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Best AGM 12V battery for Gen 4?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Scuderia Priusi, Apr 29, 2017.

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  1. Scuderia Priusi

    Scuderia Priusi Member

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    I want to replace the stock 12V battery in my Gen 4. I've had excellent results with the Optoma Yellow-top battery I put in my wife's Matrix, but when I check the Optoma configurator online, they show 'no battery available for your vehicle". :(

    Is that true? Has anyone put an Optoma of whatever color/flavor in their Gen 4 Prius? I definitely want to go with an AGM battery, so if not Optoma, can anyone recommend another AGM battery that fits? TIA!
     
    #1 Scuderia Priusi, Apr 29, 2017
  2. pakitt

    pakitt Senior Member

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    Why do you want to replace the 12V battery? Is it defective?
     
    #2 pakitt, Apr 30, 2017
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  3. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Why an agm? There is no venting issue with the battery now under the hood.
    The stock battery looks like a standard lead acid design.
     
    #3 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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  4. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    AGM? Obviously not an annual general meeting.....
     
    #4 RCO, Apr 30, 2017
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  5. Sooner Al

    Sooner Al Active Member

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    #5 Sooner Al, Apr 30, 2017
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  6. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    OK, thanks. A bit older and a bit wiser now.
     
    #6 RCO, Apr 30, 2017
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  7. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    The older Prius models all used AGM batteries. The battery was located beside the cargo area and vented to the outside.
     
    #7 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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  8. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Why ??
    If the car is about a year old, this likely is a complete waste of money.
    And if you have some solid indication that there is something wrong with the 12 V battery your warranty should cover it.

    AGM is generally a better choice but there is no good reason to throw away a few years of remaining good health in the OEM one.

    If you insist on doing this now........any major brand AGM should be fine.
    In my opinion, the Optima ones are little or no better than the others and thus are overpriced.
     
    #8 Sam Spade, Apr 30, 2017
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just go with a standard lead acid car battery. they are time proven, and economical, compared to agm.
     
    #9 bisco, Apr 30, 2017
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And the one that's in there will serve fine. (y)
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Apr 30, 2017
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  11. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Didn't I read someone just today say that TOYOTA warranty on the original 12V battery is 7 years - if it's faulty, TOYOTA should fix it.
     
    #11 alanclarkeau, Apr 30, 2017
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. would like to hear more from o/p about replacing a perfectly good, almost new battery.
     
    #12 bisco, Apr 30, 2017
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    The 12 volt battery does not appear to be mentioned in the 2016 service and warranty guide, so I assume the 3 year warranty (36 month or 36K miles) applies.
     
    #13 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Both the Canadian and US warranty booklets are oddly silent on the 12 volt battery, nothing in inclusions or exclusions.

    I would suspect Toyota is obligated to deliver the car to you with a functioning battery in good condition, nothing more. But it should be spelled out in that document.

    It is just too easy to run a battery down.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Apr 30, 2017
  15. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Let me muddy the warranty waters, it you buy a Toyota TrueStart battery at the parts counter, it has a 84 month prorated warranty. (24 month roadside assistance, 24 month 100% replacement) The same battery in your car when you purchase it, has only a 36 month warranty.

    TrueStart
    84-month service replacement warranty
    24-month of roadside assistance reimbursement

    Years 1-2 100% of parts, service and towing
    Years 3-4 50% of Truestart MSRP
    Years 5-7 25% of Truestart MSRP

    They also sell a True-2 battery which has a much lower warranty.
     
    #15 JimboPalmer, Apr 30, 2017
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2017
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  16. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    It that for a Gen 4 battery? The battery technology in the 12 volt battery appears to be different in the Gen 4.
     
    #16 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    #17 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @JimboPalmer , that's kinda like muffler and brake pad at Honda, which often come with "lifetime" warranty. It's a calculated risk: replacements of this sort tend to happen about halfway through a vehicle's life, so lifetime warranty on genuine Honda replacement parts (typically with a proviso that they be dealership installed) keeps owners "in the fold", and with relatively low odds they'll be back another time for the same problem.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Apr 30, 2017
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  19. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Partially true. Toyota has two 12 volt battery lines but their online guide does not list ones for the Prius family but directs you to call them, basically,

    upload_2017-4-30_9-51-7.png

    From https://www.toyota.com/toyota-owners-theme/pdf/03_Batteries2015_final[1].pdf
     
    #19 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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  20. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    #20 Prodigyplace, Apr 30, 2017
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