Recently, I’ve encountered a problem where my Toyota Aqua 2015 (a Japanese import) only gets 18 to 19 km/L on highway (RON 97). Previously, the mileage on the same fuel was between 21 and 23 km/l.
I used Liquimoli Injector Cleaner, Liquimoli Engine Oil (0W20), Toyota Genuine Air Filter, Toyota Genuine Oil Filter, Toyota Genuine AC Air Filter, Tyre Pressure 30, and Tire Size 185/65/15 after some discussion in the group (changed recently). I am still getting between 18 and 19 km/l after doing all of these things.
I bought an OBDII gadget and the Torque pro app after doing some internet study to determine the *Health of the Hybrid Battery
That the torque pro app dashboard displays values that constantly change to unexpected levels is quite weird.
I’m looking for assistance in figuring out what these attachments signify and how to assess the battery’s health.
In This Article...
How long does a battery for a Toyota Aqua last?
The majority of hybrid car manufacturers claim that a battery pack will typically last 80,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Toyota went one step further prior to 2020 by providing a warranty that covered its hybrid batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first.
Worse Fuel Economy
The exceptional fuel economy of the Prius is, for the majority of people, one of the key draws to owning one in the first place.
A Prius can travel far more miles on a typical tank of gas because it combines a gasoline engine and an electric motor.
Therefore, if you discover that your Prius’s once-fantastic fuel efficiency starts to decline, that could be a warning that the batteries are gradually losing capacity.
Well, it’s fairly simple, really. You see, the Prius’ batteries would have no trouble continuously supplying the electric motor with energy if they were in good condition and maintained their charge as they should.
Simply said, having healthy batteries in your Prius means you’ll be able to travel farther before engaging the gas engine.
But what if the Prius’ batteries weren’t performing as well as they used to?
The car would thus end up using the gas engine more frequently. It will consequently use up more of the fuel in its tank more quickly than usual.
Therefore, if your Prius starts using more gas than usual, that is typically a very telling sign of battery failure.
State of Charge Problems
Another expression you’ll frequently hear is “state of charge.” Simply put, that is a reference to the battery-life indicator on your Prius.
The Prius’s internal center console is normally where you can locate the state of charge indicator.
The light should read 100% when the batteries in your Prius are fully charged.
The batteries’ state of charge will decrease as you drive and their energy level decreases to reflect this.
Suppose the batteries in your Prius are deteriorating over time. If that’s the situation, you might see issues with their charge.
These unpredictable fluctuations in the status of charge are a blatant sign that your Prius hybrid’s batteries are failing, as they wouldn’t occur in a vehicle with healthy batteries.
Battery Can’t Hold A Charge
Your Prius’ batteries not holding a charge is just another telltale sign that they aren’t functioning as well as they once did.
In plainer language, that indicates that they continue to lose energy even after being completely charged.
Imagine, for instance, that you drove to work in your Prius first thing in the morning.
The battery of the car should often still be completely charged. The battery is, however, only at 75% or even lower.
A battery’s condition deteriorates when it can no longer maintain a full charge.
The battery will continue to lose more and more of its capacity to hold a full charge if you keep using it.
The only option left to you eventually is to completely replace the car’s battery.
The Combustion Engine Runs Often
The Prius is a hybrid car, thus it will mostly use its electric motor and only convert to its gas engine when it is essential.
The frequency with which the combustion engine starts up and takes over should be known to you if you’ve been driving your Prius for a sufficient amount of time.
Let’s say you observe that the gas engine is used more frequently than it once was. That is an obvious sign of a dead battery.
To put it simply, the car is unable to extract enough power from those batteries to run the electric motor.
Because of this, it is forced to convert to using the combustion engine, which is fuelled by the gas tank.
This will occur more frequently as the batteries continue to degrade, as you might anticipate.
Therefore, it is advised to change the Prius’ batteries when you find this is happening more frequently.
Unusual Engine Noises
As you can see from a few of the previous statements, the Prius’s excessive reliance on its internal combustion engine is a blatant sign of battery failure.
Your combustion engine will endure more wear and tear the longer that continues.
Additionally, it may cause unintended consequences or symptoms, such issues with the combustion engine.
Let’s say you let this to go on for a while. As a result, the gas engine can begin to experience issues of its own and might even start to make odd noises.
Keep in mind that as your Prius’ batteries wear out and it becomes more and more dependent on its combustion engine, it effectively becomes the same as any other conventional car on the road.
Accordingly, the chance of engine issues increases, just as it does for non-hybrid vehicles.
Benefits of Toyota Hybrid Health Check
- Our specialists are in a wonderful position to keep your Toyota Hybrid system operating at its peak level because they are familiar with your hybrid car inside and out.
- We will examine the entire hybrid system and compile a written report that provides you with all the details you require to comprehend the condition of your hybrid car.
- It’s the best approach to ensure that your hybrid system is working properly, alerting you to any problems and assisting in maintaining peak performance.
How much will it cost?
You are entitled to a Free Hybrid Health Check with any Hybrid service as a hybrid owner. However, if you aren’t yet due for a service, you can still take advantage of the Hybrid Health Check for just $45!
Cutaway model of the nickel metal hydride battery pack that was exhibited at the 2012 Automotive Engineering Exposition
The nickel metal hydride battery pack is visible in a cutaway model underneath the back seat and is enclosed in a protective frame. A red cap next to the battery pack designates a 12V auxiliary battery (more details later).
