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12v Battery Initialization Procedure

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by 07 Touring, Jan 9, 2014.

  1. 07 Touring

    07 Touring New Member

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    Really love everything about this forum. Have studied/applied it closely for the past year since I bought my white 07 Touring Pkg.6 with 67k. Have learned to do all the maintenance myself, from changing headlight bulbs, to the CVT fluid, oil and filter etc. Now it's time to change the factory 12v battery at 84k. Have thoroughly scoured this site for a definitive explanation of the "initialization procedure" to follow the re-installation of the new 12v battery, to no avail. Have found numerous "round about" comments about the driver's window, resetting the radio and clock etc., but nothing specific. A little help would be greatly appreciated. In advance, I says thanks to all who make this such a great forum!!
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    there is nothing different in changing the battery in a prius vs any other car. The prius has a vent tube that other batteries don't have, pull off the vent tube of the old battery, attach it to the new battery. But it's basically the same positive negative connections. Take apart the old one and put in the new one. Take off the negative first, then positive. To install, put back positive then connect the negative last.

    When you are done, you have to reset the drivers window up and down. Roll the window down about 1/2 way and then roll it back up. Just doing that will reset and reprogram the window to automatically go up and down.

    Redo all your radio presets like any other car radio, just tune to the stations you want, hold the buttons 1-6 preset until it registers your presets.

    The clock is the same, set the hour and minutes like any clock
     
  3. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Here's some details on the swap. Should take an hour, depending on your skills. Read the attached pdf for all the info.

    JC above explained the initialization. Really no magic involved. Don't freak out if the gas gage doesn't work on first go around. Takes a little bit for it to read the sensor. Some folks report needing two pushes of power button to get Prius completely booted up.

    My best advice would be to make sure the battery is fully charged BEFORE you install it.

    A AGM type battery for the Prius should measure 12.8 MINIMUM when fully charged at the posts with a digital volt meter and NO LOAD applied. Don't accept a poorly charged battery. Check it before you buy it. Just because it is new does not mean it will be fully charged.

    Best of luck to you and "Welcome to Prius Chat".
     

    Attached Files:

  4. 07 Touring

    07 Touring New Member

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    Dorunron, Thanks for the PDF. Is this out of a dealer's repair manual? Is this manual posted on this forum? On page 8 of your PDF it says (perform initialization procedure see pg IN-32). I think this IN-32 info is what I am looking for. Is it possible you have that in a PDF? Thank you very much for your assistance.
     
  5. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    I am not aware exactly where this pdf originated. It is posted here on Prius Chat in the "file section" of the forum. uart | PriusChat is the actual poster of the file. I simply grabbed the file and saved it on my drive to help folks like you. It is very detailed as you have seen.

    Procedure for 12V battery replacement. | PriusChat

    In reference to step #10 (initialization), the only thing that you need to initialize is the "auto window" for the drivers door. To do this you start with the window raised all the way up. Then lower the window down halfway. Then raise the window back up and hold the switch for at least one second AFTER the window has raised up to the top. That procedure will initialize the "auto window" whereas it will work properly.

    The only other stuff that needs to be done is to reset the radio stations as they are lost when the battery is disconnected. You will also note that both trip odometers will have been reset as well as the MFD being reset.

    As I wrote earlier, there really is no magic in all of this. 99% of the job is just labor.

    For a quick and dirty explanation look in my signature file below. The second link contains a rough write up I did that describes the removal and installation of the 12 volt when I did ours. Refer to post #8 for more info.

    Also my best suggestion to you is to use white lithium grease on the screw head of the top screw that holds the traction battery vent duct into place. The purpose of the grease is to hold the screw in a socket and a extension while the screw is level (horizontal) without falling out whereas you can stab the screw back into the hole. When you get in there, you will see what I mean. You don't want to drop that screw as you would need a pickup to retrieve it or pull everything back out to find it.

    Best of luck to you. Don't sweat this job. It is a DIY job if you have basic mechanical skills. I did it, and I am disabled and arthritic.

    EDIT: I will go one step further. If cyberpriusII can do it, I have no doubt you can. See her adventure here: Won't Turn Off -- Master Warning Light on (Red Triangle) | PriusChat
     
    Norwegian and Mike Arthur like this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe it depends on the generation, but I've heard with the negative cable it's easier to disconnect the cable at the end it bolts to the body. Obviously the cable also has to be disconnected from the old battery, but that end is hard to get at when the battery's still in the car.
     
