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Prius Battery (Optima 12v)

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by Villager, May 29, 2013.

  1. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Does anyone have a recommendation on a place to get a new 12v battery for a 2008 Prius installed?

    Thanks in advance for any help!
     
  2. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    Just curious Villager - how many miles are on the car?
     
  3. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    I think in this case it's less about the miles and more about accidentally leaving it on overnight. But the 12v battery is supposed to last about 5 years and we're almost there. There are two batteries - this one is the one that starts the computer, not the regular hybrid one. I don't know the mileage and can't turn on the car to find out!
     
  4. Mom8386

    Mom8386 Member

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    You're the first person I know of with a Prius who is replacing a battery. Now it's usually the main battery, but everyone has just traded in the car because of the expense. Do you know what it will cost to replace?
     
  5. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    The Optima Yellow Top is recommended on the PriusChat forums and runs about $180 online, more in stores. Installation supposedly costs around $100. We could buy the battery and install it ourselves but while the battery replacement is fairly simple, you have to remove or loosen a number of other things to get to it. YouTube has some tutorials - gotta love the internet. But still, I don't think we'll go that route because I'm not comfortable with the potential for things to go wrong and all the cursing involved (ha!).

    The other battery is the one that's especially expensive.
     
  6. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

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    You can get Optima batteries at all kinds of places. I've even seen them at Costco. I would just go to Advance Auto in Ashburn, they will do the replacement. Optima batteries are gel cells and cost a bit more than a regular batteries. Probably looking at $140-$200. They come in yellow, red, and blue tops. Blue is Marine, red is HD .. yellow is probably what you have (most common). These are not the prius "drive" batteries ... totally different animal.
     
  7. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

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    ^^ I guess you knew that :)
     
  8. glockenspiel

    glockenspiel Member

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    Try the Battery Warehouse in Leesburg. They probably have the battery in stock and I think they will install it for you. Check it out:

    http://www.batterywarehouseva.com/
     
  9. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

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    If you want to go through Advance, you can order online, pick up in store. Use DOW22 as the promo and get $40 off .. $192 after discount (thank you fatwallet.com).

    My last experience with Battery Warehouse was 2x the cost of anywhere else YMMV
     
  10. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Wow! I didn't think that a place like Advance or Battery Warehouse would do the installation. I'll have to look into that. I think we'll have to get it towed because even after having it sit on a 2V trickle charger for 20 hours it still wasn't charged at all. Might try to jump it one more time but that doesn't look promising.

    P.S. - If the 12V battery is dead, the trunck/hatch will not open from the outside. Just so you know.

    Thank you for the tips!!!
     
  11. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    The local Advance Auto Parts has it in stock! Installation varies by store so I'll have to call to check on that. Thank you!!

    Edited to add that the new forum format will be great if it includes a "thanks" button. :)
     
  12. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Advance Auto Parts does not do the installation for this type of battery.
     
  13. pauleyc

    pauleyc Member

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    :( Go get it .. follow the youtube .. what could go wrong??? ;)
     
  14. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Exactly! Actually we bought it and will be watching videos to see if we want to attempt it.
     
  15. KTdid

    KTdid Well-Known Member

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    That's why I asked. My 10 yr old Prius' batteries never gave me any problems and had only 135,000 miles. I figured you had at least that on a 2008 in order for the battery to give you problems. Good luck with the installation:)
     
  16. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    It's possible that we can jump the battery and recharge it. Apparently there is a special way to do it - you just have to RTFM to figure that out. Ha!

    We'll probably try to jump it and recharge it first and see if that works. Supposedly if it can hold the charge for the following 24 hours or so it should be fine. But if it dies again then it's time to replace it. Let's hope that it can simply be recharged and last us quite a while longer.

    I found a great video (slide show, really) on YouTube that explains how to change out the battery. Wish us luck!

    Thanks again so much for all the advice!
     
  17. Villager

    Villager Ashburn Village Resident

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    Just to complete the story... We bought the Optima yellow top battery from Advance Auto Parts (then got beer and wings at Buffalo Wing Factory next door, which worked out nicely). Watched the video I linked to earlier and we were able to install the battery and the car is working fine now. Generally the procedure isn't difficult, it can just be that way if you don't have the right tools or lose a nut or a bolt.

    A few tips: The battery installation requires the removal or loosening of about 8-10 nuts and bolts, some of which are in slightly awkward positions. You'll need 10mm and 12mm wrenches - a regular small wrench will work but a socket wrench with a small handle, like less than 4" long to fit in the tight spaces works best. And be careful not to drop any nuts or bolts into the car's crevices or under the battery that you just installed. :rolleyes3:

    Thank you for the help!
     

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