Nickel metal hydride battery cutaway model. The oval black part on the left is a little cooling blower.
Battery and associated parts
View from the cargo area of the battery and related components under the back seat (seat was removed before disassembly). For the battery pack to fit under the back seat of the modern Prius, it has to be lighter and 20% smaller in volume. The auxiliary battery (right) and a dark-colored compact exhaust ducting in the background are exhibited with the nickel metal hydride battery stored in the middle of the silver box.
covering the legroom on the back seat. The nickel metal hydride battery pack for the modern Prius is installed beneath the floor of the trunk area behind the back seat. The battery pack for the New Aqua is located under the back seat. A covering that has an opening for the little cooling blower’s inlet (the gridded area to the right) protects the battery.
Battery pack with nickel metal hydride cells provided by Primearth EV Energy. The hybrid battery connection block is seen in the center of the left-side view as a black casing with a white coating (containing relays). The service plug grip is the black component to the left of the battery in the right-side photo. The service plug grip accepts a high-voltage cable that connects the nickel metal hydride battery pack to the PCU. When the high-voltage wire is yanked out, the power supply is turned off. The coupler with the battery voltage sensor is the white rectangular, covered component to the left of the service plug grip. The air entrance port from the little cooling blower is seen as a black ducting under the battery in the left-side shot. Between the battery modules, the air moves from bottom to top before finally leaving through the little exhaust duct visible above the battery in the right-side image.
a little blower that forces air onto the battery to force cooling. The rectangular hole at the bottom left draws air into the battery. The blower has dimensions of 200 (H), 150 (W), and 150 mm (D).
View from above of the 12V auxiliary battery installed under the back seat on the right side of the car (provided by GS Yuasa Battery). After cooling the nickel metal hydride battery pack, air exits through a small exhaust ducting (the black object in the center that runs next to the auxiliary battery).
An expanded picture of the relay-based hybrid battery junction block from Denso. The resistor is the white object at the bottom of the image. The current sensor, SMRP (pre-charge relay), SMRG (positive side main relay), and SMRB are the black objects from left to right (negative side main relay).
An expanded view of the battery voltage sensor from Denso. The coupler (connection), which is white and situated on the right side of the nickel metal hydride battery pack, is that object.
Images of the exposed nickel metal hydride battery pack with the arrow pointing forward. Twenty battery modules, each containing six cells, total 120 cells in the battery pack (as opposed to the existing Prius’s 28 modules). The battery pack’s center contains three temperature sensors that measure the temperature of the modules at both ends and in the middle. The battery pack has dimensions of 300 (D), 600 (W), and 100mm (H). Every module is roughly 20 mm wide. In comparison to the existing Prius, the Aqua’s battery pack features 48 fewer cells and a 29% smaller space.
When should my hybrid battery be changed?
How Frequently Should a Hybrid Battery Be Replaced? A hybrid automobile battery should be replaced every 15 years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first).
A Toyota hybrid battery costs how much?
I’m sorry to hear that your Toyota RAV4 hybrid’s battery is failing! A Toyota RAV4 Hybrid battery replacement costs between $2,000 and $5,000 if you require a new one. But whether you get a brand-new, used, or refurbished battery will determine this.
However, look at the warranty on your hybrid battery before you spend that sum. Unless you’ve already driven more than 100,000 miles, the dealership should respect your warranty since you purchased your car in 2016. Toyota’s hybrid battery warranty was eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first, prior to 2019.
Use the Jerry app to compare auto insurance rates if your battery is out of warranty and you need some cash to replace it.
Jerry is a certified insurance broker who can quickly get quotations from more than 50 highly regarded insurers. Jerry can assist you in purchasing new insurance and canceling your old policy after you discover a fantastic quote for your Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Every year, users save $887 on average.
How frequently should Toyota hybrid batteries be changed?
Hybrid batteries normally last between 8 and 10 years, however typical automotive batteries only last between 3 and 5 years. A hybrid battery pack typically has a lifespan of 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
However, battery warranties for Toyota cars are good for the first 10 years or 150,000 miles. Toyota will replace your battery for free if it dies before then!
It’s even been said that some Toyota batteries can survive for more than 200,000 kilometers. You shouldn’t have to worry about your battery for a while because the typical American only drives 10,000 miles annually.
Start saving on auto insurance with Jerry to help cover the cost of your inescapable battery replacement. The Jerry app, a registered broker, will help you compare customised rates from more than 50 leading companies like Progressive and Nationwide for nothing. Jerry can assist you in purchasing new insurance and even in canceling your old policy when you discover a lower rate.
How can I make my hybrid’s battery last longer?
Anyone committed to lowering their carbon footprint has either bought or is considering buying one of Toyota’s hybrid vehicles. A hybrid vehicle is not only more cost-effective than a conventional vehicle in terms of gasoline and maintenance, but it is also better for the environment. The battery is the most important component of a hybrid car, and as a result, these batteries have an incredible lifespan that can range from five to ten years, depending on variables like driving patterns and how frequently the car is used. But if you take certain precautions, you might be able to prolong the life of your hybrid’s battery even further, which is why we at Westbury Toyota have compiled a short piece of advice for you to keep in mind.