  7. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    On the Gen II it is definitely easier to disconnect the negative at the body rather than the battery. The clamp is hard to get to whereas the bolt head is real easy to reach. It works best if you swap the negative cable from old to new battery once the dead battery is removed from the Prius.

    Can't say about Gen I or Gen III as I am not familiar with it.
     
  8. 07 Touring

    07 Touring New Member

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    Thanks again Dorunron, (y)
    Start to finish had the 12v bat. on the bench in about 12 min. Didn't even have to disturb the blower vent. I may be old, but I'm not slow. Especially when all you need to dismantle this car is a screw driver, a 10 & 12mm socket and a warm garage. Thanks for hang'n around this evening.
     
  9. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    :) Yeah, you can do it that way if you don't mind wiggling the battery around a little. Glad to hear you got a handle on it. Remember negative is last connection. Don't fret the sparks... I say that since another poster did.

    Have fun.

    You haven't mentioned this, so I will ask.

    Which battery brand are you going with? OEM, "Yellow Top", Exide, or what?
     
  10. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    TWELVE minutes!!
    :cry:
    I am crushed. Totally crushed. Well, maybe I could do it in 20....maybe. Listening to my "elders" and taking off the negative cable from the wall of the car first would speed me up quite a bit....

    My Chilton's manual says you have to initialize the windows after battery replacement -- which I did. It mentions nothing else. The Toyota owner's manual says you have to do the windows, the tire pressure system and, the scary " The hybrid system may not start"

    But, it does not say what to do if it does not start. No matter, all I had to do was the windows and turn off the reverse beeper, again.
     
  11. 07 Touring

    07 Touring New Member

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    Thanks to one and all for the fine comments!! ;) What a great bunch you are!! HERE'S THE FINISH: Set the new battery on the bench and threw a 1/2hr. trickle charge on it. Bef: 12.73v Aft: 13.38v Installed (car off): 12.55v Installed (car run'g): 13.92v (not the 9.2v I had previously). Was able to slide the battery in and out of it's nest, did not have to mess with the blower vent. Dropped in the panels, carpet & WeatherTec mat and was finished in under 30 min. Did the window thing, no problems. It did take the ECU a few seconds to "catch up" but the car started just fine. Turned off the backup beeper and reset the clock. Will leave the radio to the wife since this is her daily driver. I just listen to the CD's anyway. She says she really appreciated only 4 hrs. downtime for her business. Now I know most of you folks out there like details and more details, etc. So here's the rest, along with my DISCLAIMER::giggle: I have been an entrepreneur all my life, retired at 59 - seven years ago, and to this day continue to think 'outside the box.' I support the small local business owner, I've never been to a Jiffy-Lube, and I don't shop at Walmart. That having been said, I purchased a Duracell Pro Platinum AGM 36 for the Prius. Why? Because I think "OTB" and I like the new and different, and the price was very reasonable for an AGM battery I only expect to last five years. I did my homework, I shopped it around, and when I told the guy at Batteries Plus I could get the same battery for $4.00 less at OReilly's, he immediately cut his price by $27.50. Needless to say, I was in shock as I fumbled for my credit card hoping he wasn't going to change his mind before he got it rung up. In addition, I have nothing against Optima, in fact I have an old yellow top in my Jeep, as do many of my 4x4 buddies. As for the guys who have run the new 'Mexico Special' we have all decided to "Opt Out" (pun intended.) Like I said earlier, I like the new and different, so it is my personal decision (as it is yours) to support our free enterprise system by purchasing the product of my or your choice. I will over the next 12 months, continue to monitor this battery closely, and will report at a later date the "good, bad or indifferent" of the Duracell AGM. Thankx, RB.
     
  12. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    Just finished replacing my 12v Battery..

    My battery actually failed or died on me.. So here is what happened.. I got about a half of a block from my house and 4 warning light came on (including the Triangle of Death).. I have my owners manual to help me recall which ones they were..

    Red Triangle, Battery, Brake, (!) Yellow, and I think VSC not sure. At the same time I was getting warnings on my MFD Panel. This was very distracting as I was trying to ascertain just what was going on. The were two warnings on the MFD first was BAT and the other was Brakes.
    I immediately turned around and headed back to the house, it shut of on me completely, just as a regular car when it dies, no power steering, and brakes difficult to manage.

