Bought a 06 prius about a year ago (06 with 89k). Since have had to replace 4 battery cells most within a couple months of each other. Is there any reason why they keep failing one by one? Should we keep replacing each cell as it fails or buy 20 new ones and do it in one shot? Thanks for the help!
Maybe you should try posting here: Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting | PriusChat and not in the 2017 Toyota Prius PRIME section 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Welcome to PriusChat! I would advise you to read all you can about Prolong Charging and Hybrid Automotive (use search). There are dozens of threads on the subject. Welcome again, but be warned - PriusChat can be addictive! Here's Hybrid Automotive's web-site: Prolong Battery Systems. Extending the life of your hybrid. – Hybrid Automotive …and a tag to @jeff652 (…he's the boss-fellah at HA)
Bought a 06 prius about a year ago (06 with 89k). Since have had to replace 4 battery cells most within a couple months of each other. Is there any reason why they keep failing one by one? Should we keep replacing each cell as it fails or buy 20 new ones and do it in one shot? Thanks for the help!
Welcome, Zayne. We call that the "whack-a-mole" system. Frustrating, isn't it? If you're planning to keep the car and get as many miles as you can from it, a new battery from Toyota is what you need. Short of that, there are people here who can provide you with used batteries that have all matched cells from totaled cars newer than yours that will not last as long as new, but will last far, far longer than replacing old cells one at a time with other old cells. To move this thread to where you'll get more attention from people with the same model, click the "Report" button and ask a moderator to move it to the forum @priuscatprimeguy suggested. I'd also suggest reading up on some of the 600 million or so threads here about battery repair. There is a huge amount of knowledge stored in them.
welcome! buy all new ones. otherwise, the bad ones will keep degrading the new ones you've installed. your best bet is to get a new battery from toyota, or @2k1Toaster
Here is a recent possibility. i know one of our experts has been testing with no issues, so far. Less expensive than a new Toyota pack. Prius Battery Replacement (GenII) Like you've never seen - NEW Cylindrical Cells | PriusChat
Did you replace the modules (=6 cells) yourself? If you already have competence to correctly and safely replace modules, then you might be a good candidate for a 2k1Toaster kit. See this thread: Prius Battery Replacement Kit (GenII/GenIII) with NEW custom cells | PriusChat
Please do not start multiple threads for the same issue. It makes it difficult to follow what is happening.
Zayne, Depending on the situation that made the battery initially fail (long time sitting, overheat condition, etc) it may continue to have additional failures. A full pack consists of 28 modules. If you are having fun and don't need a completely reliable car, then you can continue what you are doing now. Replacing a few every few months or so. Did you do the past replacements yourself? If so then you could consider an OEM replacement. Replacing a full pack with NEW cells from Toyota be in the couple thousand dollar range. Or for $1,600 you could build one yourself with new cylindrical cells instead of the OEM ones. Kind of bleeding edge at this point, but costs a bit less than OEM. I'm running one in my personal car right now. Feel free to call me to discuss.
New York is a CARB State, for 2004 model year cars and later. Your Prius HV Battery might have possibly still been under warranty. 89,000 miles on a 10year old car is suspect. Was this a salvage vehicle? Salvage vehicles, legally, do not qualify for any manufacture's warranty and recalls. Is the odometer reading accurate and true? Odometer could have come from a lower mileage donor vehicle? Is the HV Battery a rebuild replacement (Doorman, Fraudtech (Greentech), etc)? Normal corrosion on a 10-month old HV battery? | Page 2 | PriusChat Read post #30 to see costs of an OEM HV Battery. You just need to find a dealer in NY who sells online and is willing to match the lower prices or come down from their price. Not all dealers will sell an HV Battery to the public. Internet search "OEM Toyota Part New York," and go through the various links to find Toyota dealers online. Read post #34; Time is money too.