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Dead battery over the weekend.....

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Ddcr.net, Mar 11, 2013.

  1. Ddcr.net

    Ddcr.net New Member

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    Okay so I have a 2011 Prius. I have come home 3 times now after a long weekend and the battery is dead. I did leave the key fob in it the first time (only) and realized that was a mistake so I replaced the battery with a optima thinking that maybe the OEM battery was shot. So now I've come home to find my prius dead twice, easily jumpstarted, and key fobs well away from the car. I did install a Aftermarket Rosen nav system. But other than that the car is totally stock. Has anyone else experienced coming home to a dead battery for no reason?
     
    #1 Ddcr.net, Mar 11, 2013
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  2. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Nope, hopefully a Technician will advise.

    Perhaps the battery is defective.
     
    #2 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
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  3. Ddcr.net

    Ddcr.net New Member

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    Ironically my initials Jmd as well lol. I have been reading that the Optima batteries may be junk but I have always had great luck with them. I guess I will take it to Toyota as I continue to search the net on the issue. Thank you for your help.
     
    #3 Ddcr.net, Mar 11, 2013
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  4. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Maybe the installer did not connect the ground wire correctly. I'm not a mechanic so sorry I cannot be good for you.
     
    #4 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
  5. Ddcr.net

    Ddcr.net New Member

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    I was the installer and I am pretty sure I grounded it properly in fact grounded so well that I can use it without the parking brake on meaning the navigation use of coarse while driving.
     
    #5 Ddcr.net, Mar 11, 2013
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  6. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Than a Fuse or a defective battery.
     
    #6 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
  7. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Maybe a moderator can move the thread to the technical discussion forum.
     
    #7 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Optima = Battery problems... Get a full refund!
     
    #8 PriusCamper, Mar 11, 2013
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  9. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    The OEM Toyota battery is the way to go. You car is fairly new so I wonder if the battery is still under warranty.
     
    #9 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    OEM battery is way overpriced and way lower quality than a battery at a much lower price!
     
    #10 PriusCamper, Mar 11, 2013
  11. Ddcr.net

    Ddcr.net New Member

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    I already bought the new Optima and gave the OEM battery back as a core. The guys down at the NAPA auto parts store know me real well so if there's a problem with the Optima they would take it back any time for me. I am just waiting for some more answers and looking for some more information. Thanks everyone for your help!
     
    #11 Ddcr.net, Mar 11, 2013
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  12. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    #12 JMD, Mar 11, 2013
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    In that case, this is the first suspect. What have you done to rule it out as a problem?

    Also make very sure all the interior lights are off.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Mar 11, 2013
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  14. boppo

    boppo Active Member

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    Don't shoot my but I have had a yellow top now for 3 year and it works ok. I still have the 7 year old OEM and it still holds a charge, my Camry battery which was 5 years old would not start the car this winter so I took the original 06 battery out of the garage and jumped the Camry. Then went to auto zone for a me one.
     
    #14 boppo, Mar 11, 2013
  15. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    I'm guessing it is one of these issues too.
     
    #15 SteveLee, Mar 11, 2013
  16. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Was the new battery fully charged before installation? Did you try charging the battery?
     
    #16 JimN, Mar 11, 2013
  17. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    There's one guy who went into a Prius repair shop for a bad optima battery and he was shown 10 additional optima batteries that died when they were new. There's other post on here about Optima batteries being Dead on Arrival. I'm sure your local Napa store is aware of what kind of crap they're selling.

    I can dig the links up later if you want, but anyone who's worked in the auto business for 20 years knows optima went from greatest quality to worst quality when they built a new toxic waste dump/low budget factory in Mexico where there are no enviro-protection laws. Optima is run by a bunch of sleazeball criminals with no concern for quality, just profit. Friends don't let friends buy Optima!!!
     
    #17 PriusCamper, Mar 11, 2013
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