Help Prius 2007 160k hybrid battery failure RLOD

It's the difference between rebuilding battery packs like GreenBean does or buying brand new. If you have no problem swapping packs every 3 month to 3 years each time a module fails, GreenBean might be worthwhile. But if you want to fix it and forget, as well as boost overall performance of the electrical systems with the best lithium technology then spend $2K on one of these: https://projectlithium.com/?ref=9qLPw

And if you use that link, which is my affiliate link, I can offer you all the tech support you need for installation and beyond!

 

There are a few other options than GreenBean and the lithium guy, namely a new OEM Toyota battery or a GreenTec (not GreenBean) with new cells. You have to shop around these days but it may be worth your while. The OEM option is the least hassle but may be a bit more expensive.

 

depends,
how many miles on her? how long do you want to keep her?

 

RTOD.

$599 is your basic whack a mole repair there just installing same vintage cells that have just not failed yet. Basic tail light warranty.
Hope you have AAA.

use the Search Forums link up top and search

Hybrid battery

Hundreds maybe thousands at this point of posts from people in your shoes. Read up...and lots of youtubes on Prius gen 2 battery rebuilds.

 

Well, I am not the OP, but I happen to also drive a Prius 2007, run into the same RLOD (a.k.a. RTOD Red Triangle Of Death?) appear-disappear situation even at around the same time, and now the RTOD comes back with an accompanying P3014. My Prius has low mileage, only 120k miles, and I intend to keep her for as long as she could.

During my research, I found another company named Hybrid2Go who provides similar lifetime warranty and mobile installation, for only 1.3k, but they only operate in 4 states at west coast.

Disclaimer: I am NOT endorsing their product, because I haven't made my move yet. I'm just sharing some information for those in the same boat.

Hi Camper, thanks for your input. I understand that companies like GreenBean are selling refurbished battery, so I know the "every 3 months to 3 years" risk. But at the same time, their warranty suggests that, when a battery failure happens, we would just need to make an appointment and then a mobile technician will show up (presumably within a day or two, based on their appointment feature on their website) and take care of the swap job. If all I need to invest is a one-time $1500 upfront cost, and then each subsequent warranty claim would only take me a phone call albeit with an inconvenient one-day-or-two downtime, wouldn't it still be easy?

As a comparison, it seems those companies who sell new battery, would require DIY installation (and subsequent swap, should the unlikely warranty claim occur). Those are the labor that I would need to invest in. That being said, I am not ruling out the new battery route. Which brings me to my next topic.

Strangely, that website has frequent updates on their news page, so they seem still operating, but all their battery products are marked as sold-out. Their website simply does not accept new order. Camper, do you happen to know what is going on there?

 

have you priced oem batteries, or labor for a 'newpriusbatteries'?

 

have you cleaned the hybrid battery fan? That is a free......well worth it investment in your car.

 

Just swapping a few bad blocks is a crutch. It ain't a solution. Further, placing good blocks amidst other mediocre blocks also creates a new problem of block voltage imbalance and possibly new 'artificial' error codes soon.

You need to have the whole battery pack balanced; This means 1) Voltage, 2) Internal Resistance & 3) Ah capacity; all need to be similar for all the 7.2V blades.
Then u have another 150K miles b4 a battery issue.

Because of this demand I am designing a new, improved solution based on a patent that is becoming public domain tech. in a few months.
The solution will not only execute the above 3 times, but will ALSO have the option to upgrade the ECU to automatically balance the pack while u drive with an IoT linkup to the service center so they will know the condition of your HV battery at any time via remote diagnostics.

 

When it’s available let us know

 

Certainly.....
Regarding the approach to put a lithium battery in as a new replacement assumes that lithium batteries have the lifetime of the proven NiMH batteries. This is not the case, it is a hopeful assumption. When ppl make assumptions and then use that to advise others in need of a solution we have a dangerous cocktail of the blind leading the needy.

 

Like the Rav4 Prime with a lithium battery, the replacement lithium batteries are extremely popular and are backordered. The argument that lithium won't be long lived must be news to Toyota who warrant their factory lithium for ten years or 150,000 miles.

 

The difference is a factory fitted lithium batterries will have a factory fitted BMS that is matched to lithium.

 

Exactly.
What’s unclear to me is how much efficiency and/or life may be lost by swapping a Li for NiMH pack with the stock computer software that is still trying to optimize performance and life using the NiMH constraints. Maybe the battery guys can comment.

 

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