Drive battery discharges over 7 days of no use

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017.

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  1. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

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    I have an 05 Prius with 75K miles and for the last 18 months or so am developing a problem where the traction battery discharges when I don't use the car. I live at the bottom of a hill that is just long enough to run the battery up to the full 8 bars on the charge indicator when I park the car. This morning after sitting for 6 days I only had 2 bars of charge. A year ago it took 2-3 weeks for this level of discharge. The battery will come back up to charge when I run the car so it's not an issue with charging. It acts like there could be a small drain on the battery or perhaps the battery is failing?
    Can anyone offer advise on how to troubleshoot this or offer insight on how to proceed?
     
    #1 Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    more like ly just due to age. you would need tech stream to read the battery under load. another option is grid charging with a pro long charger from the prius chat shoppe.
     
    #2 bisco, Jul 29, 2017
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  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Your HV battery is showing its age; prepare for the inevitable.
     
    #3 fotomoto, Jul 29, 2017
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    #4 jerrymildred, Jul 29, 2017
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  5. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

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    Yeah, my sense is the battery is failing.
    A couple things: Are reconditioned batteries worthwhile? They are certainly cheaper but if I intend to keep the car for another 5 years or so are they worth it? Also, I'm reading that the battery is cooled by air from the cabin and this system can get loaded up. I often have my big, hairy dogs in the car and there is often hair swirling around the cabin. I'm wondering if dog hair could be impeding the airflow. to the battery? Is there an easy way to check/clean? If I'm going to invest in something like the Prolong charger I want to be sure that I don't have this issue.
    Is a Toyota dealer the only source of new batteries?
    Thanks for all the advice.
     
    #5 Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017
  6. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Yes, yes, yes PLEASE clean the battery fan ASAP!!!!

    5 years? Only real option is to get a new Toyota battery. $2500-4,000
     
    #6 fotomoto, Jul 29, 2017
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  7. hchu1

    hchu1 Active Member

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    Here is a video how to for cleaning the fan.




    2006 Gen 2
    2014 Gen 3 v wagon
     
    #7 hchu1, Jul 29, 2017
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2017
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    would you diy the battery swap?
     
    #8 bisco, Jul 29, 2017
  9. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

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    Ok, did the fan cleaning. It was dirty but not blacked at all. But now I get the red triangle when I try to run the car. Electrically all I disconnected was the traction battery and the fan. The display just says "problem". Do I need to disconnect the 12V battery to reset the system?
     
    #9 Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes.
     
    #10 bisco, Jul 29, 2017
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    check the orange safety switch. you have to slide it after locking it down. there's a youtube video...
     
    #11 bisco, Jul 29, 2017
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  12. Lou Fezio

    Lou Fezio Junior Member

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    I had to both finish locking the orange safety switch then reset the 12V system to clear the problem.

    Thanks, guys.
     
    #12 Lou Fezio, Jul 29, 2017
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  13. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    Fussy little things aren't they.
     
    #13 05PreeUs, Jul 30, 2017
  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Why did you pull the hybrid battery orange interlock?
     
    #14 edthefox5, Jul 30, 2017
  15. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    Better safe than sorry???
     
    #15 05PreeUs, Jul 30, 2017
  16. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

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    Yeah you don't wanna mess with that stuff. Source: I just finished my hybrid training at the Toyota training center.


    iPhone ?
     
    #16 dave3057, Jul 30, 2017
  17. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Many reports of successes and failures with used/refurbished batteries. It's a crapshoot and they range in price from $500-$2000. Some guys will come to your house! Brand new Toyota batteries can be purchased Toyota dealers for as low as $2000. You can choose to DIY, find an independent mechanic, or have a dealership do the work. Alas, even with a genuine, new Toyota battery, the best warranty is only 3 years.
     
    #17 kenoarto, Jul 30, 2017
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  18. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

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    We charge about around $400 to swap. I wouldn't risk DIY. I mean in training, they tell you if you see someone being electrocuted by a hybrid battery, that we aren't supposed to do anything to help, because they are already gone.


    iPhone ?
     
    #18 dave3057, Jul 30, 2017
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  19. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    What are the prices of your batteries?
    What is your warranty?
     
    #19 kenoarto, Jul 30, 2017
  20. dave3057

    dave3057 Member

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    I'm not exactly sure about the warranty. I can check tomorrow. I don't think it's that great though.


    iPhone ?
     
    #20 dave3057, Jul 30, 2017
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