2007 Prius. Hybrid battery (original) failing...

It sounds like they didn't actually read the codes supplied by the car. They're guessing. You need to find someone who can actually read hybrid codes. THAT is your number one priority.

Sounds to me like possible your inverter cooling water pump failed. This causes the inverter electronics to overheat and the car will protect itself by killing the AC and power to the transaxle. Pull over, turn it off, let it sit for a few minutes, it cools and allows you to drive again, for a short bit, then heats up again.

Go pick up the car, but leave the AC off and stay under 35mph. This usually allows you to drive many miles before it gets hot. See if it works.

I didn't see the part where you mentioned the brake light being on. Probably not the ICWP. BUT, you still need actual codes, not guesswork.

 

The 2nd generation prius is very reliable. But there are 2 failures that are pretty much guaranteed. The brake actuator/accumulator pump and the HV battery. Seems you hit one of the failures and the brake failure won't be too far behind. Both of these are high ticket items. So if you decide to fix the battery (let's say the current price is $2500 for a new one), prepare yourself for another $2500 for the brake actuator that will follow. If you're not willing to spend that type of money, best you just sell the car now.

I use to help install these batteries and brake actuators, but I've since taught a nice apprentice to do this work. If you would like someone to go to you and install these items (you purchase them through the dealership), he can do it at a very low price, compared to a shop.

 

My friends lil daughter could change the hybrid battery with a piece of plywood avail on side o road in lots places but yeah it's like 87 pounds. When you starting stopping going 50 feet . Did maybe try n turn power rubbing devices off possibly it's a long shot I know . But it's a thing . Yeah and o7 w original being tested on the heat will bring it down quickly . And make it time.

So before 3K on a real battery . Is really time to think is this model really needed her or? 3K can put you in a nice Yaris that requires none these antics . Near similar mpg . Seriously.

 

Can you scan and post the actual error codes? How many miles on it.

I bought the 2009 model year last year with 147k from a dealer 55 miles away from home. While driving back home, all the lights came on, A/C quit. I was almost half way. Just drove back. Other than the A/C, i didn't feel much difference. Came home, scanned it and it was the Inverter coolant pump. Once replaced (OEM), everything is fine. Then the actuator which was making noise every few seconds, i just replaced it proactively. $1300 later, that is also fixed.

I think OEM battery is like $1.7K at dealership. There are lots of aftermarket options. Some of them come to your home and fix it.

Regarding scanner, i used Autel MaxAP200. It also have special functions to bleed the brakes after actuator replacement. Something like this -> Autel AP200 OBD2 Scanner Bluetooth - Full System Diagnostic Tool, 19 Reset Functions, AutoVIN, Check Engine Code Reader for iPhone/Android - Walmart.com

 

If the owner of the prius had scanned the codes in the first place and used the search on this site, I think he would not even have had to start a new thread... about guessing.

 

look around for a used corolla. for the amount of driving you do, the prius is costing you money, and the corolla doesn't have the expensive hybrid systems, and can be easily repaired by any mechanic.
all the best!

 

If your car has only 130,000 miles, I would suggest fixing the car and driving it. There's not much out there that you can buy for $5000-$6000 (the price you'll end up paying for 2 expensive parts). Hopefully nothing else major will fail (like engine and transaxle). Just keep up the regular maintenance and it should be reliable. Fixing it is probably the best route with a low mileage reliable car.

 

The P3011 code is for block 1 becoming weak in your hybrid battery.

here's the basics. Your hybrid battery is built using 28 individual 7.2 volt battery modules in series. This gives you a 201 volt big battery. It's just like if you put (2) 1.5 volt D cell batteries into a flashlight, they act like (1) 3 volt battery.

The car needs to monitor the condition of the battery, so they connected a sensor wire to every other module so the computer can get a voltage reading. Module 1 and 2 are considered block 1. Modules 3 and 4 are Block 2, and so on, until modules 27 and 28 are Block 14.

The P3011 code is telling you that the computer is sensing Block 1 is getting weak. This means Module 1 or Module 2 is likely failing.

I wish you lived near me, I would fix this for you for a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, Toyota fixes this only by replacing the entire battery. BUT, it will last as long as the original. There are many HV battery repair companies that will swap your battery with one of their rebuilt batteries, even coming to your house and doing it. Reputable ones will even verify the codes when they get there.

