05 Prius - need battery help

welcome! yes, just about anyone can install a 12 volt. check the price of the toyota battery as well, and compare warranties. you can also get duracell and excise i think. make sure it is exact fit, correct post size and vent tube. all the best!

 

It's something anyone with a modicum of mechanical skills can perform, however, it's installed in the back under a bunch of junk, which is different than other batteries, so the first time someone swaps it out, can be slightly daunting.

There are a couple of good YouTube videos that show how....there are several PriusChat threads that contain instructions, as well as links to good videos.

My cavet, is that I really think this is one time to bite the bullet and get a battery from the Toyota dealership. If you check dealership websites, there are often parts coupons that can save you $20 or so bucks.

From the dealer, the battery is around $200, with installation at the dealership, you are looking at close to $300. Again, not a tough task, you could probably do it yourself.

And, yes, I know others will disagree about getting a Toyota battery, but there will be no fitment problems and they come with a pretty good warranty.

Some people on this forum have had noted problems with the Optimas....others...not.

 

Being a computer geek, I have no mechanical skills whatsoever and I was able to replace the battery on my own. Be sure to bring back the old battery to recycle and get your core deposit back. Ask them to give you the freshest battery.

 

^^^ all good points from both posters above^^^. another tip, whoever installs it should test the voltage before hand. some places may be able to do this before they sell it to you, and put a charger on it, if need be. should be around 13.0 volts.

 

OK, I don't care how clueless you claim to be, but you would never deliberately let your car run empty of gas, why would you let your battery go empty when it is only designed to last 5 years (max)? Mark it on your calendar for 4.5 years and avoid having this happen again.

 

I shopped around a bit for my last replacement and found my local Toyota dealer to have the best product, best warranty, and best price, just over $200 with local taxes. Good tip above about looking for a coupon--I didn't think of that. It does take some instruction even for a good mechanic to replace the battery, but that's easily found on various internet sources. It takes nearly an hour the first time,messing with various connectors and modules and the vent tube.

 

A car can be a danger to you and others, if it isn't maintained at a very basic level. There is something called "the manual" that comes with every car. Prius has more than one. For the "clueless", Toyota also a provided a very brief maintenance booklet. You've had plenty of time to read them (more than 10 years, if you bought it new). Is your oil empty, too? Are your tires bald, as well? No excuses for lack of safety on the road. Read the manuals.

 

Is there some unusual reason you are unable to "deal with" the manuals--even the short maintenance booklet? If you have lost yours, they can be found online. Since you have made it frighteningly clear that you are not doing the work on your car, this question is vitally important: do you take it to a good Prius mechanic for a multi-point checkup at least twice a year with your oil changes?

 

Almost any corporate Auto Parts stores will install it for you for free or let you borrow their tools. It is a 10MM deep socket ratchet, just FYI.

+1, just get the same specs and insure the posts are the same exact size, the connectors must not be loose when fitted. Safe bet is a factory battery, no issues, but the dealer will charge you to install it, maybe you can ask a family member, friend or a neighbor???

Like tires,brakes and oil, the 12v battery is a wear item as you found out. You can lengthen the life of it by putting a battery tender ( charger ) with a maintenance cycle to de-sulphate it, the real culprit why battery dies, besides leaving the light on.

 

I don't want to get too far into this, there are LOTS of past threads that discuss the install/purchase, but

1) While technically, you need only a 10mm socket, it is a lot easier to work in that area if you disconnect the brake controller, and that requires a 12mm socket, IIRC. Also rubber or nitrile gloves are always nice.

2) I know that some auto parts stores will install batteries for free on selected vehicles, I have a suspicion that most will NOT install a Prius battery. There is a lot more to it than with most batteries.

3) Finally, call me paranoid, I would not trust some parts counterperson to mess with my Prius battery. Windshield wipers, fine...

 

Yup! I'm on my third battery. Did the replacements myself after I watched in horror as a CarX mechanic nearly broke off the terminal cover (only to discover he had the wrong battery). No longer "clueless" would be best advised to take her Prius to a dealer after spending a few minutes looking for the always available coupons--she probably needs an multi-point inspection (that always comes free with the battery and an oil change).

 

I used this video for how-to (a little goofy at the start, but it makes you feel loved...or creeped out--haha) (and I don't think that $80 replacement is still available):

Dad and I used the Optima DS46B24R and are happy with them. I found one with a coupon at Advance Auto Parts for $125 (looks like that deal is long gone). Dad got his off Amazon.

The 12v aux battery is commonly neglected. It doesn't give you the warning signs of a conventional car (slow cranking, etc), and a lot of owners don't even know it's there. I think it's a little overkill to replace it every 5 years, but it's good to pay attention to the signs (dim lights and slow windows when not in "ready" mode, sometimes a brief, red triangle after power-up, the occasional half-powerup when you it's not really on and requires another button push, etc).

 

Hi Am:

One of the great triumphs of my Prius ownership has been replacing the 12v battery myself.....but then I thought it was a great triumph when I replaced the cabin air filter....I have also managed to do several other little projects and except for nearly peeing my pants while replacing the battery (no one warned me about the shower of sparks created when you attach the negative cable to the body of the car), I have not had any mishaps.

Of course, that has all been thanks to the many, many, many kind, helpful people on PriusChat. I invited them all to Iowa this summer for a festival of corn likker and Grainbelt beer, but none of them showed -- but other than that, they have been the best.

This is the video I liked the best in terms of showing what to do. It is a little slow and plodding, but it is worth taking the time to watch it!

Oh, and if you want some boring reading here is my "battery died thread>" Won't Turn Off -- Master Warning Light on (Red Triangle) | PriusChat

 

I am not a mechanical engineer, but I do know that if the battery is old -- more than a few years, it has started to age and is more likely to be killed off by cold temperatures, excessive vibration, etc. A fresh new battery will just shrug it off. I assume this car was purchased used and you have no idea how old the 12v is. They normally last about five years in the Prius, but, like anything, some die sooner, some later.

I do know you should most likely replace it ASAP before it leaves you stranded.

 

Patrick Wong, Dorunron, and a few other of the "guys" sort of suggested I get a Toyota battery from the dealership. I did. As explained in the thread link I posted, prices, even from the official toyota dealers, varied.

kris