Question re: 12-volt battery, please?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Julia2001, Aug 14, 2012.

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  1. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i had my local gas station mechanic change mine on my 04. he picked up a toyota battery for $150. and charged me $60. to install it. no prolemo.
     
    #81 bisco, Aug 17, 2012
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    Very little on the Prius needs to be done by the dealer, brakes and transmission work is about it.
     
    #82 JimboPalmer, Aug 17, 2012
  3. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    When we changed out the 12V for an Optima, doing the bolt/vent switch as the most difficult... DH spent almost an hour, as it was awkward, though not "hard"... took a lot of patience.
     
    #83 Rae Vynn, Aug 17, 2012
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, the bolt that secures the traction battery vent to the fender is a slippery devil and wants to fall into the space occupied by the battery.

    Therefore I suggest that after you place the new battery into its new home, you might put the battery bracket in place but not tighten it down until the vent is installed. In case you drop the vent bolt into the battery area, there will be less to remove to find the bolt.
     
    #84 Patrick Wong, Aug 18, 2012
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  5. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    To be honest, having read the DIY instructions and watched videos over and over again to familiarize myself with the process prior to attempting this project, this is the part that makes me the most nervous.

    So...a couple of questions:

    Is this the part that requires the long ratchet extension and a magnetic something-or-other?

    Does this piece HAVE to be removed?

    Is it a screw or a bolt? I've seen it referred to as both.

    Thank you.

    Julia
     
    #85 Julia2001, Aug 18, 2012
  6. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. Yes. I have a telescoping wand with a magnet on the tip. That might help. Sometimes though, the tip will get stuck on the body sheet metal while you are probing around trying to find the screw.

    2. Yes, you must remove the traction battery vent duct for access to the 12V battery

    3. Self-tapping screw with 10 mm hex head. The fender has a plastic fitting that the screw fits into.

    If you drop the screw into the deep dark fender well, don't worry, and recall that many others (including me) have done the very same thing. Worst case is that you have to lift the battery out, then you can reach around and find the screw. Allow yourself plenty of time to do this job.
     
    #86 Patrick Wong, Aug 18, 2012
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  7. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Thanks so much, Patrick.

    I looked online at what you've described as self-tapping screws, and noticed that some have a slot for a flat head screwdriver, and others have only the hex head but no slot. I'm trying to determine if I can get this screw in and out with a flat head screwdriver. I have some long ones. Otherwise I will need to purchase a long extension for my ratchet or something similar.
     
    #87 Julia2001, Aug 18, 2012
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good time to start building your diy tool arsenal.:)
     
    #88 bisco, Aug 18, 2012
  9. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Yes, you should get an extension, six inch length will probably work.

    You really don't want to be in the middle of doing this with the car inoperative, and then decide that you need to buy another tool without any convenient way to get to your tool store.
     
    #89 Patrick Wong, Aug 18, 2012
  10. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Correct. When I picked up the battery I also bought a six inch extension for my socket set.

    The only thing I don't have is a long magnetic thingie. They didn't have one. Once I locate one I will have everything I need laid out in front of me and I will scrub in for the surgery.

    I will agree that the battery IS heavy, but I carried it out of the store and put it in my car so I'm sure I can handle placing it. The only thing worrying me still is that one bolt in the back of the vent!

    But I am confident that at SOME point in the relatively near future I will be back here reporting a successful batteryectomy.

    Or yelling for help! :)

    Thank you all again.

    Julia
     
    #90 Julia2001, Aug 18, 2012
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  11. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Harbor Freight has a fine selection of the magnetic pickup.

    Google

    You might find muscles you did not know existed. Good luck with the job. :)

    Ron
     
    #91 dorunron, Aug 18, 2012
  12. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Thank you, Ron! If you hear screaming from the north, you will know that I lost that little bolt that holds the vent on, OR the bolts are too tight for me to remove. Grrrr.....
     
    #92 Julia2001, Aug 18, 2012
  13. donalmilligan089

    donalmilligan089 Member

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    #93 donalmilligan089, Aug 18, 2012
  14. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Okay. Got the magnetic pick-up tool. At some point today I will attempt my first batteryectomy. Wish me luck!

    Thank you again for all of the tips and guidance!
     
    #94 Julia2001, Aug 19, 2012
  15. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #95 JimboPalmer, Aug 19, 2012
  16. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    That's awesome, Jimbo! Thank you!

    Okay...so I have completed my first batteryectomy. I have good news and bad news. Well, actually I'm hoping you're going to assure me that it isn't bad news...just normal news...we will see.

    The batteryectomy went very well. I am happy to have completed the job successfully. I took my time and was careful and it really went well.

    Surprisingly, the thing I worried most about was that silly bolt on the back of the vent duct. I even purchased special tools just in case I couldn't manage that part well, when in fact my hands are so small that I was able to just reach all the way in there and turn it with my hand! Used my ratchet with extension to loosen (that one seemed loose-ish anyway) and then just stuck my hand in there and loosened the rest and pulled it out. Tightened back up the same way in reverse.

    Here's the only problem I have encountered...and I'm very nervous about this....

    I ran a vehicle system check a la jdenenberg's excellent instructions, and I do NOT show a healthy brand new battery. I have read in these forums that I should see 12.8. I saw 12.1 on the first try (ACC I think it's called?), and then with a load (Ig-on or something like that?) it is reading 11.9 just like my old battery did.

    This makes me afraid there's a fault somewhere...whatever that means. But I'm not showing a nice new healthy Optima battery, that's for sure.

    I will tell you that prior to picking up the battery I called and asked them to please check the voltage for me. He laughed at me and said "it's a brand new battery. Of course the voltage is perfect" or something like that. I asked him to do it anyway (because of things I've read in my research on this board) and if it didn't read 12.8 to please hook it up to a charger. He said he would check the voltage and call me back. He called back and said it was perfect just as he had expected. Still laughing at me.

    Either they didn't check it truly, or there's something wrong with my car, right?

    Thank you for any thoughts you might have on this.

    Julia
     
    #96 Julia2001, Aug 19, 2012
  17. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

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    Make him laugh a bit loader! Tell him you want a new battery , not one that sat on the shelf for a year or so. Your not the first to have had this issue with Optima battery. Those are really low readings. Maybe you could borrows a multi meter from someone that has one and double check the output. H
     
    #97 HaroldW, Aug 19, 2012
  18. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Just tried it again after running the car in ready mode for 10-15 minutes.

    In ACC it showed 12.5. Pressed power button again (foot not on brake - IgOn) and it's vacillating between 12.0 and 12.1.

    Then when I turn the car on....power button w foot on brake...Battery reading between 13.9 and 14.0, now remaining at 13.9.
     
    #98 Julia2001, Aug 19, 2012
  19. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    Harold. Thanks for responding. It says June, 2012 on the battery.
     
    #99 Julia2001, Aug 19, 2012
  20. Julia2001

    Julia2001 Member

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    #100 Julia2001, Aug 19, 2012
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