05 Prius - need battery help

So, around 3.5 years old for the batt.

At that age, I might have a go at recharging it before giving up and getting a new one.

 

If you use the search engine in the top right hand corner of this priuschat site, you will find many good discussions on the subject of 12v batteries. One of our most respected experts suggests using wheelchair batteries. If, however, you actually didn't know that cars need their 12v batteries replaced every 4-5 years, you probably need some help learning how to use tools, too ... find someone to teach you and/or hire a pro to get it installed.

 

The "shower of sparks" is easily avoided. You just unplug the 2 cables at the positive terminal. The thick black on and the small black one. That's why made them unpluggable. So as not to cause explosions back there.

I agree the dealer with an OEM battery is the best bet in your circumstance. It's not easy to install as the battery must be lifted and placed in the wheel well in the trunk. Both out and install back in. And really its the last place a car novice should mess with because if you somehow reverse the leads or short the battery out it will cause major $XXXX. damage. That's thousands btw.

Good Luck and stay safe.

 

That's a tall order, and it'd be really onerous on the store to oblige such requests. Asking that would just brown them off I think.

 

So, Ed, now you tell me!!!!

Hey, how come you didn't come up from Florida for my Iowa Corn Likker Fest?? Huh, Huh?
kris

 

Really? The lady at O'Reilly actually offered before I could ask. She brought out a really old one initially. I used to work retail and I never cared if the customer asked me to go out back and get the newest milk. Sure, the manager asks me to stock FIFO, the oldest out front but it was none of my concern if the customer wants a freshly made Big Mac instead of the ones staging under the heat lamp. I was actually trained to comply to customer requests of the like.

 

I would with optima yellow top battery.

Since your battery is only approx, 3.5 years old, get the voltage tested first before you spend the money on a new battery.




iPhone ?

 

I will just say it, AmSweet, I did not realize loverly Toyota decided to literally bury the 12v Battery in the later Gens unlike Gen1 that is more like a regular car tucked in the trunk well. I guess they have been monitoring all the DIY sites. Geez, that is horrible. My old Porsche battery is a big PITA too.

So to edit my initial post, NO, your FLAPS (Friendly Local Auto Parts Store) will not replace your battery, they do not dismantle as it is required to do on your Gen. They will only lend you tools if needed.

For a 1st timer, this is way too much work. I think you can do it like Kris did but apparently she was really determined and kudos for her in tackling this project even with the fireworks

I suggest going to a reputable Hybrid indie shop, they will be less than the dealer for sure and they, if they work on Prius, will have the same diagnostic tools while you are there. At least get a quote and compare prices.

As far as the cold is concerned, YES that is a factor as well as too much heat. If the battery has not been maintained with a trickle charger to help it de-sulphate it will have a short life cycle. Some of my Porsche club members change their battery every 2-3 years and they store them in the winter, guess what happens to their battery?

My other car's battery is going over 10 years now and still healthy because I de-sulphate it, in the beginning, I did not believe in it but I do now , hey but I am also in sunny SoCal

 

Correction: if the battery was replaced in May of 2012, it is AT LEAST 3.75 years old (plus who knows how long the battery was sitting on the shelf prior to install). And it has been damaged by at least one known full discharge. And this probably wasn't the first time. Would anyone here feel secure depending on a damaged, nearly 4 year old battery in the coldest part of a Virginia winter during a record breaking snowstorm? FYI: Testing under load can be done using the built-in computer. Great directions or the battery test can be found, here on priuschat. But then again, I worry about the OPs most basic technical skills.

 

On behalf of the Prius Chat family, I'd like to offer apologies for some of the abrasive comments that you received in regard to the care and maintenance of your Prius. We are here to help regardless of an owner's technical / mechanical abilities. That's what this forum is all about: helping Prius owners to get the most out of their vehicles, providing mechanical and technical information to assist with DIY repairs, suggesting alternate vendors / repair facilities for parts and repairs other than dealership stock (OEM), and providing up to date information on maintenance, recalls, common issues, and how to resolve them.

I am glad you decided to join our Prius family and hope that the forum helps to keep your Prius on the road for many more uneventful miles!!

A new Toyota battery is the way to go but should have lasted more than 4 years. Keep in mind that the Toyota battery does have a warranty, so you may be given a prorated discount if Toyota finds that the current battery is not functioning as it should. Before rushing out to buy a battery, I would stop in to a dealership to have the battery tested if you can not do this yourself.

