Dead Battery

It would seem to me that even though you may( are you sure) left an interior light on, that the battery should still hold a charge even if it went dead because of a light. I would demand a new battery under the warranty!!!! If they still decline I would have them replace the battery and then lick the matter higher up the chain, ie. zone rep. ect. I think it should be covered under the warranty. This dealer sounds like he doesn't like to keep his customers happy which is unfortunate. I think getting a battery covered under the warranty is probably one of the easiest things a dealer can do.

 

Evan why do you say that? Isn't the battery covered by the 3/36k warranty? Or have I missed something?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 15 2007, 09:51 AM) [snapback]406065[/snapback]</div>

efusco,

I'm curious about your statement here when you say "vent externally" as it reminded me of an earlier time in my life when I was single and driving new Corvettes. Gasoline was only 60 cents a gallon then too!

I remember having to replace a battery after a few years and was being told it required a "special" battery. When asked what was so "special" about it, I was told that because the battery was located inside the passenger compartment (in the back area behind the driver under a small door) that it had to be a non-gas venting type (sealed) so the occupants would not be breathing anything venting from the battery's sulfuric acid and lead compounds. It made sense to me and I later found out that I was able to obtain the sealed battery from several sources besides the dealer including a Sears Die Hard at a reduced cost that met these requirements.

In the Prius, I'm wondering if this might be a need also as the battery is under the back carpet floor in the passenger compartment. Since most non sealed batteries vent externally via the caps on top I would think a non-venting type might be needed?

Ideas? Thoughts? Opinions? Thank you!

Tom - KN6VV

 

Well Evan I respectfully disagree. I think just leaving a light on and draining the battery isn't damaging it. I'd say that is not an abnormal occurance and something a battery should be able to whitstand. Lots of betteries get completly discharged and are able to hold a charge when they get recharged. Now if the battery was frozen while discharged that's a completly different story. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one LOL.

 

I think that if there is any question about leaving yur light on as far as warrantee coverage, you should realize that you were mistaken, you never left the light on in the first place.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Mar 15 2007, 11:24 AM) [snapback]406094[/snapback]</div>

Well, I would never claim to be brighter than Evan, but from what I've read on here, I recall that the Prius (Gen 2) battery does not vent to the outside. The battery needs to at least be a "sealed" type; I seem to recall discussion of a "gel-type" battery, or something like that.

 

Wording of the Warranty!!!!!!!!!LOL ahh the words that warms the hearts of every good lawyer LOL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paprius4030 @ Mar 15 2007, 01:36 PM) [snapback]406099[/snapback]</div>

Starter batteries are designed to provide a strong pulse of power (that cold cranking amps part) to get the starter moter turning. (Electric motors require a lot more current to get them turning than they do to keep them turning.) Deep discharges will damage starter batteries. It's not a flaw in the battery, or even a design flaw, it's a tradeoff to achieve more peak power output from the battery.

From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead-acid_battery

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE("Wikipedia")</div>

 

just a comment but I had my battery replaced for free on another vehicle within the 3yr/36K B2B warranty. Also I think it was http://www.toyotapartscheap.com/ that had the OEM battery (part# 28800-21050)for like $110 shipped, easy to DIY install

 

Most 12 v batteries can be brought back if you remove them from the car, properly charge them, then desulfate them. I realize that most folks don't own desulfators, but if you have two or more vehicles, or you own equipment that may sit for long periods of time, a small float charger/desulfator will actually save you a lot of money.

I picked up at auction the previous generation of VDC's Battery Minder. I use them on my Prius, and also on my diesel tractor and old Ford truck at my hobby farm. Batteries are in great shape.

http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12117.htm

I'm not sure if one unit is worth $70, but I got 3 for that price at auction.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marlin @ Mar 15 2007, 09:57 AM) [snapback]406128[/snapback]</div>

True, but we are not talking about the starter battery. The HV battery provides power to spin the ICE not the 12v.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Mar 16 2007, 12:19 AM) [snapback]406525[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, but the battery is still a plain old automotive battery. Whether or not the Prius uses it as such, automotive batteries are designed as starter batteries and as such have the limitations of starter batteries.

And by the way, the battery is indeed vented and is not a sealed battery. That's what that big duct under the hatch floor that ends on top of the 12v battery is for.

I found one reference to the venting in the Prius emergency response data sheet from Toyota:

http://techinfo.toyota.com/public/main/2ndprius.pdf
See page 12. (as numbered. In the PDF, it's is actually the 15th page, since the first 3 pages aren't numbered)

 

The big duct is for the cooling of the HV battery. There is a small vent tube out the side of the 12V battery which goes down out the bottom of the floor under the 12V battery.

Wayne

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FireEngineer @ Mar 16 2007, 11:55 AM) [snapback]406744[/snapback]</div>

Oops, after taking another look at the diagram, I can see that the duct does indeed skirt around the battery.