12V Battery Upgrade: non-Smart Key (35A h) to Smart Key (45A h)

All the recent talk about Optima reminded me to post my 12V battery upgrade parts, prices, and pictures.

I have a non-Smart Key Prius. It was CHEAPER to upgrade the battery and bottom battery tray clamp versus, buying the smaller non-smart key 12V battery: $190.14 (smart key total) -$215.04 (stock non-smart key battery)= $24.90 SAVINGS.

74440-47020 Clamp Assy (Battery w/ Smart Entry) $12.13 (Camelback, no tax, free shipping b/c large order).
00544-21171-325 Battery 12V (45A H, Smart Key) $163.31 (Carson Toyota, local dealer) +$14.70 Tax = $178.01.
I had to pressure Carson Toyota a little to knock the price down. I kept questioning how other dealers, who have an online presence, were way lower. Eventually they gave in, and gave me their best price of $163.31; still higher than Cameback, Olateh, and others. But, since these batteries can not be shipped, and the other online dealers were too far to drive to, I did well.
TOTAL Cost: $12.13 + $178.01 = $190.14

28800-21181 Battery (35A h, non-Smart Key) $219.20 (cheapest rate; range was $220, $230, $235, $240, $245)
$219.20 -$21.92 (10% discount AAA member) = $197.28 + $17.76 (tax) = $215.04 final total

The two bolts holding the bottom battery tray clamp are torqued to 48inch-pound. These are the same bolt as the upper battery clamp bolt.

The fusible link block assembly needs to moved into the other hole, as seen in the attached picture.

I am glad that I ultimately went with the Toyota smart key 12V battery instead of the Optima, after having asked folks on this site for their opinion.
Toyota Smart Key 12V Battery: 45A hr, 7 year warranty
Optima Yellow Top: 38A hr, 3 year warranty.

 

You made me curious. I had assumed the batteries were a few months after production, but was wrong.
WHITE manufacture sticker reads: 21-November-2013. Don't know what "W," stands for.
BLUE distribution sticker reads: May 2014.


I did take DVM (Digital Volt Meter) readings.
12.94V - initial reading at home, uninstalled, and not recharged; someone probably recharged it at least once.
13.10V - after recharging for 6 hours with a smart AGM compatible AGM battery charger; surface charge giving a false high reading.
13.04V - prior to installation, after being disconnected from AGM recharger and sitting on floor for 12+ hours; surface charge likely gone, a likely true voltage reading.

Hope this battery lasts well beyond 7 years.

Original 35A h, non-smart key 12V battery, had a reading of 12.64V (on the garage floor, unconnected to anything, for 12+ hours). WHITE manufacture date of 18-March-2007. I guess 7 years, 3.5 months for this battery is pretty good. Maybe could have squeezed a few more months out of it.

 

Bummer, should have recharged the small 35A hr, 12V battery prior to core return, as a final check. However, back in June, I had recharged it with the AGM compatible smart charger (Schumacher SSC-1500A), in the car, following the Toyota's procedure: disconnect the negative ground cable from the negative battery post.

After the charger said the battery was recharged, I disconnected the charger and let the battery sit, unconnected to the negative battery cable until the next afternoon (about 12 hours). When I reconnected the negative cable I had these readings, at the battery posts:
12.39V - no load, all doors closed, no interior lights on, trunk light switched off
12.17V - power button pressed once, all accessories (ie radio) off, all doors closed, no interior lights on, including trunk light
11.96V - power button pressed twice w/o stepping on brake (Ig-on), all doors closed, no interior on, trunk light off

Interesting how it was 12.64V on the floor in July, not recharged with the smart AGM charger, and assuming the car kept it charged. But in June 12.39V after a recharge, but connected to the car. I guess connecting it to the car causes a .3V drop?

Same DVM used for all Voltage measurements.