my 2014 Prius. I put in a new 12 v battery too since it was already 5 years old and getting weak.

 

You can't find a brand new battery for less than $1000, they are all second-hand and real value is very much a crap-shoot.

However, a second-hand battery might do for now.

If the car really has 'transmission issues' (and what makes him think it is 'transmission issues') it would be a better idea focussing on that.

 

it's never the whole battery, but replacing cells is like whack a mole. figure the cost of a new battery and motor, or salvage if you can find decent ones, and compare to purchasing something newer with lower miles

 

You're looking at 5k for an engine and new battery. Probably 3000-3500 for an engine and used/rebuilt battery. It's hard to justify it.

 

Another option is google and some phone work. Find a "parts recycler" (aka junkyard) who can get what you need and that can deliver to your shop. Talk to you mechanic about this before you do it- some places won't deal with customer supplied parts. Just realize if you get the parts, the shop will not warranty anything if the part is bad.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Don't worry too much about the HV battery, even if folks on here want you to worry and think you need a new one, it probably just needs charging/easy task for yr mechanic or nearby person on priuschat.

Finding an engine for your car is not something most of us on here would ask our mechanic to do. Rather, we'd figure out how to find the best engine possible and have it delivered to the mechanic. Also if you have the mechanics biz info you may be able to get wholesale price delivered to them, which at times for me for other major parts has meant 1/2 price.

 

There's lots of engines out there... Your mechanic is just not finding them from the people he usually buys from. And if I were you I'd get in touch with your uncle. He'll be of great help with finding you an engine. And due to the amount of labor involved in an engine swap it might be less expensive to have the engine and car shipped to him. If he's done car work for the family for a long time, he probably has lots of ways to help cut costs.

 

No reason to put another new engine into a car that you can replace with another car for less. Hell you can get an 07-09 for $2500-3000.

Plus, if it threw a rod that tells me you don't really maintain your cars very well. Routine oil changes would have kept this from happening. Just get another car and drive it into the ground.