Replacement of 12 volt auxiliary battery

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by suk

Come on! Don't stir with the gas emitted! The gas is only hydrogen and oxygen. While hydrogen is not poisonous and is not absorbed, oxygen is just what you are breathing for. And realize how leaky your car is when following a smoke belcher and how little gas the battery emits: the maintenance-free battery never need a sip of water for a 5-year life? Although I won't suggest that you ducktape the bat vent tube to your nostrils ...

If there is no problem, then there will be no problem; but if there is a problem, then there will be a problem: acid will be spewed inside the car, or an explosive gas mixture will be released inside the car. Defeat the vent tube at your peril.

[cyclone]

My wife's 2004 Prius was completely dead two weeks ago (no lights, doors wouldn't unlock) and had to be jumped, then yesterday didn't start after a 15 minute drive (though the electronics were all active) and had to be jumped. The good news for those in Silicon Valley, Yarnell's in Mountain View put in a new OEM unit for $138 plus tax (apparently they only charged for the battery, not labor).

Question:

- Is there a way for me to check the voltage level via the nav screen? Or can I use my $20 multimeter? If so, am I just checking voltage across the terminals with the car off, and can I do this from the jump location in the hood (between positive terminal and the body)? What should the voltage be?

Thanks!

Bill

[qbee42]

Originally Posted by cyclone

<snip>
Question:

- Is there a way for me to check the voltage level via the nav screen? Or can I use my $20 multimeter? If so, am I just checking voltage across the terminals with the car off, and can I do this from the jump location in the hood (between positive terminal and the body)? What should the voltage be?

Thanks!

Bill

Checking 12v Battery Health - Hybrid Car Forums

Tom

[donalmilligan089]

Originally Posted by dzitlow

Where can one obtain a replacement for the 12 volt auxiliary battery in the Prius? What are the specifications (e.g., product name, capacities, etc) and prices of the replacement 12 volt auxiliary battery?

I have one that is out of a 2005 prius that I replaced with optima yellow top simply because I needed more battery as I installed an electric lift for a wheel chair/ I would like to have $35.00 for it . The negative cable is with it. It holds over 12.33 volts while out of the car for days.It looks like new I believe it was replaced in the car before I bought it. Never had problem with it . Just needed more battery

[Johno]

Just replaced my 04 accessory battery at 55,000 miles (6 years old). It was discharging after sitting for a few days and the car wouldn't start. It did this three times in two weeks so I wised up and bought an Optima D-51 deep cycle battery locally. I used a bench grinder to alter standard battery cable ends to fit the old cables. Also, I used the grinder to lessen the diameter of the stock battery vent connector to fit in the smaller hole of the optima. I used gasket sealer to plug the vent hole on the other side of the optima. Works like a charm all for $144 from Advanced Auto parts. Bought online for a 15% discount on the battery (or any parts) and picked it up at the store.

[richard schumacher]

Originally Posted by cyclone

Or can I use my $20 multimeter?
If so, am I just checking voltage across the terminals with the car off, and
can I do this from the jump location in the hood (between positive terminal and the body)?
What should the voltage be?

Yes
Partly; also do it in ACC
Yes
12.4 to 12.8V with the car OFF, not much less than 12.0V in ACC. Less than that -> dying battery. More than that -> car is ON or in IG-ON, or there is a serious charging system fault.

Leave the car OFF for a few hours before measurement so that any misleading "surface charge" in the battery will have dissipated.

[smaneck]

Does anyone know how long the warranty on these 12 volt auxiliary batteries is? Mine was replaced two years ago and now they are telling me it is bad again.

I have a Prius Classic

[PeeDeePrius]

< Never-mind! Found answer.. It is Not..>

Greetings!

Perhaps this is the dumb question of the day, but does anyone know, for sure, if the 12V OEM battery is covered by the extended warranty (the one referred through PriusChat) ??

TIA!

[brownsnoutuk]

Napa has a $20 mail in rebate on the optima batteries.

[KD6HDX]

My Gen II 2005 Prius has a new Optima 12 volt aux battery from eLearnAid. The battery was easy to replace with the included instructions. I will admit that I changed out the 12 volt battery way ahead of time because I just did not want to take chances provoking a well known Achilles heel in the Prius. I still have the original 12 volt battery that is in use as a starter battery for my Honda Eu3000i generator. Each time I have changed out the battery, I have kept them and use them for amateur radio disaster readiness. The last California earthquake shakeout drill was on 10/21. The little batteries were in use in the generator and in my ham radio station on the air with battery power. I keep the batteries instead of exchanging them for the small core fee. Hopefully I will get 5 years of use out of the new Optima D51. It will be in use in the car since I just added a ham radio to the rear of the car. So far so good. A small jump battery was in use during the exchange to preserve the radio settings. I do believe I may actually be getting slightly better mileage with the bigger 12 volt battery. Maybe its the increased tire pressures of 40psi and 0-20w Mobil 1 oil in use that keeps me in the average range of 48-50 mpg, both city and highway averaged together. Not a scientific calculation by any means, but just a good average on average.