I've been asked to document the process I use to recondition Prius HV batteries. WARNING: Do not do what I am doing here. It is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and you have been warned. I take no responsibility for what happens to you if you go inside your hybrid battery. You can easily electrocute yourself with 250 volts direct current.
Staining on the metal case below the modules is a telltale sign of leakage
This is an abnormal amount of corrosion on the module.
Check for broken voltage sense wires. Some corrosion on the nuts and busbars is normal
Numbered modules means that someone has already been here before me
Remove all the terminal nuts and bus bar holders
Removing module bolts from underneath
More evidence of leaking modules
Removing temp sensors and bottom tray
Streaks from leaking electrolyte
Better view of the staining
Corrosion from the outside of the terminal is not normal. Also, staining on the side of the module
Let's remove the vent tubes before disassembly
This is a good time to check the voltage of each module and make note of any that are significantly lower
Remove the 4, 12mm head bolts holding the battery together. Battery must be cool or modules will swell and can be damaged
Turn each module over and check the bottom for leaks, including the hold down threaded socket
aha.. the two that were near the leak show leakage/corrsion on their bottoms
Putting it back together (would have been easier to disassemble from the other side)
the two labeled modules are tested replacements for the leaking modules
Make sure all the modules are lined up squarely before bolting them back together. Tighten the bolts one at a time gradually to apply equal pressure. You must bolt the pack together before charging
Deoxit100 reverses corrosion
I work the Deoxit100 in with a brass brush. Do not do this with the bus bars installed or you will cause a short circuit!
When removing the busbars from their holders, spread the side of the orange holder so the busbar will clear the small orange protrusion
One side of the battery has the "voltage sense" harness that connects to the ECU inside the battery case, and the cables that bring power to and take power from the battery.
The voltage sense wires are connected to every other module, forming 14 blocks of two modules each. On this side you push the bus bar and silver tab for the voltage sense wire form the backside together while spreading the orange tab. The voltage sense tabs should be sprayed with Deoxit100 and gently brushed, if you can, without removing them from their orange holders in order to avoid breaking their connections.