How best to get rid of a junk hybrid?

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by JSH

I would part what you can and then send it to the scrap yard or call one of those guys that will pay you $50 a haul away a car.

These guys will buy the battery: https://www.hybridrestoration.com/recycling

Both of those insurance prices sound very high to me. For 6 months I pay $297 for the 2011 Acura TSX and $341 for the 2017 Bolt. I have the liability max to $500K and a $100 deductible for comp and $250 for collision. So I'm paying the equivalent of $106 a month for 2 cars and living in a major metro area.

You both mentioned a monthly rate. Hopefully you aren't actually paying for insurance by the month as that costs 15 - 20% more than paying every 6 months or yearly. (Progressive's longest payment term is every 6 months for auto)

Do you guys bundle? When I shop insurance I shop everything together: Homeowners, auto, motorcycle, umbrella, RV.

EDIT: I also did the Progressive Snapshot offer where they track your driving for 30 days. That dropped my rate 25%

No, that's with an app that tracks my driving (excelent according to app) and a $1,000 deductible and only one ticket (speeding) in my life several years ago.

Again, my fault for living in one of the highest places for insurance in the USA and for buying a newer car. Before I used to pay around $50 a month.

[S Keith]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

That got me thinking that a very simple test to make sure the contactors are closing on the HV battery is to turn the car "on", and see if the 12v battery voltage increases. It should go to ~13.3v when the car is on, and the traction battery is supplying the DC-DC converter.

The contactors are LOUD. You hear them both quite clearly. Initial charging is to 14.0-14.2V, and it floats at 13.5V.

If you don't hear both, some fault is preventing the relays from closing.

[S Keith]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

That could possibly be the problem. But since there's no red triangle, and I'm not sure if the red triangle light even works, I guess I could try to connect with the Torque app to see if another module has failed.

However, a bad HV battery usually will still start the car, at least after unplugging the 12V and trying again. But I get zero response. The only thing that displays on the dash is the open door symbol.

Sound like your combo meter has failed. When combo meter fails, master warning, CEL, etc., don't work.

There are certain faults that will be immediately detected at power on.

Sitting for 3 years has almost certainly driven at least ONE of the 14 blocks to measure below 12V. The car will not start with a block lower than 12V.

I would see what Torque says and/or Hybrid Assistant if on Android.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by S Keith

Sound like your combo meter has failed. When combo meter fails, master warning, CEL, etc., don't work.

There are certain faults that will be immediately detected at power on.

Sitting for 3 years has almost certainly driven at least ONE of the 14 blocks to measure below 12V. The car will not start with a block lower than 12V.

I would see what Torque says and/or Hybrid Assistant if on Android.

Ya, I'll try.

I was starting it every month or so to try to keep the cells charged. But ya, it very well likely is a bad NiMH module.

[redpoint5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXmE_YaGVs4

[freebeard]

How best to get rid of a junk hybrid?

Why not Frankensteen together a 36HP flat four, crank-mounted 911 cooling fan and Audi 80 (Passat) transaxle to prove it would get the same mileage as the heavier hybrid?



[I added this to an album in 2013 ]

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by Isaac Zachary

The Prius has been driven 0 miles per year for the past 3 years and has cost me $-15 per month. Not bad I guess.

If you would have sold in 2022 you might have gotten as much for inop as you would get now for good running.

I didn’t sell back then and a good thing I didn’t because the car I wanted to sell ended up being the only one not requiring repairs.

Depending on the cars mileage and physical appearance you could put it up on marketplace as-is inop for a price you don’t expect to get, rarely pays to scrap out unless you have lots of space and time.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Why not Frankensteen together a 36HP flat four, crank-mounted 911 cooling fan and Audi 80 (Passat) transaxle to prove it would get the same mileage as the heavier hybrid?



[I added this to an album in 2013 ]

I'm very tempted to get a Karmann Ghia for my next car.

Originally Posted by redpoint5

Originally Posted by rmay635703

If you would have sold in 2022 you might have gotten as much for inop as you would get now for good running.

I didn’t sell back then and a good thing I didn’t because the car I wanted to sell ended up being the only one not requiring repairs.

Depending on the cars mileage and physical appearance you could put it up on marketplace as-is inop for a price you don’t expect to get, rarely pays to scrap out unless you have lots of space and time.

I know. I was trying to buy inopperable Prii for spare parts (make one car out of two) and couldn't get one for a reasonable price. I should have sold it then, back when it still ran and the dash, heater, A/C and infotainment all worked. I just don't understand why they have stopped one by one.

[freebeard]

I'm very tempted to get a Karmann Ghia for my next car.

Your target would be 50MPG:

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Your target would be 50MPG:

Of course. That an independence from mechanic shops as well as $50/month insurance in a car with perhaps the most produced engine in the world.