Is My Toyota Prius or Civic Hybrid Battery Dying?
Back in 2005 I purchased a brand new Gen II Prius. After 11 good years of driving with no major problems I still always wondered...How long does a hybrid battery last and what warning signs will I see when it is close to complete failure?
After doing some research I found out a few things that you need to be looking for.
5 Warning Signs Your Hybrid Battery Needs Replacing or Rebuilding
1. Lower MPG
If you are a MPG watcher like me, this should stand out immediately! Now there are several factors which can adversely affect your MPG. Some of these include tire pressure, fluctuations in weather , and more so make sure you take those factors into consideration as well.
2. State of Charge (SOC)
This is not an easy sign to see in plain sight, but if you watch this screen on your MFD and you find large fluctuations in your SOC, this is a definite sign that either your hybrid battery or the charging system is having issues, but most likely the battery. If you watch your SOC on your multi-function display and find large swings in your charge rates, this is an obvious sign. If it gets to purple, which unless you are using EV mode it really shouldn’t, then a few minutes later you find it in the green. This should be something to keep an eye on.
3. Your ICE (internal combustion engine) is running more than the usual
This, again is something that is hard to pinpoint. The ICE can at times run erratically, it may even stop at strange times or run much longer at others. From my own experience this is not normal. The more often it occurs, this can be pointing to a problem with your hybrid battery.
4. Decrease In MPG, during acceleration.
If you watch your MFD during moderate acceleration, it should never really go below 10MPG. Any lower than that identifies an upcoming hybrid battery failure.
5. High mileage
This should be very easy to see. Back when Toyota sold the Prius models, they said the battery should last the life of the vehicle. If you are at or near 200K mi, look at the rest of the signs above and really think and possibly start planning ahead for your battery’s inevitable demise!
Conclusion:
If you find your Toyota Prius, Civic, or Camry showing any of these symptoms above, start planning ahead. If you live in the state of Florida or in the Tampa Bay area and would like to get a diagnosis on your hybrid battery call Paul at 727-565-5685. You can visit our website also. Call now for our $499.00 Hybrid specials.