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How long do I have with this dying 12V battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by VFerdman, Dec 8, 2017.

  1. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Charger costs $40. Electricity ain't free... So now he's down to saving $20 bucks and left with a very good likelihood of failure away from home.
     
  2. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Another thought on surviving a marginal 12V battery. If you just go shopping and leave the car turned off for a half hour or so, don't turn it off. Leave the car in Ready. Turn off everything you can, and lock the car with the mechanical key. People have actually left a Prius in Ready for multiple days during a power outage or while camping. About the only time you really need to turn the car off is at the gas station. And even that could be bypassed with a gas can at home. Now we get to discuss the dangers of filling the tank in Ready mode...
     
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Try the big box stores, preferably one with a decent web site, and identify your "preferred" nearby store. Search for batteries, fill in you car info, see what it comes with.

    We are a bit of a backwater up here, comparing to the States, and our Canadian Tire has Prius compatible, rebadged Exide, under their Motomaster label. Exact fit, good specs, slightly better than OEM.

    Most of them I think would have a pro-level electronic load tester, and be willing to verify the battery's condition at time of sale. There's usually a core charge, maybe $20. The most efficient way to swap it right in the store parking lot, carry the old one back in to get your core charge back. Or take it home, do the swap in piece and quiet, return the old one another day.
     
  4. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    I limited myself to local businesses because I can get better and faster service from the likes of Walmart online (it's shopping season right now and malls are not pleasant places to be for me). What I consider an "independent" auto parts store is one that does not carry a brand name and there is only one of in the neighborhood. There are two that I know of around me: Pelham Autoparts, which I use a lot and Campus Auto, which I use rarely. Both are independent. I really try to give them the business whenever I can, but I admit, that is becoming more and more difficult.

    I will try the Auto Zone and Advance Auto as well as Walmart. As I said, I hate being in shopping malls around this time of year. I do my gift buying from local artisans and also make them myself and supplement that by online shopping. I avoid shopping malls like the plague at this time of year.


    I already have a charger, electricity to charge a battery such as the 12V in Prius is negligible at $0.13/KwHr and I do carry a set of jumper cables in the car. I have jumped cars since I was a young whipper snapper in the 80's. Is there anything particularly special about jumping a Prius? I know where the jumping points are under the hood.
     
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  5. WilDavis

    WilDavis Senior Member

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    The original question asked "How Long?" - well, until you either replace the 12V AuxBattery, or at least invest in a Maintenance Charger. …and as far as Jumping a Prius AuxBattery goes, there are numerous threads containing methods (and heed the warnings!) on PriusChat - search can be your best friend! Good luck! ;)
     
  6. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    (Snark on) I admire your desire to buy a locally grown, organic "artisanal" battery! Why not just drive the car without a 12v? Jump every time! Save the entire $160! (Snark off)

    But let's agree that there is plenty of grey area shopping between hyperlocal and SuperEvilMallmart. Your local Toyota dealer for example. FYI: Menards also carries a line of batteries that fits a Prius, but it, too, is a special order item.

    Back to the original question. 11.4v is the minimum voltage recommended here at priuschat.com. It would nice to know the exact voltage at which the Prius fails to start, but no one knows that. To be clear: your car is failing (thus the warning lights).Your 10v is the lowest I've heard to start. Please report back as your battery dies and your car still starts.
     
  7. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    It actually dips below 10V sometimes and still starts. I am amazed and also worried, but mostly amazed. I think I can probably jump it with 12 AA NiMh cells in series :)

    What I think happens is this, however. The actual voltage right before I power up is way above 10V and there is obviosely enough Amp*Hours in there to power up, so it powers up. By the time I get my Torque all set up and take a measurement it is down to 10V. I will need to check with my DMM before I do anything by taking a measurement at the battery with it. I'll report if and when I do that. In the meantime I will try to hunt down a battery.

    Point about local buying is well taken. All I am saying is I give local indie business a try first. I hate malls and I am very good at online ordering, which to me equals and most time is better than local big box store physical shopping. This is why I already have a battery on order even as we are discussing all this. I simply did not realize that it is back ordered to the end of December.
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Check out your local Pep Boys asap, or whatever you have in your neck of Massachusetts. Looking up Springfield location:

    upload_2017-12-9_9-8-19.png

    And:

    upload_2017-12-9_9-7-37.png

    I've set local store as Springfield, but not sure if it's embedded in this link:

    Car Batteries | Auto Batteries For Trucks & SUV's | Pep Boys

    Below my cut-and-paste there's some notes about SKS vs non-SKS, check in the link. I would go for the Bosch.
     
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  9. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    Thank you for that, @Mendel Leisk. Springfield is pretty close. I may just go and get the Bosch one. Seems like a good battery and 4 year replacement. Will probably deal with that Monday.

