1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Cost of 12v AGM Battery for 2018 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by DaveWR, Jan 6, 2021.

  1. DaveWR

    DaveWR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2021
    3
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I recently had to replace the 12v AGM battery on my 2018 Prius 5 and was shocked to see the sticker price of $690.00 Canadian plus tax! Hopefully this one will last longer than three years, but if I do have to replace it again I would like to hear about a less expensive option. Any ideas?
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That seems like a lot, even in Canadian dollars. My Gen 3 replacement cost was “only” $250 or $280 and that was from the dealer. On the Gen 4, it was around $200 from BCAA.

    I guess AGM is typically more expensive but wasn’t expecting 2.5x.


    It should last longer than 3 years. My Gen 3’s 12V lasted 7.5 years and probably longer but I just preemptively changed it at 7.5 years as preventative maintenance. On the Gen 4, it was changed out because it was drained twice already so its life was shortened and the 3rd time killed it (hence BCAA) - we suspect it was the dashcam that drains the battery when in accessory mode.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  3. MichelleStone

    MichelleStone Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2016
    549
    817
    0
    Location:
    Mariposa, CA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I replaced mine last year in my 2016 model 4. I spent about $270. Even though I had scheduled in advance to have a new battery at my dealership, they didn't have one after I sat there for two hours. I went to a Pep Boys in town and they found one at a local auto parts store. It turns out these batteries aren't terribly common.
     
    Pulse07 and alanclarkeau like this.
  4. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    On fourth-generation (2016 and later) Prius cars, the auxiliary (12-volt) battery in the engine compartment, at least as originally installed by Toyota, is not an AGM type, so you could have used an ordinary (“maintenance free”) battery of the LN1, H4, or 140R size as a replacement. These are now readily available at auto parts stores.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would return it
     
    pilotgrrl and alanclarkeau like this.
  6. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    kithmo, Harters and alanclarkeau like this.
  7. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It's not an AGM battery on a Gen 4.
     
    kithmo, Harters and jerrymildred like this.
  8. DaveWR

    DaveWR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2021
    3
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    My Toyota dealer said my 2018 Prius needed an AGM battery. Here is what I just found in "Torque News":
    "Because Prius only needs to have onboard computers turned to "ready" on, the load placed on the 12v is very minimal. AGM batteries are better in this regard to be able to wear better over time because they do not need to be cycled like flooded batteries do to stay at peak operating performance."
    Also, "Internal resistance also plays a critical role in what battery you should buy. The Toyota batteries are certified by Toyota to have the right internal resistance that will allow for proper charging. It has taken years for the aftermarket to start to get their Prius replacement batteries with the correct resistive values. Many new aftermarket Prius batteries would fail early due to poor product design"

    I am confused! Me thinks I will challenge my dealer on this one.!
     
  9. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    That’s true for model years 2015 and earlier, and for Prius v and Prius c cars, which may be why the dealer is confused. You might suggest, if they have a new Prius car in stock, that they take a close look at its battery, and notice the vent caps and the liquid electrolyte inside.
     
    pilotgrrl, kithmo, Harters and 3 others like this.
  10. DaveWR

    DaveWR New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2021
    3
    2
    0
    Location:
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    Checked with the parts department at my dealer. They insist the Toyota AGM battery is the only one listed for the 2018 Prius and that any other battery would not give reliable service!
    I am going to talk with Toyota Canada to see if I can find someone there who can explain this.
     
    SFO and Mendel Leisk like this.
  11. Mambo Dave

    Mambo Dave Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2019
    640
    305
    0
    Location:
    33312
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    L Eco
    Almost sounds like an old-school deep-cycle regular battery would be fine at this.

    What's the difference between a normal car battery and a deep-cycle battery? | HowStuffWorks
     
  12. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Won't they come out and look at your battery that I assume came with the car new? Or, as @Elektroingenieur suggests, look at a brand new one in their own lot? Then ask them when AGM batteries started having caps you could unscrew to see the electrolyte inside that AGMs don't have.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    This is mine - I suspect yours was similar.

    upload_2021-1-8_9-8-16.png
     
  14. thomassster

    thomassster Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2015
    238
    80
    0
    Location:
    Colorado, US
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    I was at an auto part store in Colorado in the US and some lady was getting her 2016 battery replaced there, which is a H4 size (not AGM) and the price was $200 USD after core charge and that includes free installation if that is worth anything.
     
    pilotgrrl and kithmo like this.
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I’ve been meaning to phone our local dealership parts dept, see what the current cost is for 3rd gen battery (mines in good shape, but over 5 years old now, so...).

    I’ll ask for 4th gen price and part no info as well while I’ve got them on the line.

    I’m on the west coast Canada. I know 5 years back they were asking $273 CDN for the 3rd gen Absorbent Glass Mat battery, the official (Yuasa) one. Funny how that price sticks in my head, lol.

    Kudos to @Elektroingenieur btw, a font of in-depth info as always!
     
    #15 Mendel Leisk, Jan 11, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
    alanclarkeau and Tideland Prius like this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Open Road Toyota Port Moody quoted me just now: $541.41 (all prices CDN), for 4th gen battery, roughly 22% less (than $690). Part no is: 00544-065H4. I’d suspect it’s discounted vs full retail.

    For 3rd gen: $340.00, and this is an Absorbent Glass Mat type. Part no is: 8451P. Again, 5.5 years ago they quoted $273.

    I looked up batteries at Canadian Tire; they don’t have anything for 4th gen. FWIW for 3rd gen they do have one, for $249. I’d have no qualms about buying a CT battery (if and when available). I’ve bought them for a couple of Hondas recently, and they looked identical to OEM, apart from CT specific badging.

    @Elektroingenieur has mentioned various 4th gen aftermarket options in past, and above. They are maybe more US-centric though??

    Rant: my Honda battery purchases in past were always around $125~150. May have climbed, but still: these Toyota numbers are nuts!
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Jan 11, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
    Tideland Prius likes this.
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,767
    16,016
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    :eek: Is it because they're not replaced as often? That's expensive!
     
  18. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2017
    2,515
    3,253
    9
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
  19. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Apart from the non-spillage factor, what is the advantage of an AGM battery over lead acid ?
     
  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Higher cranking power for the weight I believe is the biggest advantage. Also can be smaller physically for the capacity - which might help manufacturers - who don't have to pay to replace them. In cold climes, they might hold a charge longer - I live in the semi-tropics, so can't test that out.

    Maybe the only advantages?? Flooded tend to last longer and are cheaper.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.