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

Keep getting Acid on the 12v battery.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by LARRYG36, Aug 3, 2023.

  1. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Wife and I have been putting a lot of long trip miles on our Prius in the past 10 years, 5 years ago had to put a new 12v battery in, since then twice a year i have to take the battery out and the Negative wire out and soke them in Coke and scrub them with a wire brush. I have no idea what's making the Negative Terminal do this? last time i cleaned them was last May and it was caked on thick!!! WHY??? Well crap i thought i had a pic of the May cleaning. I looked today to see if i need to clean it yep, I'll clean it next month. IMG_0160.JPG IMG_0161.JPG
     
    #1 LARRYG36, Aug 3, 2023
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,670
    49,371
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    did you coat it in petroleum jelly or commercial battery terminal spray after cleaning?

    haven't heard of the coke method, maybe try this:

    search
     
    #2 bisco, Aug 3, 2023
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,474
    8,393
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    get new cable and new battery, problem solved
     
    #3 JC91006, Aug 3, 2023
  4. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    No, Didnt do that, but thanks to you I will next time. are you really serious? You never heard of pouring coke on a crusty battery terminal??? they’ve been doing that since cars have been made. Works like a charm.
     
    #4 LARRYG36, Aug 9, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2023
    bisco likes this.
  5. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2019
    952
    626
    4
    Location:
    Monument, Colorado USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've been using this on our battery terminals for years and rarely get any corrosion.

     
    #5 ColoradoBoo, Aug 9, 2023
  6. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    that’s the absolutely best battery on the market. I’ve been using them for years in my Land Cruiser, very durable in our harsh southern Nevada climate. But I will take your advice and on changing the ground wire. But there’s nothing wrong with the battery.
     
    #6 LARRYG36, Aug 9, 2023
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,474
    8,393
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You should actually have that battery tested. It’s free at most auto parts stores battery manufacturing quality has gone down the toilet in recent years.
     
    #7 JC91006, Aug 9, 2023
  8. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I’m more concerned why this is happening. over the years I’ve installed XM and multiple USB ports in the front and back, if they were pulling too much juice it would be blowing fuses which it’s not.
     
    #8 LARRYG36, Aug 9, 2023
  9. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    That’s what a voltmeter is for and yes I do test it.
     
    #9 LARRYG36, Aug 9, 2023
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,474
    8,393
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I guess you have all your answers then
     
    #10 JC91006, Aug 9, 2023
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,788
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Even the absolute best product on the market has a few bad apples escape out into the
    market once in a while.
    That battery you have in there absolutely DOES have a problem with acid fumes
    escaping from the case somewhere.
    Where else or how else do you think that corrosion is happening ??

    On one of your pictures, it looks like other parts nearby might be showing signs of
    corrosion too......or that might just be something else.

    And finally......Coke is acid. Battery acid is acid too.
    One will not neutralize the other.

    IF......you aren't going to try to learn something from the replies,
    why did you ask in the first place ?????
     
    #11 sam spade 2, Aug 9, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2023
  12. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    BUT IT'S ONE HELLA TERMINAL CLEANER.
     
    #12 LARRYG36, Aug 9, 2023
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,670
    49,371
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Easy boys
     
    #13 bisco, Aug 9, 2023
    Johnny Cakes and Tideland Prius like this.
  14. LARRYG36

    LARRYG36 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2012
    123
    45
    0
    Location:
    Southern Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Well, I found out yesterday AFTER cleaning the negative terminal that the battery has been spitting hydrogen for God knows how long. And it was basically my fault, what was happening was I would push down the battery caring strap to attach the negative wire which in turn on the other side popped out the hydrogen discharge tube. The tubes probably been out from day one I got that battery!!! easy fixed, I took the battery out, and the battery tray, clean the whole area around there then lubed it. put it all back together and before I after putting the battery back i took the strap off, so no more hydrogen discharge tube popping out. And if you notice the picture that I posted originally the tube is out I just noticed that today. WHAT GETS ME, NO-BODY ELSE HERE DID EITHER!!
     

    Attached Files:

    #14 LARRYG36, Aug 28, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2023
  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    6,059
    3,252
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Is that an AGM battery? I don't believe that "should" have with an AGM battery.
    Only a led acid battery. Kinda hard to tell from that photo.
     
    #15 ASRDogman, Aug 28, 2023
  16. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2016
    1,010
    761
    2
    Location:
    Virginia, USA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I think a load test at an auto parts store was being suggested. Batteries can have nominal or surface voltage of 13.1 but not be anywhere near that under load.
     
    #16 Johnny Cakes, Aug 28, 2023
  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,788
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Well......either it does NOT have an AGM or the charging system is running WAY too high a voltage.

    On an AGM battery what should come out that tube is: NOTHING during normal use.

    With a conventional wet cell battery, there might be some hydrogen, some oxygen and some battery acid fumes.
    The H and O are not a problem. The acid fumes ARE.

    So it appears that he has a conventional wet cell battery with only one vent instead of each cell being individually vented.

    NOTE: In most consumer applications, there is no good reason NOT to use an AGM for a replacement.
    They are superior to wet-cells for several reasons.
    Just one of them is never seeing corrosion from discharged acid fumes.
     
    #17 sam spade 2, Aug 30, 2023
  18. OptimusPriustus

    OptimusPriustus Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2021
    308
    131
    1
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I’d replace battery right away. Throw in Toyota AGM or equivalent Yuasa. In my opinion Optima is just about compelling marketing. First time i heard about them was somebody saying that ambulances use them;-)
     
    #18 OptimusPriustus, Aug 31, 2023
  19. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,298
    1,009
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    @LARRYG36- I was busy looking at your negative terminal…

    It looks like the battery is being overcharged so acid is seeping out the - terminal.

    And yes bases neutralize acids (hopefully you use a mild base), but like dissolves like, which is probably why acidic soda works on the dried up crud seen there…
     
    #19 jzchen, Aug 31, 2023
  20. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2020
    3,430
    1,485
    0
    Location:
    NJ-USA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    The negative battery post leaks - it isn't sealed to the case. AGM batteries don't really vent unless something is wrong. (If it was the vent, then the positive clamp right near it would look like garbage, but it doesn't)

    Replace that battery and the negative cable.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #20 mr_guy_mann, Sep 2, 2023
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)