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Is the Optima Yellow Top a good batt?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Taxi/Limo, Jun 17, 2018.

  1. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    I don't know if others have this problem
    But the 12 volt batt in my 2010 drains fast and doesn't have longevity

    I need a heavy duty battery because I sit in my taxi listening to the radio and I keep the top light on

    What is a good brand at a good price ?

    I have been reading here the Optima Yellow Top is a good battery is it ?

    If it is a good battery where can I get one and at a fair price?

    Thanks
     
    #1 Taxi/Limo, Jun 17, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    overall, i would say yes, but there have been exceptions reported here.
     
  3. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    Thanks
    I have been reading some of the posts

    Can your or someone elaborate on what problems people have been having ?
    Optima sells for over 200


    I was thinking of spending 150 tops for a really good battery
     
    #3 Taxi/Limo, Jun 17, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2018
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I put a Duralast from Autozone in our 2010 at the beginning of this year and after rebates it was ~$150:

    B9443637-314D-41DC-A14B-A7DA6C0B9958.jpeg 7D98419D-34B8-4376-9B68-7B4BE226ECF2.jpeg E052FAD7-8E58-4E1E-A70C-6E7EDE51E4D3.jpeg

    It has performed well for the 6 months it has been in service :).

    While sitting, I would keep the car in ready and not drain the 12 volt. Might be worse on mpg, but better on the other components(y).
     
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  5. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    Thanks Ray
    Why Duralast?
     
  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    ‘Cause it was cheaper than an Optima and a dealer battery;).

    It’s a drop in replacement and works well:).

    Cost effective solution (y).
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you won't find much under $200. and most are fairly recent, so hard to gauge longevity.

    agree with ray. compare specs and price of oem, duralast, optima, exide and duracell. go with cost effectiveness i guess, haven't heard much negative.
     
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  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    People here said to @Raytheeagle that the battery was an over kill. The additional amperage allows you to run auxiliary devices longer as one of the few benefits.
     
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  9. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    What are good specs for a 12 volt prius battery ?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    oem or better, but i would have to research. it's just cca i think. optima calls theirs deep discharge, which the oem can't handle well.
     
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Yes, MANY people have that kind of trouble with a battery over 5 years old. Yours might be 8.

    And....as long as you have the car "running" while you are sitting still there won't be any extra strain on the battery and there is no need to obsess over having a "heavy duty" one.
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Conventional AGM such as @Raytheeagle 's might be better choice, closer in specs to the OEM Yuasa. The Optima Yellow Top has higher Cold Cranking Amps but lower amp hours, which supposedly NOT what's needed. The higher CCA come with more and thinner plates, maybe more vulnerable. I think it was @ChapmanF tried to explain it to me.

    I have the Optima btw.
     
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  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I tried to not overthink it;).

    If the battery was within the defined model, I evaluated it for cost. The OEM lasted 8.5 years, so it had a good run, so I started with the Toyota dealers. But their prices were anywhere from $208 all the way up to $279 for a replacement 12 volt :eek:.

    Then began checking at Batteries Plus Bulbs, auto zone, oreillys, etc and found the Duralast to be the most cost effective:).

    Just did my homework on pricing before I purchased;).

    Should last the remainder of time we own our 2010(y).
     
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  14. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    The Duralast is 199 in my area I have not checked for rebates
    Autocraft has a Platinum AGM for 199
    What is special about AGM?
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    keeps the battery from exploding inside your cabin.
     
  16. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    I've got Optima Yellow top in both of our Prius vehicles and they are performing great!
     
  17. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    That is it ?
    Also
    How is the Prius electrical system so different from a convention internal combustion engine that it requires a special expensive battery?
     
  18. Taxi/Limo

    Taxi/Limo Active Member

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    How long have you had those batteries? Can you elaborate on "performing great"?
    Thanks
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    it's actually the other way around. the prius 12v only boots up the computers and closes some relays, it does not crank the engine. so it is small, to fit in the little space in the back. (on gen4, toyota found a way to fit it under the hood)
    so, being an odd size, and requiring more safety measures because it is in the cabin, there weren't any replacements for the oem originally.
    then optima came along and they were cheap(er). and now, there are a number of options. but the limited quantity of production, (no other vehicle uses this size) along with the safety features probably keeps the price high.

    strangely, even though gen 4 is now under the hood, it is still an odd size, and people have reported the replacement price as high as $400.:eek:
     
  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    +1;).

    You just increased your words per post count too(y).
     
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