Gen I 2003 P3125 best course for diagnosis

Thanks for the reply. I am in Fort Worth, TX (Dallas). The P3125 was the original code that my NON-Prius aware scanner gave me. That was back when the car was running. Then I let it sat and got the Techstream to clarify. But by then it would not start. So the non running car scan with the Techstream gave me the above reports with P3000 & 3030. I wasn't sure if the P3125 was shown on the other scanner as a default b/c it couldn't read the Prius specific P3000 & 3030. Or if the battery had now gone bad in addition to the P3125 which either doesn't show on the Techstream b/c it cleared when I had to change out the 12v battery, and/or the car needs to be driven to set that code again.

Yes, the car has sat for awhile. Bought in April. Drove about a month. Got to a point where kept going in to "safe mode", so I let it sit. Would drive around the block every couple weeks, or let idle, and at some points let it sit for too long apparently. Once I got the Techstream in September, or some time before, the car died which I had to research and came up with the 12v problem. So the Techstream was never hooked up while the car was running, and I am not sure what codes cleared when I changed the 12v. The main battery was probably bad when I bought it, they may have charged it, so it more easily went bad when it sat idle. And it did sit at the car auction for a few months before I bought it, I believe, although I bought it from a used car dealer, not at auction.

Now that I have the Techstream, I'm thinking to get the battery charged via Frankenstein, maybe changing out the bus bar/harness or whatever, to see if I can get it running and just to be sure no other codes were setting before that I am no longer aware of. Then go from there.

Not opposed to a new battery since the cost new is now close to a refurb. Just want to be sure the battery is not simply a new problem in addition to an old problem. And I will probably have to try and do it myself.

If you know of any good shops in my area, let me know. I'll let you know what comes of it. Thanks for your advice.

 

This afternoon I was checking out options for replacing the battery. I was able to find some places from other chat threads and am fairly confident this can be done for much cheaper, and solved some other questions I had about how plug and play the install can be. The packs appear to be a complete assembly, whereas a Toyota one would require opening up and transferring some items. And some of the refurbs have a better warranty than the Toyota. Not sure why Toyota wouldn't be greater than 1yr warranty if new.

greentecauto com - $1095 rebuilt w/1st gen cells, 12mth warranty, no ship if non-residential, and they have local installers w/no core return ship; $1595 w/2nd gen, 18mth warranty

dorman/reinvolt - around $1565 (still searching) rebuilt, but 3 yr warranty, supposedly can get through local retail, so no ship either way, but presume tax

There are some other outfits who will travel to your location, across the country, and install the battery. Thought that was interesting. As well as the other common problems -- inverters, transaxle, and such. Mobile Prius shops.

However, I did read that the rebuilds were often experiencing problems that made the Toyota battery the reliable option. Do you have an opinion on rebuilds, or Gen 1 v. Gen 2 cells? I know the Gen 2 are more plentiful and don't leak, supposedly better design, but as get older are learning not necessarily more reliable.

So $1200 for my own plug in play install, versus $4350, is a great option. And I can test it out and decide to either keep or sell, and do a better job of recouping some losses while letting them know the history and risks.

Thanks for the advice and opinion. Makes me feel more comfortable about moving forward.