Some Technical Questions From a Newbie Owning a 2013 Aqua

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Emiratiprince, Dec 22, 2021.

  1. Emiratiprince

    Emiratiprince New Member

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    Hello!

    I bought a Toyota Aqua 2013 few months back and tested the hybrid battery as well as did a life expectancy test. It was 58% about 5 months ago. 54% about 1 week ago and then I got a hybrid failure. I reset the ECU and the car running fine. Test today and it stand at 35%.

    Clearly a module is causing the issue. I have read a lot about module repairing, cell balancing, alignment in ascending orders in relation to battery capacity/internal resistance and voltages.

    I have checked the voltages and resistances of the cell and I found no big differences. However delta is showing as 34% on Dr. PRIUS app.

    My questions:

    1. Should I just replace the pack or the defective module or try repairing it?

    2. Anyone selling a charge discharge cycler?

    3. Can I keep driving like this till I fix the issue or preferably I disconnect the hybrid system, if yes, how?
     
    #1 Emiratiprince, Dec 22, 2021
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    No, not possible.
    It won't start and run without the hybrid battery.
     
    #2 sam spade 2, Dec 22, 2021
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you can certainly keep driving it, until you can't. replacing cells can work in the short term, balancing them will help lengthen that term.
    how many miles/km on her?
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 22, 2021
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Replacement pack is the ideal cure.

    Individual module replacement is possible, but considerably more labor intensive and requires more careful electrical work. You can save quite a lot of money vs. total pack replacement, but it is time consuming and even if you do it all right, you still have a mostly used-up pack in there with limited lifetime remaining.

    You can continue to reset the hybrid errors and drive the car "for a while." There really isn't a great way for anyone to guess how long that will work, but others have gotten away with many months of driving in some circumstances.

    Before you get too much deeper, check the battery cooling fan under the left rear seat. Make certain it is not obstructed or dirty. Keeping the battery well supplied with cool cabin air goes a long way to making it last longer.
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Dec 22, 2021
    roadrunner and Elektroingenieur like this.
  5. Emiratiprince

    Emiratiprince New Member

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    50,000 KM. Clearly the mileage was touched. Judging from the wear and tear it should be about 100,000 KM.
     
    #5 Emiratiprince, Dec 23, 2021
    bisco likes this.
  6. Emiratiprince

    Emiratiprince New Member

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    Okay. Maybe induce the error again so it dont use the hybrid battery for driving?
     
    #6 Emiratiprince, Dec 23, 2021
  7. Emiratiprince

    Emiratiprince New Member

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    Thanks. Will get my hand dirty with it in coming days and update the community. Is Tenergy T180 a good cycler, any recommendation for module restoration and balancing?
     
    #7 Emiratiprince, Dec 23, 2021
  8. Emiratiprince

    Emiratiprince New Member

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    Screenshot of Dr. Prius App. It said I had a weak module on position 8 when I made a life expectancy test which stand at 54% a week ago. I see some discrepancies on module 7 too via Hybrid Assistance app. Maybe module 8 is causing it or a failing module too?
     

    Attached Files:

    #8 Emiratiprince, Dec 23, 2021
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It also needs the hybrid battery for starting the gas engine.
    How long you might be able to limp along like that is just a wild guess.
    It might be months.......or minutes.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Dec 23, 2021
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    While I realize that some others might take exception to this:

    Once a cell really is worn out to the point of being "bad" all of the external equipment in the world will not bring it back to life, not for very long at least. And the cycling might actually make matters worse.

    It appears that you are WAY past the point where any "reconditioning" effort will be useful.
    Likely a waste of time and money.
     
    #10 sam spade 2, Dec 23, 2021
  11. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I've read a lot about replacing individual modules but never done it myself, so I'll defer to others for the detailed specifics.

    All hybrid batteries degrade with age, whether you use them or not. Many Aquas show hybrid battery trouble around the 10 year mark, and warm climates are tougher on them. Your odometer might be telling the truth.
     
    #11 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Dec 23, 2021
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