    First think I did was check the 12v Battery with a volt/ohm meter. I was only reading 11.2 Volts.. Looking at the battery, I believe it is the original one from the factory. My car is a 2008 with 95,XXX miles on it. I purchased it a year ago with 86K so I don't know the history on it.

    Replacing the battery was pretty straightforward but I did want to document that on the first attempt to start the vehicle, I continued to have several of the same lights on the dash and didn't get the "Ready" that I had hoped for. I came in the house and did another PriusChat search to see if there is a first time startup procedure after 12v Battery replacement. Their didn't seem to be only that the auto window needs to be reset. One person mention that you may need to push the Start button twice. I went out to try that but is shut the car off, so I pressed Start again and it come up and on-line or "Ready"

    One thing you need to be prepared for is the Gas Gauge will be flashing one pip.. I sat in front of my house until the ICE kicked on.. I waited until it shut off before proceeding on my test ride. I drove nearly a mile before the Fuel Gauge reset and show me back at 1/2 of a tank. With all of my warning lights off, I felt confident that all was well and headed back to the house. Once parked at the house, I rolled the window half way down then back up to reset the auto up function. Then I adjusted my clock and turned the vehicle off.

    I would recommend that if your battery is more than 4-5 years old, you should replace it or have it done for you. It's not a good feeling when the Prius lights up like a Christmas Tree and quickly shuts off on you. Having said that, I plan to replace the wife's battery right away before I really get into trouble!!
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Your battery should not have caused your car to shut off. If your car shut off while it's in "Ready" mode, you have another issue. A bad 12v will only cause your car to not start.....not shut off while "Ready"
     
  14. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    The only other warning that meant anything to me was Brakes. With the 12v reading only 11.2v it looked like a good place to start. I wouldn't restart with the old battery. I tried to put the car into the maintenance mode but each time I turned the headlights on and off, the MFD reset. I had the instructions printed out and watch the YouTube Videos ...

    I have a ELM 327 and Torque on my Droid, tomorrow I will check for DTCs.. I hope it's only the 12v ...I haven't have any problems since I bought it. The only things I've done is changed the Transaxle Fluid, Replace the Anti-Freeze Fluid in the ICE and Inverter, and replace Spark Plugs. I'm planning on keeping it for at least 4 years or 160K whichever comes first. Fingers crossed :notworthy:
     
  15. gamma742

    gamma742 Member

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    No codes... She's running great! (y)
     
  16. Stargazerwa

    Stargazerwa Junior Member

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    When I replaced the battery on my daughters Prius I first connect a small 12v battery to the jump start terminals under the hood. If you do this before removing the battery you don't have to mess with the clock, window etc since the cars power is never interrupted.
     
  17. Toppcat

    Toppcat Member

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    Tell them Star! It's senseless to go through all that hassle! Just put a jumper under the hood at the fuse box .
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I have a jump pack with an incorporated cig lighter style outlet. I got a cable with the cig lighter plug at one end and OBD plug at the other end, with just the 12 volt pins. It has indicator light as well, so you can verify connection is good, at both ends.

    Lay the jump pack in drivers foot well and hook up cable at OBD port, you're good to go.

    Memory Saver Cord - ESA30 | Call us at 1-800-328-2921 | Clore Automotive
     
  19. j_whitney

    j_whitney Junior Member

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    Anyone have a problem with the MFD not operating after battery replacement? When I first replaced the battery, I started the vehicle (2008) last night and all showed up, with the single pip on the fuel gauge as noted.
    This morning when I started, everything showed for a moment, then when I switched to Drive and pulled out of the driveway it all disappeared.

    The center "computer" screen works, showing driving info, mileage, MPG etc, but the display with speedometer, fuel gauge, etc. is blank. I had the computer replaced under warranty a few years ago, I hope I don't need to do that again!

    **Edit**
    Guess it is not the MFD, but rather the CM - the display that shows speed, mileage and so on. I saw the thread on the CM extended warranty, but apparently my 2008 does not fall into that category due to time (DOFU 102/2007) and VIN :(
     
    #19 j_whitney, Dec 21, 2016
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2016
  20. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Just to be sure, I would recheck all your connections at the 12v, make sure all the cables are tight.

    And, was I insulted by DoRunRon earlier in this thread???

    :eek::eek::eek::eek: