How screwed am I? Battery issue.

I got back to my Prius today and uncovered it to go to the store.

Almost immediately after starting it, I got the Red triangle of death. I plugged the OBDII in (I hate the Carista one btw) and reset it. I had the Hybrid Battery and Catalyst. I've had the Cat throwing a code for the past few months, so I know I'm about to replace it. I'm debating on the direction to go with it.

The battery, I put the car in drive, foot on brake and foot on the throttle, charged er up, reset the code, and went to town, keeping an eye on things. Once the battery dropped to a bar on the display, the red triangle came back on. I reset again and didn't have an issue all the way to town.

Then, on the way back from the store the lights came on again, but this time the car seemed to disconnect from the battery. The engine was working harder than normal for sure, revving higher and the display doesn't show any power flow to the batteries, which stayed at one bar. When I ran the codes, it has some new ones that seem related to the battery.

What am I about to be in for? The car is in Michigan, and I live in Missouri. I could limp it down to AutoBeYours, and stay in a motel for a few days while it gets repaired. I told the wife, and she's telling me to dump it and get another Prius, but I really like this car and would like to keep it
.

 

It's at 180,000 miles. I take excellent care of it, but it does sit for months at a time at work.

I just replaced the struts, no rust, new tires. Leather interior no cracks etc.

 

OK. I'm ordering one from him. It helps support someone here, and shipping is free to work.

Is the engine "revving" and seeming to work more due to the battery problem, or is it a separate problem that I also need to address?

 

... Wonder if my wife would notice me adding the lift kit from Prius Offroad to the card...

Not that it matters, I'm a man, I do what I want. (When she lets me.)

 

I got a new one ordered. I wonder if I can talk the maintenance guys at the plant into swapping them out for me.

"Hey, can one of you guys change a battery for me?"

 

I'm sorry, I was kidding and it didn't come across. I've got a strange sense of humor. And really, they live in the breakroom. They don't want to do the work they are supposed to be doing, do we really think they will do stuff to my car with no incentive?

 

Yea, I'm excited about putting it together and getting it in the car. I really wish I hadn't left my sockets and drill at home, but I could always use another set. I think I'm going to do it at the motel. Work is as dusty as a Southwest Texas farm right now.

 

And I need to figure out what to do with the old battery packs as well. Any ideas on that? I was planning on driving down to AutoBeYours one weekend to get some parts I need. I wonder if they take cores.

Or, is there someone in Michigan that could use them?