Assalamu Alaikum, readers of The Auto Pulse! Today, we’re bringing you a specific, money-saving guide for Toyota hybrid vehicle owners. If you are buying or maintaining a hybrid car—such as the Toyota Prius, Aqua, Camry, or Axio—your biggest concern is likely the health of the Hybrid Battery (HV Battery).
In this post, we will show you how to accurately check the hybrid battery’s condition without opening, disassembling, or replacing anything. We will use a "Load Test" method using a scanner. Watch our full video guide below!
Step 1: Required Tools
- OBD Diagnostic Scanner: You can use the official Toyota Techstream or a universal scanner like Launch.
- Software: Laptop with Techstream or an Android phone with a scanning app.
- Data Sheet: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (Link provided below).
Step 2: Prepare the "Load Test"
Simply scanning the car isn't enough. You need to put the battery under load to see the weak cells. Here is the procedure mentioned in the video:
- Charge the Battery: Let the engine run until the hybrid battery is fully charged (around 60-80%).
- Apply Load: With the engine off (EV mode), turn on the Headlights and turn the AC to the lowest temperature (LO) with the fan speed on MAX.
- Shift to Neutral: Put the gear lever in Neutral (N). This stops the engine from turning on to recharge the battery.
- Monitor Voltage: Watch the battery voltage drop. We are looking to drop it to roughly 24.7% State of Charge or until the car beeps.
⚠ WARNING: As soon as the car beeps or voltage gets critical, immediately shift back to Park (P) to let the engine restart and charge the battery. Do not let it die completely!
Step 3: Analyze the Voltage Blocks
While the battery is under load (stress), take a screenshot or photo of the "Battery Block Voltages" in your scanner data list.
What to Look For:
Enter your voltage numbers into our Excel sheet to calculate the difference.
- ✔ Healthy Battery: The difference between the strongest and weakest block is less than 0.20V.
- ⚠ Weak Battery: A difference of 0.30V or higher indicates a block is near the end of its life.
Download Calculation Sheet
We have created a file that automatically calculates the difference for you.
📥 Download Battery Health Excel File
Conclusion
Using this "Load Test" method, you can catch a bad hybrid battery even if the check engine light isn't on yet. This is essential when buying a used Prius or Aqua.
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