    Edit:
    Just called Pep Boys and they do have the battery in stock, it seems and they do free installation, which is great because my hands do not work well outside when it's freezing. I made an appointment for Monday. Hopefully <10V is enough until then. If not I can grab 9 D cells and jump it :)
     
    #29 VFerdman, Dec 9, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2017
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  10. zsolar

    zsolar New Member

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    I just put in the same Bosch battery from Pep Boys. It seemed like a good deal to me. I would not trust them to install it though. It's not difficult to do but it is a bit more involved than most cars. When I got my car (well used), it had a AAA-installed battery that had been kinda jammed into place and the breather tube was not installed, so it is possible to screw this up (though it WAS functional in that state)
     
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  11. VFerdman

    VFerdman Senior Member

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    I will definitely inspect the work, but I will let them do it. First of all, as I said, my hands are not good in sub-freezing temperatures. Second, if I just get the battery they'll charge $15 core charge for which I will need to come back with the old battery. This place is out of the way of my usual travels and I'd rather not go there more times than I have to.
     
  12. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    I hope your Pep Boys experience will be better than mine. The Cinnaminson store wanted an outrageous amount for the "free" battery installation because the slacker thought he could get electrocuted. Check the voltage before installation and ensure it is fully charged.

    I ended buying an Optima from eLearnaid and swapping out the battery in my driveway. I agree with you, the only thing worse than maintenance in the winter is maintenance in the winter in the dark.

    I have come to realize that it is easier and cheaper to shop online than to just run out to the store hoping that the item is sitting on a shelf. Buying an item on line for store pickup has worked well for me at Best Buy and Walmart. You still have to deal with the traffic and parking but you probably aren't standing in a long line.
     
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  13. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    maybe I missed something, you ordered a battery on line and had it shipped to the house???
    so when it goes bad you have to ship it back and they will ship you a replacement in a few weeks?
    why didn't you do a price match with a local parts store like autozone or advanced.. I got my yellow top locally with a print out of the cheapest on line price, they did charge me local tax but matched the price of $147.99
     
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  14. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    I ordered that same battery deal from Jegs. Delivery date was February. I didn't wait and picked up the Optima at AutoZone for 202 with tax. This way I have a receipt and I'm in the computer for the warranty. With Jegs you can't mail it back. The Exide battery I bought just over a year ago was very weak under a load. Bought online as well. That got me screwed for warranty.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    That's a good approach, assuming they're careful/competent. If there's a significant problem with fit, they will see it from the get go, better than you just picking it up, heading off, and then have to come back and explain. I appreciate what you're saying about working with bare hands in the cold, have the same issues.

    Just look it over, make sure the hold down bracket is secure and stable*, the clamps are tight, and you're good to go. It wouldn't hurt to put it on a smart charger (3~4 amp max charge rate? Check owner's manual.) right away too, one that'll run a charging session, monitor as it goes.

    * If hold down bracket is similar to third gen, it's a piss-poor design, cannot accomodate ANY variation in battery height. When I swapped in an Optima on ours, I ended up having to shim one end of the hold down bracket with a washer, to accommodate a very slight height increase.
     
    #35 Mendel Leisk, Dec 10, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2017
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  16. C.R.Merrow

    C.R.Merrow New Member

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    Man! You have gotten a lot of good advise. What are you going to do? My advise is just make sure whatever battery you decide on using make sure it is the right fit for your Prius & will be installed properly with no mistakes that will damage your Prius electrical system! I like the Optima 8171-767 (DS46B24R) Yellow Top Battery best, but Bosch & Excide have excellent batteries too. You would not be going wrong any of these there. My vote is battery maintainer at home & take it with you when you and when you are parked & can connect it in order to keep your old battery fully charged & turn off all battery use when possible when driving until your Optima arrives.
     
  17. C.R.Merrow

    C.R.Merrow New Member

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    Hello C R,
    Our 4Wheel Drive Hardware experts have answered your question.
    You asked: How does the Optima Battery 8171-767 compare to the Exide Edge FP-AGM51JIS Flat Plate AGM Sealed Automotive Battery? Both these battery fit my 2012 Toyota Prius Plugin is one better than the other. I know that Optima gives a 3 year 100% warranty, but Exide gives a 4 year 100% warranty other than that what is there pro's and con's? Price I can buy the Optima 8171-767 from you for $141 and the Exide 51JIS for $144 from carid Which is my best purchase or wises purchase?
    We answered: Unfortunately we do not carry Exide so I am not sure on how they are built but the Optima is a great battery with a tough housing.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What I've read, but I really don't understand the import of these two factors: the Optima has higher cranking amp, but lower amp hours, than the Exide. I get the sense the Exide is closer spec to the OEM, that the higher cranking amps of the Optima is overkill.

    I have Optima at present, but if there's a next time might well go with Exide, albeit rebadged as Canadian Tire Motomaster brand.
     
  19. audiodave

    audiodave Active Member

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    Well the Exide didn't work out for me. Buying it online screwed me of my warranty. Less than a year old if put under a load it dropped to 9 volts.
    The Optima is designed better for discharging and charging and stable output from what I understand. Stable output for powering the computer makes sense. The Prius likes to drain the battery it seems too.
    I've just installed the Optima. Since I have the smart key it drops in as a perfect fit. I picked it up at AutoZone for 187. Receipt and the warranty.


    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  20. GT4Prius

    GT4Prius Active Member

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    Woa. Way to go to make the most of having a "green car".

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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