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Drive or not to drive with an hybrid error

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Luisbf, Jul 10, 2024.

  1. Luisbf

    Luisbf Junior Member

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    Hi guys
    I know this probably is a very repeated topic, but I didn't find any topic with the same issue I have.
    I am travelling on vacation with my wife, and 1200kms far from home the hybrid battery failed.
    I have one cell with >1v delta from the others.
    The car is loosing power, cutting the A/C and after some time I see the battery is not used anymore, starting to have some dropping in the SOC. I was stopping when it was reaching 20%, erasing the error so the battery charges back even with the fault on it.

    The question is: Is it safe ( or relatively not very high risk) to drive back home in this situation?
    I really don't have how to stop the car to replace the battery and my insurance don't cover the town truck back home that far.
    Another option is to order a couple or cells from eBay and replace it on the street. I did it before, have the tools with me and the only problem would be the waiting for the battery.

    Have you seen anyone driving with the battery fault for some time?

    Regards
    Luis
     
    #1 Luisbf, Jul 10, 2024
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I drove my generation too about 5,000 mi with the battery that was pretty much in the toilet
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jul 10, 2024
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, others have reported driving with a bad battery, even resetting the 12v every time they start if necessary.
    i remember having to replace a frozen brake caliper on my old fiat, at the camp grounds we were vacationing at in north carolina back in the day. no fun.
    all the best!
     
    #3 bisco, Jul 10, 2024
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    It would be good for you to post the exact trouble codes being reported, so we can be sure whether the car is only reporting the >1V delta that you think is the issue, or know what issue the car itself is reporting.

    The symptoms you report would also be consistent with overheating of the inverter.
     
    #4 ChapmanF, Jul 10, 2024
  5. Luisbf

    Luisbf Junior Member

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    Sure
    The codes are P0A80 and P3014.
    Actually the car is an Lexus CT200h 2011. IMG_20240710_141849_677.jpg Screenshot_20240710-140941.png
     
    #5 Luisbf, Jul 10, 2024
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  6. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Keep driving it. I mean if battery goes bad on the highway, and car fails to a sudden stop, the people who rear ends you will be at fault.
     
    #6 Grit, Jul 10, 2024
  7. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    You should be able to limp it back home. Just be careful on left turns into cross-traffic and merging onto highways; there's going to be intermittent delays in throttle responses and very slow acceleration. Push it too hard, the car will go into limp mode.

    Good Luck....
     
    #7 BiomedO1, Jul 11, 2024 at 4:06 PM
  8. Luisbf

    Luisbf Junior Member

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    Thanks all,
    I'm parking the car and taking the train to the rest of the trip, and for the way back I'll drive it back.
    Already have some battery modules going to my next hotel, but I'm not repairing it unless the car gets worse than it is now.
    I'll tell you next week how was the drive back.

    Regards
    Luis
     
    #8 Luisbf, Jul 11, 2024 at 4:46 PM
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  9. Luisbf

    Luisbf Junior Member

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    Yesterday I drove 100kms to the train station and it was fine. Christmas tree on the dash, but didn't went to full inhibition of emotors, so performance was not that bad and battery was kept withing the normal range.
    I fell confident that it will drive back home safely.
     
    #9 Luisbf, Jul 14, 2024 at 5:10 PM
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