Your battery could have discharged for a number of reasons including the smart key feature remaining activated while the car sat for nearly a week in very cold temperatures.

If you ever need to leave the car idle for any period of time, disengage the smart key and use a battery tender.

 

A week in winter temperatures is NOT the reason a healthy battery fails. Deep discharges (aka leaving the lights on or leaving a door open) and simple age cause a battery to die. It is fine advice to suggest Prius owners disengage a the smart key an/or trickle charge when not using the car for extended periods (a month or more). One week, however, is NOT an extended period that requires charging and/or smart key disengagement. I wouldn't trust the OP's battery with the recent failure and OP's insistence that she is "clueless". Who knows how often the OP or her relatives drained the battery, rendering the battery near death. Ultimately, it's the OP's peace of mind decision -- how soon does she want to call the the tow truck?

"How Long Does a Car Battery Last? | Angies List
http://www.angieslist.com/.../how-long-does-car-battery-last.htmAngie's List
Car batteries typically last about four or five years. Replace your car battery before it dies and leaves you stranded. Unfortunately, car batteries aren't able to tell you when they're about to die."

 

lol...corn likker...thats great

 

Hi Stafford Va!...quite a thread journey here sorry I am late.

We would expect the 12v battery to last longer assuming it is the original Toyota batt or the Yellow Top many of us have used in the past. But if the battery gets discharged for any reason (like you just had happen) then that event hurts the battery and replacement is probably a good idea per AAA guy.

On the 2005-2009 the smart key system is small constant drain. There is a button under the steering column to turn off the smart key system (SKS), we try to use it if we know the car will be sitting for a week or more. One week is not enough to drain a good battery but we do not know your usage profile, if this happens often the Prius does not recharge the 12v all that fast so it may not have had a chance to recharge totally. Or maybe there was something else on to drain the battery, this time or another time.

We used to prefer the Yellow Top but these days less so ( I am sure it would be OK) but now I might tend to go with Toyota 12v batt. If cost is huge issue we might have an acceptable alternative.

 

If OP (Original Poster) has a non SKS (Smart Key System) Prius, an Optima Yellow Top would be OK.

Non SKS Prius came standard with a 35Amp Hour battery. The Optima Yellow Top is a 38Amp Hour; you just added 3Amp Hour reserve capacity. The larger the Amp Hour, the larger the capacity of the battery. This means the battery could withstand you listening to the radio in accessory mode for a period of time, without draining the battery and being unable to start the car. Or, it has a better chance of still being able to start the car if the dome light was left on for a prolonged period of time.​

IF OP has an SKS Prius, get a battery from the dealer, a Bosch, or Exide.

SKS cars came standard with a 45Amp Hour battery. Getting a Optima Yellow Top would be a 7Amp Hour downgrade (38A-45A).
Toyota True Start, Bosch, and Exide are all 45Amp Hour batteries.
​

Besides price, OP should consider warranty exchange convenience/inconvenience.

• Online merchant might require the defective battery to be returned first, before a replacement is sent out.
• Where you live/work/play, are you near a Toyota dealership or big retail auto parts chain? This would represent the least amount of downtime.

My non-SKS battery to SKS battery upgrade, has the dealer part number.
12V Battery Upgrade: non-Smart Key (35A h) to Smart Key (45A h) | PriusChat
Use the part number to find out the cost other Toyota dealers are charging online. Maybe your local Toyota dealer will match or come close to the online price. Don't forget about the Costco discount (have to get via Costco.com) and AAA discount too; though these won't be as low as the online price.

Pepbobys seems to be having a sale for a Bosch 12V Prius battery.
Car Batteries | Pep Boys | Battery Installation | Car Service

Maybe the big auto parts chains near you carry the above Bosch or the identical Exide.








Here's

 

Kenoarto said, "A week in winter temperatures is NOT the reason a healthy battery fails.

One week, however, is NOT an extended period that requires charging and/or smart key disengagement.

I wouldn't trust the OP's battery with the recent failure and OP's insistence that she is "clueless". Who knows how often the OP or her relatives drained the battery, rendering the battery near death."

