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Proactively replacing 12v

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by markabele, May 2, 2017.

  1. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Yikes, the $48 my company paid at OAK for three days is a bargain compared to you two!
     
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I'm gonna have to start using SMF more;). I think it is only $10 there.
     
  3. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    This is bureaucratic stupidity.
    Have you contacted them to be sure it isn't just a mistake......either human or computer made ??

    If NOT, I would be very tempted to contact whoever is responsible for running the place.

    As long as the consuming public lets companies get away with crap like that, they will just soak us all that they can.
     
  4. ppimd

    ppimd Member

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    2012 PiP original 12 V battery. When I returned from a two week trip the car battery was dead. This happened once before one or two winters ago when it was left in a parking garage during the winter when I had an old SUV to drive that winter. Given the age of the battery I decided to replace it and found a replacement easily on Amazon after finding that the dealer would charge $400 to replace the battery. There is a bit of a learning curve and replacing the battery as is located in the back underneath the deck. All you really need is a 10 mm socket and you'll have to cut off the handle of the replacement battery from Amazon because the springiness of that battery will keep the deck from lying flat. Replacement battery was $159. After doing the replacement once the second Time would take only 10 minutes.
     
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  5. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    I've thought about it, but my car is a plug-in, it's garaged, and it's never exposed to freezing temperatures. So I may take it to the 6 or 7 year point, or maybe just see how long it can go as an experiment.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    same here, but if i ever ran it down accidentally, i would probably replace it.
     
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  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I chickened out at 7.5 years (even did a 4,500 mile road trip last fall which included snow, desert heat with A/C and crossing the Rockies/Cascades/Sierra Nevada)
     
  8. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Still have my 2008 battery, seems to be going good but I'll be replacing it before winter comes this year. Part of me thinks it'll be fine, but another part of me doesn't want issues in the cold.

    SM-N900P ?
     
  9. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Nine years old? Yeah, I'd replace that. You don't really want to wait until you need your car and then it won't start. I feel like I have a lot of leeway because my car plugs in, I live in very fair weather and garage the car. You should swap that battery before you get stranded somewhere.
     
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  10. trentofdestiny

    trentofdestiny Master Finagler

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    I just did mine @ 5.5 years but my car plugs in as well so it had some life left. I put it in my 05 and took out the Optima since it had the regular size terminals.


    iPhone ?
     
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Every time I check it, it is over 12.4v. So I've been just chugging along. But you're right, I'm going to replace it before winter gets here. Just amazes me the quality of these batteries

    SM-N900P ?
     
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  12. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Parts of me thinks the oem factory Yuasa battery is better than the True Start dealer batteries. That's another reason I'm hanging on to it longer than usual

    SM-N900P ?
     
  14. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    That wasn't the point as I wasn't replying to you but the OP. You can't change physics/chemistry. Generally speaking, Yuasa's up north will last longer than Yuasa's down south. Yuasa is a GREAT brand; been using them for decades in my bikes.(y)
     
  15. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    I noticed you said your car "plugs in" so your battery should last longer.

    Can you explain what do you mean by that. Doesn't have to be a long explanation, just a quick brief one. Thanks

    Pixel XL ?
     
  16. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    My car is a Prius Plug-in model. I plug it into AC power and get about ten miles of pure electric driving.

    When the huge traction battery charges, there is a process in which it also charges the small 12V battery. This, I believe, helps to extend the life of my 12V battery compared with an ordinary Prius, but I don't know for certain.
     
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  17. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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  18. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    And the life span difference in the charts might be due to the difference between a conventional wet cell battery and an AGM one.
    An AGM should last a couple of years longer in most all environments and up to twice as long (6 years versus 3).
     
  19. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I didn't know this. Thanks! I haven't had a battery exceed 6 years. I'm on 4.5 with this one. It's like driving with the gas light on. How long can I go and how stupid am I?
     
    #39 mmmodem, May 10, 2017
    Last edited: May 10, 2017
  20. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    Yeah.... maybe I should replace mine now, before I'm stranded somewhere. Where's the best deal to be found?
     
    #40 Rebound, May 10, 2017
    Last edited: May 10, 2017