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Want to Know How Long the OEM Prius C 12 Volt Battery Lasts?

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Oldwolf, Apr 22, 2019.

  1. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    I bought the car new in May 2012. The OEM battery failed today April 22, 2019.
    I jumped started the car, took it to the dealer and they installed the Toyota AGM (84 month) battery for $250.
    :)
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's how long it lasted for you. can't beat 7 years, nice price btw.(y)
     
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  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    And it means exactly NOTHING except for that.
    The next guy might get more or less; there are a LOT of determining factors.
     
  4. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    One thing it means is that if your battery is older than mine was, it may be time to get a new one.
     
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  5. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    My car is a 2012 that I bought in Jan of 2013. I'm still on the original.
     
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  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Says the guy who replaced his battery at:
    3 years
    4 years
    5 years
    etc.

    The personal experience of any SINGLE individual is not terribly meaningful to the rest of the world.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah, the reason it's all over the map, is all the different ownership scenarios:

    1. Driven daily for a good distance, almost without fail, for at least (say) 20 miles round trip.
    2. Driven sporadically, often sitting idle for several days.
    3. Always diligent that lights are off and all doors closed.
    4. Once in a while a door has been left ajar, overnight, or the map lights, or the head lights.
    5. Car frequently gets professional interior cleaning, with doors left open for hours. Staff may be using the car radio.
    6. Protracted idling, or sitting with the car in accessory mode, listening to radio.
    8. Car sometimes sits for multiple weeks, say at airport, or just in storage.
    9. Car is used infrequently, but the owner monitors diligently, using multimeter and electronic load tester, and uses modern charger, one capable of being left on indefinitely, pretty much every time the car will be idle for more than a day.
    10. More so with a conventional battery than AGM: battery is occasionally removed from the car, posts cleaned, ditto for cable clamps, and battery levels topped up with distilled water.
     
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i think more people drain their batteries than remember, or care to admit. it's just such a different paradigm with prius, they figure jump it and you're good to go, no harm, no foul.
     
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  9. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    At 7 years my battery was definitely on the Right Tail of the Normal Distribution curve of failure age! No doubt a small few will get 8 (or more) years from theirs.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm shootin' for 12 :p
     
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  11. Oldwolf

    Oldwolf Prius Enthusiast

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    Mine gave no perceivable warning of failure (other than age). I parked at the bank after 15 miles of interstate driving, then when I came out it was dead.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i check mine on a regular basis, so i won't get blindsided. (i hope :cool: )
     
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  13. Dominic Fong

    Dominic Fong Junior Member

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    Thank you very much Bisco for your reply. Question: is your vehicle parked in a garage? I am thinking a garaged vehicle battery lifespan should be longer than one that is not.
     
  14. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    Mine has never been garaged and I just replaced the factory battery. 117k miles/7 years.
     
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  15. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    The only environmental factor that is hard on batteries is HEAT.
    So that would be an advantage ONLY if the temperature in the garage is significantly less than it is outdoors.
     
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