"How Long Does a Car Battery Last? | Angies List
http://www.angieslist.com/.../how-long-does-car-battery-last.htmAngie's List
Car batteries typically last about four or five years. Replace your car battery before it dies and leaves you stranded. Unfortunately, car batteries aren't able to tell you when they're about to die."[/QUOTE]


OK here we go...

First of all, it would be nice if you would stop insulting the OP and making assumptions regarding the maintenance of her vehicle. We are here to help her and all members regardless of technical and mechanical know-how.

Second: The "Angie's List" article does not refer specifically to a Prius battery which differs from a conventional automotive battery. Many Prius Chat members have 12v batteries that have exceeded 6 - 7 years. I have a 2008 Prius with its original battery (7.5 years) and doing well although I will change it out in the Spring as a precautionary measure.

Third: The OP's present battery could not perform as it should at the age of 3 - 4 years. It has to be determined why the failure occurred in the first place. The battery is still under warranty. If so, she could have it tested and replaced at a prorated cost. No big deal.

As far as taking preventive measures if the car was to sit a week? I would continue recommending the disengagement of the smart key and placing a battery tender on the vehicle. This is also preventive maintenance. The temperatures in my area get down as low as -30 at night and it would certainly be unreasonable to allow a 2005 Prius (with 254,000+ miles, an aging hybrid battery and 4.5 year old 12v) to sit for a week or more in these weather conditions.

Although the temperatures that the OP experienced prior to the "no start" problem were not extreme, you have to keep in mind that we are speaking about a vehicle that is over 10 years old. Please do not make assumptions and discourage new members to come to us for insight regarding their vehicles.

 

OK here we go...

First of all, it would be nice if you would stop insulting the OP and making assumptions regarding the maintenance of her vehicle. We are here to help her and all members regardless of technical and mechanical know-how.

Second: The "Angie's List" article does not refer specifically to a Prius battery which differs from a conventional automotive battery. Many Prius Chat members have 12v batteries that have exceeded 6 - 7 years. I have a 2008 Prius with its original battery (7.5 years) and doing well although I will change it out in the Spring as a precautionary measure.

Third: The OP's present battery could not perform as it should at the age of 3 - 4 years. It has to be determined why the failure occurred in the first place. The battery is still under warranty. If so, she could have it tested and replaced at a prorated cost. No big deal.

As far as taking preventive measures if the car was to sit a week? I would continue recommending the disengagement of the smart key and placing a battery tender on the vehicle. This is also preventive maintenance. The temperatures in my area get down as low as -30 at night and it would certainly be unreasonable to allow a 2005 Prius (with 254,000+ miles, an aging hybrid battery and 4.5 year old 12v) to sit for a week or more in these weather conditions.

Although the temperatures that the OP experienced prior to the "no start" problem were not extreme, you have to keep in mind that we are speaking about a vehicle that is over 10 years old. Please do not make assumptions and discourage new members to come to us for insight regarding their vehicles.[/QUOTE]

Corrections:
1) When we choose to to do basic maintenance on our cars (gas, oil, tires, brakes, batteries) is always a risk/reward decision. How long before you fill the gas tank (eg: some choose to test the limit and occasionally run out of gas, and some religiously fill at the half-tank pip). The OP however, said she had absolutely no idea that cars needed to have batteries replaced EVER!--repeating that essential background is not an insult, it is a critical part of advice for this specific owner. Advice given here should be based on the Prius owner's capabilities, usage and location (FWIW: many of us fully enjoy the endless give an take from extreme drivers).
2) A 12v Prius battery does NOT significantly differ from a conventional car battery (other than it is a unusually small size making it an expensive pain in the nice person to find!). The chemistry wears out at the very same rate. While it is true that some people baby their cars in heated garages, most don't. And very few feel the urge to turn off the SKS for a week. And hooking up trickle charger is a huge PIA. Because of "clueless" usage and her recent failure, keeping a failing, 4 year old battery, is a higher risk decision--she may get another 6 months or year out of her battery, but all batteries fail...it's just a matter of when.
3) Battery (and tire) warranties suck. They are based on age. Note: if the OP is going to take it to the dealer, she should certainly try to take advantage of the prorate discount, but she should call ahead to avoid being surprised they might refuse the second owner or will find "nothing wrong" with the 44 month old battery and ultimately refuse to discount!
4) Best advice to keep battery charged is: ALWAYS LOCK THE CAR--that way you know all the doors are fully closed and all the battery draining lights are off.