Regular car (starting) battery - replacement timing recommendation?

well, no need to replace it yet, if it isn't giving you any trouble. there is no notification, but one thing to think about is draining the battery. if you ever do this by leaving a light on or a door open, it can drastically reduce the life of the battery. also, if you run mostly short trips or drive it infrequently, that's another problem. otherwise, if you want to be proactive, change it after around 4-5 years.

 

If your battery is healthy now, Fall 2015 would be four years for your battery and about the right time to replace it to avoid the inconvenience of getting stranded because of a weak battery. My OEM battery failed at 4 years and 5 months.

 

You can get an idea of the 12 volt battery's health by hooking up a digital multimeter. If it's 12.6 volt or higher it's in good shape. Lower than 12.4 and you need to keep an eye on it, either use a smart charger (4 amp range, higher not recommended) or get it replaced.

 

This is after the car sitting overnight, not while its on or right after.

 

I have a ScanGauge II that monitors the voltage continuously.

Given the numerous users who have had problems with the Optima batteries, I was considering only OE replacement batteries from my Toyota dealer.

However, I will now probably get this one from Batteries +p;us, since it has a FULL four year replacement warranty.

SLI51PAGM Duracell Ultra Platinum AGM Battery
- 2010 to 2014 L4 1.8L 325CCA Hybrid - Prius - Toyota - Car and Truck - Batteries Plus

Even nicer is that there is a Batteries Plus store less than a quarter mile down the road from me.

 

Interesting find. No mention of the AH rating. Being a Prius specific battery I'd assume that a vent port is included.

 

I just replaced mine this weekend after 5 years. It was reading 11.2 volts on the diagnostic menu after sitting overnight and would drop to 10.9 with the headlights on. With the inverter charging it, it read at 14.0. After a twenty minute drive and a couple hours sitting, it read 11.6 with a voltmeter. Decided to just go to the dealer for the replacement - they're not all evil.

 

true, just most of them. if you have a good one, you're fortunate.

 

You should replace it when it fails.

The 12 V battery in our hybrids does NOT actually start the car in the c0nventional sense; it just powers up the computers and the actual starting power comes from the HVB.

As it gets weak, all sorts of strange things might begin to happen, electronically, even though the car still starts and runs.

Most folks seem to get 4-5 years out of their OEM battery......but some much less due to abuse at the dealer or very light use by the owner.

 

4 years is being very safe. Mine failed at about 5 years, and I was left stranded n a parking lot when it happened. I wish we got more life out of our 12volt batteries. I got 7 years out of a stock impala, and got 9 years out of a dodge battery.

 

uh-oh, my dodge is an '05.

 

My Gen 2 Prius made it 9 years 11 months on its original 12 volt. battery. I got an OE at Toyota, why not? If it makes it five years I got my money's worth.

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I purchased the Duracell SLI51PAGM yesterday and wanted to answer these two questions.
The rating on the top of the battery is 46Ah
And it does have a vent port.

My original 12v battery on my 2007 Prius gave out.
When I tested it the voltages were
9.8v ACC mode
9.5v On
14.0v in "ready" mode

With those low voltages I am surprised it was working at all. I won't complain since the car got 7 and a half years out of the original Toyota battery.

 

after 7 1/2 years, what made you decide against another one?