1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Optima battery bad "again"

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PriusGuy32, Jan 2, 2014.

  1. Frank06

    Frank06 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    51
    5
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    ... which is what I did after enjoying 6 years reliable service from the OEM battery. Same price and better quality, why not?


    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
    Mike500 likes this.
  2. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Smart move, Patrick!
     
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I agree with you. Having owned several Toyotas, I've had occasion to purchase at least five 12V batteries in recent years from local Toyota dealer part departments in Orange County and Tucson. In all cases, the batteries were of recent manufacture (even those shipped from Japan) and were fully-charged.

    Recently though, some dealership parts departments have established extremely high pricing on Prius 12V batteries which naturally will encourage owners to seek reasonable alternatives. Here is one such alternative:
    http://www.atbatt.com/exide-starting-battery-group-s46b24r-for-toyota-prius.asp

    I bought that battery for the 2007. Unfortunately the vent hole size is not the same as the original equipment GS Yuasa and the battery did not come with a vent elbow so I need to devise a substitute fitting.

    Here is another alternative:


    I don't have any experience with that one, it's brand name is not known to me.
     
  4. Frank06

    Frank06 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2011
    51
    5
    0
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Not to say I didn't shop around! I don't know why the parts places don't have an OEM equivalent, it can't be that hard.

    The biggest hassle is that the dealer is an hour away although they will do a free installation if you bought the car from them.

    Nexus 7 ? 2
     
  5. stevemcelroy

    stevemcelroy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2009
    873
    193
    0
    Location:
    Boulder, CO
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    OP - I bought mine a couple of years ago so my memory is far from fresh, but I believe that the warranty stipulates that service is provided through the company the battery is purchased from and not Optima. If this is indeed the case you are likely stuck unless Jim sees the post and can help out.

    I'd suggest trying to find someone at Advance who cares about service more than the kid working the register - perhaps the store manager or a call to the company HQ. Good luck.
     
  6. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

    Joined:
    May 24, 2011
    851
    187
    0
    Location:
    TN, USA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Luck of the draw I guess but when I bought mine online from Advance Auto they shipped me a new one in a box that was clearly designed just for shipping this battery. Presumably the one I got came from a distribution center instead of from my local stores.

    Mine arrived with a reasonable charge level, I topped it off with my ctek and then have used it ever since. Not even a hint of a problem.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm thinking shelf life can be a big factor, and that's where the Toyota battery has an advantage. Third party batteries maybe be sitting around longer, be stored in less than ideal conditions.
     
    PriusGuy32 likes this.
  8. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2011
    3,318
    1,103
    0
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I will say this. When I replaced our 12 volt, I went with the battery from Toyota. Straight out of the box the battery measured 13.0 volts with a digital volt meter.

    Whatever you buy, make sure it is fully charged before you install it. Don't accept a battery that is discharged as it has already begun to sulfate.
     
    Britprius likes this.
  9. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    I'm glad that they changed the battery with the GEN III. There is no vent tube. The compartment is vented, and you can actually install a larger battery, fits.
     
  10. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    The dreaded duplicate post!
     
  11. alekska

    alekska Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    435
    138
    0
    Location:
    Atl
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Please do not blame the battery (whatever brand it is). First you need to address WHY your battery does not charge properly when you are driving, or WHY does it discharge too low when the car is off and not used. You probably have got a parasite discharge circuit in your car. Or oxidized connectors, etc.
    - Alex
     
  12. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    Oh, Im blaming the battery, especially after the posts as of recent here, and on other forums I frequent regarding Optimas quality control issues.

    Plus, the battery was 6 or 8 months old when I bought it, spent its life sitting on a shelf with no charging. I brought it home, charged it, and never got a full healthy resting value out of it BEFORE I installed it.

    BUT dealing with Advance Auto Parts teenage kids running the place, I exchanged it once under similar circumstance, I figured it has a 3 year full warranty and I'd use it until it became ridiculous. I believe at 11.1v without a load, Im at that point (y)

    Bottom line: battery blamed.
     
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You might also measure voltage on the 12V bus when the Prius is READY, which should be around 13.8V. That will provide evidence that the DC/DC converter is operational.
     
  14. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    I usually am at around 14.0v most of the time. Occasionally, after a while of driving if I measure it, it will go down to 13.8v.
     
  15. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    It's great, if you have a ScanGaugeII.
     
  16. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,411
    506
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four

    I had one, but sold it on ebay once I got the Techstream software and cable :cool:
     
  17. alekska

    alekska Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2010
    435
    138
    0
    Location:
    Atl
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Ok, I guess you are right. I have never dealt of the battery that can not be CHARGED above 11.1 V. Sounds like not enough acid in electrolyte maybe, or wrong chemical composition of the electrodes.

    For a healthy fully charged battery 6 or 7 month on the shelf should not be critical. So yours was probably a lemon.

    - Alex
     
  18. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2008
    4,003
    944
    118
    Location:
    Los Angeles Foothills
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A


    I have two of these units. One for the 4Runner that sit around quite a bit, but never fails to crank right right up, and one for the Prius! They work great , when you remember to plug them in when the Prius sits around for extended periods without driving!
    Just yesterday I had to replace my old Optima! It just gave out....about 5 years use!
    About a hour or so of light work, new battery in, Good to Go!
    The old Optima was out of warranty! Got a new one. I am glad I saved the OEM battery posts and ground wire.
    The new Optima was the new Prius version.! Smaller post sizes!
    With a new battery all those stupid little quirky things have ceased to trouble me or the car, which now runs fine!!!

     
  19. turnbowm

    turnbowm Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    80
    5
    0
    Location:
    So. Calif.
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Optima used to make a good product, but that ended when they moved their production operations to Mexico several years ago. Quality went down the tubes and they've never been the same.
     
  20. Mike500

    Mike500 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2012
    2,593
    763
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Two
    Happens ALL the time. They reduce the quality and NOT the price. They WALK away with MORE of your money.