Another (different) 12V Battery Question

i think you need to track down the source of the battery drain. the jump starter is a good idea until you get that done, it will work under the hood. also, don't shut the car down with the drivers door open.

 

I think this qualifies as another "weird things happen with a bad battery" condition. Very few 2005 batteries have survived this long.

My vote is to replace the battery regardless of a simple voltage check. If that doesn't solve the problem, at least you won't have to worry about when the weak battery is going to strand you.

Three external beeps means that you've left the car with it turned ON. You might want to make additional checks that the car is OFF when you hear the beeps. Look for the Ready light still ON, and maybe even check the voltage for 14V+.

 

yeah, robs probably right, just change it.

 

What I have been doing as Best Practice to prevent battery drain, is always lock the car doors even in the garage. I thought I read on this site (but not sure where) that the doors will not lock if anything is on.

 

Nope, the doors will lock if the hatch light or overhead light is on.
No beep no nothing. You lose.

The hatchlight will kill the battery if not started for more than a day or 2. Or at least let sulphation begin and then its curtains for the battery.

 

if you have to jump the 12v on this car.. ever.. it's dead and you need to replace it.

3 beeps is a typical indication that a battery is low. it supposed to be for your key fob... not the 12v... it's indicating it's low or there is many communication errors.

 

btw... anytime you check the voltage on the screen, give it a minute or so. you need to be able to see how it holds a charge.. not how it shows a charge when first looked at.

 

That's really bizaro. I've never heard of another report of that particular symptom. One beep on power off indicates a low keyfob battery. Three sounds like some ECU lost its marbles... due to the 12V battery putting out something below 10V.

The current price for the direct replacement Optima battery from http://www.elearnaid.com/opdsopbadifi.html is $170 (+tax in CA). Recommended.

 

Ok this isn't rocket science Dave, the door light stays on if you leave the drivers door open. (you didn't really make it clear whether or not you subsequently close the door).

 

Most batteries are solid performers for 3-4 years. You're on borrowed time. Why wait till you have to replace it and pay just as much $ in an unplanned setting ? If you're going to trade the car do it soon, otherwise ... Optima now!:rockon:

 

Mine also was replaced month ago - it's about the time you need it unless you want to sell the car (then just plug the 12V to the charger for a day/night) and should be again fine for another while.

 

Here is another thread that might be of interest to you.

Wayne

 

Check out this battery.

http://batterystoreonline.com/optim...eplaces-optima-d51-for-toyota-prius-free-ship

 

Penny wise pound foolish...

The big picture is different(IMHO), by running around with a weak 12v battery the ice is running "let's say" 25% more then if it didn't have to try to keep a dying 12v battery charged, so that's a lot of gas @ 3.75$ a gallon.

Strange gremlins inhabit prii with weak 12v batteries, really.

If someone unfamiliar with the correct jumping procedure for a prius happens to get involved, the money starts to bleed.

But, if you insist, once or twice a month, stripping the rear storage compartment(access to the battery) and removing the positive connection from the battery(negative is fine) and trickle(2-4amps) charging it for 24+ hours will work, but you still have an undependable battery.

 

I have an 05 Prius that has had very meticulous maintenance records kept with no mention of the 12V battery ever having been replaced. It's the longest lasting battery I've ever had in a car so far and I've owned plenty of cars in the past 35 years.

And no, I'm not having any issues with the 12V battery in my Prius. It works just fine.

It amazes me how many people obsess about that little battery. And, the Optima battery is praised to high heaven as the best thing since SIRI. How much better can it be than the one Toyota has put into over 1 million Prii?

It's bad enough that a battery that doesn't have to turn over the engine has to be so expensive. Surely Toyota could have found a way to squeeze it into the engine compartment somehow instead of the elaborate system of venting and such. Probably needs to be close to the traction battery for some reason, I suppose.