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Just replaced my 12V battery, and this happened

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by msg7086, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. msg7086

    msg7086 Member

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    Sorry for the click-bait XD

    My battery is getting too weak to reliably start the car. Today it's warmer and it started with no problem, but yesterday at low 30F/0C it needed a jump start.

    So today I went to a nearby autozone to get a new one. $199+tax+core deposit, making it a $232 bill. I planned to trade the car in for a new one, but due to some legal issues I have to wait another few months, hence I have no choice but to spend this money.

    Here's the interesting thing. After I took the battery out, this is what I saw.

    [​IMG]

    Does that mean ....... ?
     
  2. qmanqman

    qmanqman Active Member

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    If you're trying to ask a question, I'm not reading you?
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    me neither... unless you're asking if it's the original fro august 26, 2004, then yes. nice run, you should have purchased another oem, but you're not keeping it anyway.
     
  4. msg7086

    msg7086 Member

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    Sort of. I was kinda surprised this is the original battery that has been working for 16 years and still has the power to start the car.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be a record. i replaced my 2004 oem in 2012
     
  6. msg7086

    msg7086 Member

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    When I bought the car, I registered this account and post here to seek help on whether I should replace my 12V. Brought the car to dealership they checked the 9 year old battery and said it's good. It has been working all the way until now, that it finally retires.

    Of course I didn't know it had the original battery. I bought it from dealership, so naturally thought they were gonna replace it before resale.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they don't replace anything if it works
     
  8. FBear

    FBear Senior Member

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    The twelve volt battery does not start the car on a Prius. It run the computers.
     
  9. msg7086

    msg7086 Member

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    Are the computers part of the car?
     
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  10. qmanqman

    qmanqman Active Member

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    Oh I thought you were looking at the Autozone receipt and asking something. We just replaced the original battery in my daughter's 07 two months ago. I too was shocked.
     
  11. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It means that YOU need to be more specific with your question.
    What exactly are you asking about ??
     
  12. qmanqman

    qmanqman Active Member

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    Yes. Cars these days have a tiny computer in them and all kinds of electronic sensors that make the vehicle more efficient. If you've ever heard of a "Check Engine Light (CEL)", its a warning light that the computer turns on to let you know something is wrong. The computer turns on the light when a sensor is reporting something is not right. Sometimes it is the sensor that has failed. Sometimes not.

    But ya, a stealership will never replace anything that works. If the battery will last 20 more minutes and they can sell you the car before 20 minutes will expire you can count on them doing it.
     
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  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Here's a shot from Techstream connected to a 2010 showing all 24 computers (ECUs).
    Screen Shot 2021-01-26 at 1.44.24 PM.jpg
     
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  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    As shown by the asterisks in the screen shot, not every trim and option level will come with all 24 computers.

    And that's a 2010. I shudder to think what that screen will look like in Gen 5.
     
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  15. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    I wouldn't be surprised if it had just one module - HAL
    " Good morning Dave. I'm sorry but I can't allow you to drive, this trip to the supermarket isn't necessary"

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  16. C Wagner

    C Wagner Member

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    I think congratulations for battery longevity are on order. If it's true that the battery just taken out was from 2004, that's amazing! I have a dying non original (I think it was 2012 in the old owner's dox) OEM battery that I'll replace soon. I just bought my car used with 166K on it, fixed the Hybrid battery only to find a whole host of (regular but expensive) problems that the mechanic had to fix.

    If you're selling a prius (especially to someone who thinks 'battery problems could be an issue with an EV/Hybrid'), reward yourself by putting $240 into making the sale soooo much easier - and probably the sale price a lot higher for it. Another feel-good thought: you've been buying this $240 for a long time, while the old battery was failing more and more. You just paid, but you could have paid a year ago. The new buyer will be happier with a new battery, so it's all good. You might even keep the car.
     
    #16 C Wagner, Feb 8, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2021
  17. msg7086

    msg7086 Member

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    To be honest, I thought it was replaced at least 5-10 years ago. And if I know it's that old, I would have replaced long ago.

    And you are right, I'm seriously thinking about keeping the car. No burning oil, no major repairs, running like a clock, it's rock solid. I feel really bad selling it.