2009 FEH with 250k miles.

I had an issue this summer with the A/C compressor going out half way to Las Vegas. Had the compressor replaced when we got there. A few days later the AC stopped working again. Traced it to a leak in the A/C line that runs to the battery pack. I replaced that line and the pack fans and blend door actuator at the same time. Now the battery level indicator stays in the middle couple bars all the time. I can drive electric for maybe a mile or two before the ICE kicks on when before I use to be able go for much long than that and watch the battery indicator run down to 1 or 2 bars before the ICE turned on. I was also able to regen down large hills before and get the battery up to the top level. Now regen goes away at 1-2 bars above halfway.

Thinking the lack of A/C in 115F degree heat may have done something to the HV battery.

Is there a way to recondition the battery on my own before I replace it? I saw a thread a while ago that used light bulbs but I cannot find it now.

Anything else I can try?

Apologies if this has been covered. I have been searching the forum for a while without much luck.

Best regards
Brett

 

(1) Probably a factor, but only one small part of the overall process causing battery degradation over the course of 10 years/250K miles. Your battery likely has lost > 50% of it's capacity over its lifetime. The period of operation in heat/inop A/C is probably only a very small portion of it. It just happens to coincide with your perception of battery capacity loss.

COLD may also be a factor. If the battery pack is below 50°F, it can be very sluggish, particularly on regenerative charge.

(2) Yes. First, you would need to remove the pack, open it, remove the relay, remove the relay cover, attach leads to hot side of the relay, reinstall relay, charge it for 25 hours at 350mA using a home-built charger ($50) while providing active battery cooling. Once charged, you would discharge the battery through the same connection using 3X incandescent light bulbs in series down to 200V, then charge again for 25 hours.

Check recent threads for the HV jump start issue on the newer units w/o built-in HV jump start