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HELP! My 2007 Prius is dead....(12 v battery....?)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by FrankD, Dec 26, 2016.

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  1. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Bought my optima online advance auto then picked it up locally think it was $165.

    A Prius will boot all day at around 11 volts and even lower but when it gets there it will throw a red exclamation point momentarily upon boot up on the dash. Does not lodge a DTC either. It's the only light on the dash that doesn't light upon boot up bulb check so very noticeable. Some people don't notice it as it's momentary but I have seen it and it really stands out.

    It's the only warning you will get that the 12 volt is going south.
     
    #41 edthefox5, Dec 29, 2016
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Lots of reports of low charge on new optima. Easy to understand they don't charge it before u buy it
    It just sits on the shelf. Measure it and let us know.
     
    #42 edthefox5, Dec 29, 2016
  3. Kate Harvest

    Kate Harvest Member

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    11.84V under load is fine. 12.8V is what you'd expect without a load. They're correct, his old battery is fine. Those Optimas are built to last. If you Ready your Prius up, turn on the headlights, the windshield wipers and the AC full blast then put a voltmeter to your 12V's terminals you'll very likely see less than 11.8... That's an "under load" test.
     
    #43 Kate Harvest, Dec 29, 2016
  4. FrankD

    FrankD Member

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    OK....I think it is great news. I got the new battery today, tested it and it showed 12.83 volts. Installed it. Left the back hatch open an inch or so. Pressed the power button. All stuff came on, but HOLY CRAP......only let me put it in park or Neutral.....not drive or reverse. Thought I was up a creek. My son said, relax....close the trunk, try it again. I tried it again and this time all was fine. Started it up, put it in reverse, drove it out of the garage and up and down the street and back home.
    So....I THINK I am ok. Why that first time it only allowed me to be in Neutral I do not know.

    So....what do you guys think? I think I'll back into the garage for awhile. I am Paranoid. Again...thank you all for your good and kind help. Do you think it will be ok now?
     
    #44 FrankD, Dec 29, 2016
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Sounds like you're fine.

    Six years is a long time to go on a battery. Simpler: research batteries in advance, have a smart charger on hand (and use it for periodic top up), and replace the battery preemptively, even when it's still fine, every 4~5 years.

    Someone will be along soon enough, to say: "that's nonsense, I had a battery that lasted nine years. Never did anything with it either". Take your pick, lol.
     
    #45 Mendel Leisk, Dec 29, 2016
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  6. FrankD

    FrankD Member

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    Mendel, I agree now. I was just led to believe that these Optima batteries were almost, forever batteries. Also, I did not know I'd be keeping this 2007 this long. This one should be the last one I buy for this car.....but we'll see.
     
    #46 FrankD, Dec 29, 2016
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you were misled. i think you're good. did you try it again with the hatch open? maybe doesn't let you put it in drive.
     
    #47 bisco, Dec 29, 2016
  8. FrankD

    FrankD Member

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    I feel so much better. I drove it over to a friends house....about a 6 mile round trip with no problems. I also did try to drive it with the hatch open and it now does that fine as well. I know it used to drive with the hatch open no problem, because I've hauled long stuff with it open before. I do not know that that first "new battery hiccup" was, but it seems to be fine now. I will still back it into the garage for awhile just in case.
     
    #48 FrankD, Dec 29, 2016
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    there are times when the power button has to be pushed more than once. not sure if 12v disconnect is one of them.
     
    #49 bisco, Dec 29, 2016
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  10. andrewclaus

    andrewclaus Active Member

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    Ditto, I've noticed it sometimes needs to be started twice with a new battery, though I've only noticed that with the hybrid battery.
     
    #50 andrewclaus, Dec 29, 2016
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  11. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Whenever you disconnect the 12 V battery, it requires two presses of the power button to get to READY. The first press gets you into IG-ON (or similar) and the second press gets to READY.
     
    #51 dolj, Dec 29, 2016
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  12. FrankD

    FrankD Member

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    Thank you dolj. I think I'm ok then with it. I apologize for this long thread over an easy battery change....but as I stated, I did not remember how old that Optima battery was, and I was under the impression that it was going to be the "last battery I'd buy" for the car. I also did not think I'd be keeping this car this long....but we love it. I now use it daily for my home inspection business. Folks are surprised when I show up in it with 3 ladders and a bunch of tools, etc. all inside....but it holds everything great, and honestly the newer models have not had all the storage and room like this one. As long as the BIG battery keeps going, I think I'll keep it. I have 154k on it now.
     
    #52 FrankD, Dec 29, 2016
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