14 years and 115k miles on original 12 volt battery....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by GFO, May 15, 2026 at 6:47 PM.

  1. GFO

    GFO Member

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    Was not intentional, as I really meant to change it at the 10yr mark, but life got in the way and then it was out of sight out of mind.

    Battery still works as it should as far as I can tell, car starts and runs normal, but I'm going to change it out with an Optima Yellow this weekend or the next just for peace of mind.

    Anyone else get extended life out of their factory 12 volt?
     
    #1 GFO, May 15, 2026 at 6:47 PM
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  2. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Before just replacing it, you may want to stop by an auto parts store to get it tested. I've found that these car will go into ready mode; all the way down to 10.5V - as long as the battery can deliver a continuous current at that sustained level. A new 12V battery may make it more reliable, but I don't believe the cost of an optima yellow top is going to give you better performance than a standard battery that you currently have.
     
    #2 BiomedO1, May 15, 2026 at 7:11 PM
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  3. GFO

    GFO Member

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    The battery could very well last another 14+ years for all I know, I just don't want to risk getting stranded because I pushed it beyond reason, which 14 years of use seems to be.

    The dealer here wants $520.00 for a Toyota battery, just the battery. BatteriesPlus no longer carries the Duracell I was looking at two weeks ago for $275.00. That leaves me with O'Reilly's, their store brand is $259.00, while the Optima is $299.00. So I'm choosing the Optima as it's not substantially higher.

    Local Toyota Dealer:

    upload_2026-5-15_16-56-41.png
     
    #3 GFO, May 15, 2026 at 7:57 PM
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats!
    I only got 7 years, but I left it sitting for 3 months every winter
     
    #4 bisco, May 15, 2026 at 8:42 PM
  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    that's actually a decent price for an optima. It's been more than a decade since I looked at an optima for a 4x4; but then again battery prices was less than $100 for a good one back then. You can check with Sam's club or Costco - I believe they carry them.
    The way the store employees handle those batteries is key. Those cells don't like sharp impacts, whereas the Optima used spiral cells - so they handle impacts better - that's why they are ideal for 4x4 that go off-road.
     
    #5 BiomedO1, May 15, 2026 at 9:45 PM
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Perhaps you should get the Sodium Ion 12v battery. I believe the cost is a lot less.
    The voltage is a little high and it's more stable.

     
    #6 ASRDogman, May 15, 2026 at 9:49 PM
  7. PriusII&C

    PriusII&C Active Member

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    The OEM battery on my 2012 Prius lasted for 12 years. It could last longer, but the smart charger was accidentally removed from the battery when the car was parked in the garage for over a year. Before parking it in the garage, I tested the battery with a load tester, and it was still in good condition.

    I would not be suprised if your battery could last longer. Just check its condition using a load tester.
     
    #7 PriusII&C, May 16, 2026 at 12:01 AM
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