1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Buying used 2008 battery level concerns

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by GaryHere, Sep 18, 2018.

  1. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    No, but that's something I'll do.

    It's just a one family owned car used between he and his wife per the owner, whom to me, seems very honest about all but I'll still check. Thnx
     
    bisco likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    could be a real gem.
     
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Where in Nor Cal are you located:whistle:?

    If near the Bay Area, we might have a solution (y).
     
  4. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2018
    2,912
    1,494
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I live in Placer county, in the country. In the winter I would not even attempt to drive the Prius to work. The roads I take flood. It’s 4 runner or Tacoma time then. I work in Sacramento though, still about 60 miles from what people call the Bay Area
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  5. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    One more thing I forgot to ask about Gen 2.

    On my Gen 3 it showed the EV letters display when it was driving solely on the traction battery but I don't see this on the Gen 2 I test drove.

    I assume the only way to know is on that energy monitor screen to look at the power flow or (which is the way I did it yesterday) to hit the consumption button and look at the MPG shown.

    Obviously if 100 mpg then in EV, right? Thnx. G.
     
  6. George W

    George W Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2018
    909
    510
    1
    Location:
    San Antonio
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Around San Antonio, with a little patience you can get a Gen 3 for that price. Perhaps you can communicate the concern about the traction battery to get a better price.
     
  7. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three

    Hi. I tried that with him and the mechanic yesterday but basically it came around to its my concern, not the sellers.

    I looked at so many Prii these last weeks online, I really didn't see any Gen 3 with that low miles on them that I could afford but for some reason I thought I remember this forum mentioning "you can't kill a Gen 2 battery".

    I could be wrong though.
     
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Her aunt and uncle live in Placerville:).

    We’re in Fairfield, so outside of traditional Bay Area but close enough to commute for some:eek:.

    If ever looking to share (or pay as you go), keep me posted;).

    We could workout something more than likely, if interested (y).
     
    Skibob likes this.
  9. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Aww well. The owner sold the car even though I offered a deposit that I was supposed to give him today when we met.

    1st come
    1st served

    Next.
     
  10. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2018
    2,912
    1,494
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Just keep looking, you will find one. Other buyer might have offered more than you were paying. Some people have no integrity when it comes to selling something
     
  11. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2016
    1,932
    766
    0
    Location:
    Lagos
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well, when you are ready to sell the prolong charger, let me know
     
  12. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Thanks much. Yes no integrity especially on Craigslist. For some reason they seem to flock to it.

    I'm going to look at a 2009 with 79k on it. I'll meet the owner at the mechanics.

    More miles than that other 2008 and a little higher in price. I'll see what happens.

    I'm curious to see the battery level on this one.

    I'm still convinced there was a battery issue with the one I lost but that's unknown unless tested.
     
  13. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2018
    2,912
    1,494
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Well, I don’t own one yet. Raytheeagle has a plan that would work. I would buy a harness and rent the rest or buy in on a share.
     
  14. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2016
    1,932
    766
    0
    Location:
    Lagos
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hey, @Raytheeagle ! Can the prolong be modified to work on either on a Highlander or Camry hybrids?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  15. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2018
    2,912
    1,494
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I understand completely. I used to collect and repair pinball and video machines. Talk about cutthroat. Guys would sell out their own mothers for a good deal.
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    correct, much less info displayed
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    gen 2 was a better battery, but the thing is, a 10 year old car with low miles doesn't hold up as well as higher miles.
    nimh chemistry likes to be used a lot. taxi cabs do very well with gen 2 batteries, racking up hundreds of thousands of miles.
    batteries that are only used a few thousand miles a year suffer from degradation.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds good, more miles is actually better. i think your test drive on the last one in stop and go traffic was a poor example. you need to get out on the open road. prius does not like stop and go.
     
  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Different models are made with different voltages , so there are solutions ;).

    When our 2017 RX450h reaches 8 years or 100 k miles, I’ll be investigating another setup(y).
     
  20. GaryHere

    GaryHere Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2014
    147
    27
    0
    Location:
    Arizona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Three

    Ok will do. I didn't get to test it out cause for some reason the inspection took 3 hrs. Urrrgh.

    There is leaking struts.

    900.00

    Looked at battery level/charging and it basically was the exact same as the 2008 I looked at.
     
    #40 GaryHere, Sep 20, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2018