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HELP - 12v battery on backorder

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Maria Lee, Dec 7, 2021.

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  1. Maria Lee

    Maria Lee New Member

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    I have a 2017 Prius Prime plugin advance. It's been sitting at home for a while due to the pandemic. I just found its 12v battery is dead. I had to jump start my car. It won't charge even after driving on freeway for 40 mins. I just called my dealership and they told me there is a national shortage on this new 12v battery and I have to wait for 6 months to get a replacement. I called my local auto shop and was told similar things. BTW, I'm in SF bay area.

    I'd like to drive my car ASAP for a trip. Does anybody know where to get a new 12v battery for 2017 Prius Prime plugin advance? TIA!!
     
  2. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

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  3. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    That’s not the original battery size, known in various designation systems as LN1, H4, or 140R.

    This is the correct one from NAPA: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT75140R
    That’s really not enough time to recharge a deeply-discharged auxiliary (12-volt) battery. I’d suggest putting the battery on a charger for a while, if possible, to give it a fair chance to recover, before deciding that it has to be replaced. Chargers for lead-acid automotive batteries aren’t expensive, and you might want one, anyway: if you leave the car parked again for a while, a new battery is likely to discharge in the same way.

    If you must have a new battery today, you could try the AutoZone store at 1818 Hillsdale Avenue in San Jose; they supposedly have an H4-DLG battery in stock, which is also the correct size for your car.
     
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  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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  5. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Too bad I didn't see this before I turned my old battery in for a core charge credit. It was still good.

    Try Carquest auto parts. That's the only place I could find one in the SF Bay Area. The dealer wouldn't even order me one.
     
  6. ems2158

    ems2158 Active Member

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    My battery died yesterday. I picked one up at Advance Auto for $180. It looked the same as the Napa battery:
    https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT75140R

    The Advance Auto battery fit perfectly and I'm on the road again.
    My 2017 Prius Prime battery was 5 years old and hasn't been sitting for any length of time. Maybe it could have been recharged but probably not.
     
  7. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    They were telling me that back in 2018, so it may not necessarily be related to Covid. In fact, the dealership had put one on order for me and Toyota USA canceled the order.
     
  8. Maria Lee

    Maria Lee New Member

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    May I please have the link to your Advance Auto battery?

    I just called them and they said none in stock nearby. But thanks anyway for the tip!

    Just called Carquest auto parts and none in stock. Thanks anyway!!
     
    #8 Maria Lee, Dec 8, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 8, 2021
  9. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Advance Auto = Carquest. The website says in stock at the Manteca store. This may be the only choice in the greater Bay Area. I'd give them a call. View attachment 220011
     
  10. Maria Lee

    Maria Lee New Member

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    Thank you so much!! I found ppl here so much more helpful than the horrible Toyota service. They don't care and a waste of time.
     
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  11. Maria Lee

    Maria Lee New Member

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    Has anybody found problem with pumping gas into their car once their 12V battery is dead?
     
  12. ziggy29

    ziggy29 Member

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    Yeah, it's a bit of a bummer. There aren't a lot of places that carry this form factor, and some Toyota dealers are reporting no stock and some delays. This is timely for me because I think my battery is on the way out -- a few days ago I kept the car in accessory mode for maybe 10 minutes, and then for the first time I got the dreaded "12 volt battery low" message that couldn't start the hybrid system. I was able to charge it and put a maintainer on it and it's somewhat better but still weak, so I will probably replace the battery anyway. I called the local dealer's parts department (only one within 70 miles) and they had one left, and they said they'd hold it for me for a few days while I see how much I can resurrect it. Most likely I will get it in a couple days, since I don't know how much I trust this moving forward even if most indications are that it's a little more stable now -- especially since stock is so scarce now, I may just buy it now where I might otherwise wait a while.
     
  13. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    I'd buy a new one, since they are in short supply and you don't want to get stuck somewhere. IMO, you can't revive a bad battery. Also, the dealer battery has less CCA's than aftermarket ones (295 vs. 480 for the one I bought).
     
  14. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    There's something going on with the Gen 4 and 12V battery maintenance. My 2018 battery was always around 11.8V. The dealership wanted to replace it and Toyota USA blocked them from doing so.

    I'm not sure CCA is an important factor in the Gen 4 battery issues. It seems as though chronic voltage <12V is common in these vehicles. Generally, a low state of charge in lead-acid batteries induces sulfation on the plates. This sulfation can become permanent and the battery capacity is reduced. CCA can be maintained even while capacity is severely diminished, so it's not an indicator of capacity.
     
  15. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

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    I hadn't checked my PP's 12V battery until this thread got me curious. Right now it's sitting at 12.05V, which is low enough to encourage sulfation. Lead-acid batteries are supposed to be maintained above ~12.4V. It's only been sitting for ~36 hours, when it was driven for a couple of hours.

    EDIT: I think it's relevant to note that my 2012 PiP still has the original OEM 12V battery and no sign of issues so far. Are the PP's lasting as long? It doesn't seem like it.
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Increases in CCA usually comes at expense of amp hours though. Out of my depth, but I’ve heard higher CCA requires more/thinner plates, and that leads to the trade-off.
     
  17. meeder

    meeder Active Member

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    CCA is hardly an issue for a hybrid. The current draw during "start-up" isn't very high.
     
  18. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    Yeah, booting up the ECU's is not exactly a high current action. I understand that 8 D cells (to get 12V) works just fine.
     
  19. ziggy29

    ziggy29 Member

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    Yeah, I did. Picked it up this morning and will install soon. With a full maintenance charge the old battery is holding a better voltage, but still getting iffy. It’s holding 12.3 volts now instead of 12.1, but I don’t trust it too much.

    For a hybrid, I think fewer CCA is fine, and arguably better.
     
  20. MikeDee

    MikeDee Senior Member

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    Well, the the new battery was noticeably heavier than the old one. I would think that would relate to capacity, but don't know.
     
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