Interestingly, the Prius will drive just fine with a dead battery, though the 1.5-liter four-cylinder is solely responsible for moving the car, making it even more doggishly slow. See, the Prius' battery pack consists of 28 individual, iPad-sized cells. These are what fail but generally do so individually.
Common Causes. Many Prius drivers have reported the most common cause for a red triangle of death light is an issue with their battery. When this code appears, the problem is typically caused by several sources, but it means there is an issue with the HV battery's ECU.
Hybrid Battery Failure Symptoms
- Decreased MPG. Although there are other symptoms which can negatively impact your MPG, it's likely to be an issue with your battery.
- Internal Combustion Engine Running More Than Usual.
- State of Charge.
- Unexplained Drop in Battery Bars.
- Unusual Engine Noises.
When the battery becomes discharged to a certain point, the car is programmed to fire up the gasoline engine, which normally would recharge the battery as it propels the car. If you're out of gas, though, the Prius will try (and fail) three times to start the engine, and then it will go totally dead.
Step 1: Open your car's hood and look under the fuse box cover to find the jump start terminal. Step 2: Connect the red positive jumper cable to the positive terminal in your car. Step 3: Connect the second red positive cable to the positive battery terminal on the assisting vehicle.
Overall Gen 2 Prius is reliable and gave taxi companies a better vehicle to use. Hundreds of thousands of miles have been logged on these cars. I own three of them in my fleet. 2010 through 2015.
Yes, if you are reasonably handy with basic automotive tools and follow basic common sense you can change out the battery yourself. As long as you remove the Orange Safety plug there is close to zero chance of getting hurt by electricity.
Well, it turns out that hybrid battery packs do indeed fail and are very expensive to replace from Toyota – roughly $4,000. Interestingly, the Prius will drive just fine with a dead battery, though the 1.5-liter four-cylinder is solely responsible for moving the car, making it even more doggishly slow.
As long as you have a decent battery and make sure everything is turned off, you should be fine. I'm leaving my 2013 Prius for 5 months. Should I put a trickle charge on it or call AAA when I return.
The Toyota Prius has two batteries. The second battery, which is located in the rear-side storage compartment of the Prius, is just a regular 12-volt dry-cell car battery specially designed for the Toyota Prius.
The reconditioned battery is good for an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 additional miles, and Prius Battery of Houston backs it up with a one-year warranty.
You can assume that a car will be at least eight years old when it requires hybrid battery replacement for the first time. If the replacement cost is around $1,000, it's obviously worthwhileas long as the rest of the car is in good shape. However, if the battery replacement cost is $5-6,000, it's much less clear.
Like every car battery, the one in the Prius will wear out - it is normally good for around 5 to 6 years but can last longer. Unfortunately it loses it's strength when left in place too long and will go dead much quicker if the car isn't driven daily.
Each one has a 3 year warranty and all cost between $199 and $237 dollars. The Toyota Truestart battery runs between $176 dollars and $237 which is basically the same as aftermarket.
One of the best ways to extend the lifespan of hybrid vehicles' batteries is to coast to a stop instead of coming to hard stop. Coasting generates kinetic energy that charges and consequentially extends the battery's life, so coast to stops as much as is possible. You can also coast when going down big hills, too.
It will take some time for the power transfer to complete from one battery to another. So, the answer to the can you drive a hybrid without the battery is yes, only if one of the battery is functioning.
What are the disadvantages of a hybrid car?
- They are not as environmentally friendly as plug-in hybrids or electric cars.
- You may not get as many discounts or incentives.
- Servicing and maintenance charges can be higher.
- They aren't as powerful.
- They are not exempt from tax.
When the battery becomes discharged to a certain point, the car is programmed to fire up the gasoline engine, which normally would recharge the battery as it propels the car. Toyota says its Prius, and other hybrids, will not generate electricity unless they've been turned on, which requires a charged 12-volt battery.
Hybrids aren't yet considered equals to conventional cars by the used car trade, though, and dealerships can still be inclined to offer lower part-exchange values for hybrids than they might for a petrol or diesel. Don't expect this to be reflected by low asking prices on the forecourts, however.
For many people wondering if hybrid cars are worth it, the answer is probably not. The reality is that in most cases, hybrid cars end up costing you more money than buying a gas powered car. Better fuel efficiency means fewer trips to the gas station, which means you save money.
The consensus is that leaving a hybrid with nickel-metal-hydride batteries such as yours stored for three months should be okay, but four-five months might be pressing it a bit. With the car shut off, there is no parasitic drain on the main battery so it will retain a charge for a long time.
As for cost, most experts agree a replacement hybrid car battery can range anywhere from $1,000 to more than $6,000, depending on the year and model of car, and without including dealership or independent labor costs. While this may seem like a big expense, car makers are set on reducing prices.
When the battery in your hybrid car starts to go, you have options instead of a total replacement. Hybrid battery reconditioning can save you THOUSANDS of dollars over the cost of a new battery. Reconditioning is effective, too, and can restore your battery's performance to over 90% of its original capacity.
