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Replacing 12V battery

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by MikeDee, Jan 4, 2017.

  1. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    If I hook a trickle charger to the jump points and then replace the battery, would that save the car settings, or is this procedure not advised?
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It should work, but you have to take extra precautions when working on the 12v battery connections because they'll be live/hot. Wrap the terminals with a rag or place them in a heavy glove to prevent grounding, etc.
     
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  3. Siward

    Siward Active Member

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    I changed my 12V a month ago and I didn't use any trickle charger. I ended up losing my trip A/B mileage. My car reset to normal drive. I lost the time. My navigation unit still retained the stored addresses.

    In the end, there wasn't any settings I didn't mind losing.
     
  4. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Using a battery charger is not a good idea. Some of them are "pulse type" and some are linear. It's better to use an actual battery, either a "boost pack" or an actual gel cell battery (I use an "alarm battery", a 5-10 amp-hr small gell cell 12 volt battery). Boost packs are useful as you can carry them around in case you or someone you want to help needs a boost (NEVER boost another car with a Prius, unless it's a Prius - damage can result).

    DO be careful to get the polarity correct! The positive terminal goes to the "boost point".
     
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  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Amen. Since I'm not bright enough to know when they're hot or not, I just do that all the time.

    I have an ancient brick-style 0.5 amp (IIRC, it's too cold in the garage) trickle charger, totally dumb. That sort I guess is ok, I've used it a few times in past.

    But then yeah, I got a kosher memory saver cord for my jump pack: one end plugs in (cigarette lighter style connector) at jump pack, and OBD plug at the other, with just the power pins. It also has indicator light, so you can trial connect, ensure it's good. Some have indicator light at both ends, more convenient still.

    Here's mine in use:

    upload_2017-1-5_7-25-23.png
     
  6. MeGuinness

    MeGuinness Member

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    after installing the new battery what voltage does show in the menu when using the self diagnostic in the prius satnav display or a scanner attached to the obd port?thanx

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe just compare at the posts to at the jump start point, with the car off. FWIW, I don't have sat/nav. If I did, still, I'd be suspicious of anything the car shows, while it's at least partially "booted", adding load.
     
  8. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    If it's 14.x volts, then your high voltage traction battery and DC to DC inverter is online. A healthy 12v battery should read above 12.7v or so.
     
  9. MeGuinness

    MeGuinness Member

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    Checked my from jump post and it shows 12.50v .....On the diagnostic it show 11.5v

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The diagnostic is off due to loads I think. I wouldn't pay it any credence.
     
  11. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I've seen these memory saver things powered by a 9 volt battery. I would think that should work if I can keep the interior lights from coming on when I have the rear hatch open.