 

130k is nothing on it. Mine is like 154k now. The key is to keep it rolling as much as you can. Don't let it sit for days. Check in Craigslist or online options first. Will be cheaper than OEM.

Once the battery is replaced, keep driving it. Also there is a cooling fan for the battery. Make sure it works fine and clean and not clogged. You can see its vent on the rear passenger side at shoulder level. Also replace all the fluid that needs replacement or you don't know when it was replaced last time. Brake actuator, if it fails, part is is $1.2k at dealer.

Battery at local dealer here in North Texas. $1.7K.



Brake actuator.. Just FYI.

 

Also don't know where in CA you are located, but some options..

We Moved » Prius Hybrid Battery of San Jose
Hybrid Car Repair Cost
Hybrid Battery Options for Prius 2004-2009 | Green Bean Battery

 

OEM battery will be the best one. Try other dealers within say 100-200 mile radius. Each one charges different rates. Also make sure that they clean the battery fan / vent when replacing the battery. If they charge too much for this, get it done by your local mechanic. Not difficult to do.

Toyota Dealer Locator | Find a Toyota Car Dealership Near You

 

For those of you not familiar with Coachella, it can get ridiculously hot in the summer. National weather service forecast for today is 116F (47C), probably close to that yesterday. A marginal HV pack is not going to do well under those conditions, with the AC running full blast, or the pack running very hot if it isn't. It may run OK once the car cools off to something more reasonable, like 75F, although it might not get that low. Palm Springs is nearby, but Palm Springs is not where you would look for a good deal on, well, anything.

So for the OP, here is the situation. If that code is correct you probably need a new HV pack. (Does the OP have a dog, does it ride in the car, has the pack fan ever been cleaned? The pack fans are notorious for jamming up with animal hair leading to batteries overheating. Look on youtube for videos.) The price of the pack varies by hundreds of dollars from dealer to dealer. To find the best price one must check the Toyota Dealers "nearby", and that means well into LA. Some of them have Web sites which will give the price, others you need to phone. Price can vary by hundreds of dollars, and supply varies, there are periods where they have so many they drop the prices low, and at other times it is hard to find one. Then you need to get somebody to install it. (Not something a person should try who does not already have tools and at least some experience working on cars. It isn't all that hard, just not a job for a complete newbie.) Note, the pack comes in a shipping case which resembles a coffin - it is very big and very bulky. It won't fit in a small car like a Corolla (unless it is a hatchback), but it will fit in the back of a Prius with the rear seat down. Dealers will not ship them, one must take delivery at the parts counter. There is a core charge as some parts of the old battery must be returned. The core charge is refunded when they get the core back - in the big shipping crate.

The primary advantage of going to a Toyota dealer is that the warranty on the pack would be longer. However, I would suggest looking for independent shops in Riverside and San Bernadino, and if necessary working west from there. The installation cost should be lower, and if it is an OEM battery, it will be the same battery as from a dealer. Experienced mechanics can get one of these packs in and out in like an hour (maybe a little longer if it is 116F!), it isn't rocket science, and practice makes perfect. (It took me much longer as I had never done one before.) See if you can find somebody who can pick up an OEM battery at a dealer, bring it to you, and install it. Or you might have to have the car towed to them. Possibly you can drive there if the car still works late at night when the temperature is low. You do have to look at the pack first and see if it is the OEM battery because you need some of the parts from inside, the replacement battery does not have the electronics and some of the air control bits, those need to be moved over. If the pack is painted a bright color it is not an OEM pack, if it is a metallic gray it might be (but without a full history no way to tell for sure without opening it.)

I don't know where GreenTec gets its "all new cells". In fact, I don't think I have ever seen a picture of the inside of one of those packs. It might not even be the same technology. Toyota NiMH batteries use Prismatic modules (rectangular) whereas Honda and some others used cylindrical sticks. The Toyota OEM modules were a better technology and their packs lasted much longer than the Honda packs of the same age. There have been people who sold packs for the Prius using those cylindrical cells, perhaps it turned out well for some people. There was a Lithium based pack available, now I think a Sodium one, I do not recommend those unless you are into experimenting on your car. Not a good choice if this is the only car you have. I don't recommend any of the options with used modules.