1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius 10 Car battery question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by justaguy, Aug 4, 2010.

  1. justaguy

    justaguy New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    136
    2
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My prius battery just died overnight a few weeks ago because i left the door open. I got it jumpstarted by aaa.

    The battery level has been fluctuating when im driving. It would go up and down and not stay up while driving. Generally regenerates when i brake alot. I just got it serviced at toyota and they OK'd the battery condition.

    Battery fluctuating during driving. Normal or not normal? am i just paranoid?
     
    #1 justaguy, Aug 4, 2010
  2. chuckc192000

    chuckc192000 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2010
    44
    4
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The battery you see on the display is NOT the battery you had to have jumped. There is a separate 12 v battery that is used to run the accessories and the computers when the car is not turned on. It's normal for the battery that drives the electric motors to fluctuate up and down depending on driving conditions and the way you drive the car. It would be highly unusual for it to remain at full charge all the time.
     
    #2 chuckc192000, Aug 4, 2010
  3. justaguy

    justaguy New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2010
    136
    2
    0
    Location:
    california
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    ^that's news to me
     
    #3 justaguy, Aug 4, 2010
  4. Colonel Ronson

    Colonel Ronson New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2010
    443
    33
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    This is your hybrid battery. It goes up and down for everyone. And even if this wasn't a hybrid, your battery level doesn't stay the same in whatever car you're driving...
     
    #4 Colonel Ronson, Aug 4, 2010
  5. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    #5 JimboPalmer, Aug 4, 2010
  6. Penny's Dad

    Penny's Dad New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2009
    421
    46
    0
    Location:
    Orlando Fla
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I left the house my traction battery indicated 2 bars left...I got to work and it was within 1 bar of the top (that's quite a range). Since I was close to top I switched to EV mode entering my parking garage...drove around parking garage in EV with lights and AC on...parked with 4 bars left...Hope that answers your concern.
     
    #6 Penny's Dad, Aug 4, 2010
  7. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2004
    1,278
    20
    0
    Location:
    Kent, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
     
    #7 seasalsa, Aug 5, 2010
    1 person likes this.
  8. andreiliev

    andreiliev Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2011
    23
    1
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Hi there,
    After two days of cold, my car is out of power. Lights are very weak and it is very difficult to unlock it.
    Do you think it may be the 12v battery ?
    Where can I find a new one ?
     
    #8 andreiliev, Dec 16, 2011
  9. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    ^^
    Sounds likely, run the test at http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html after you've left the car overnight. Tell us the values you get after each step.

    You also have a 2nd gen, so you shouldn't have bumped this thread.

    Many would recommend http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...-12v-yellow-top-d51-battery-pencil-posts.html instead of buying a replacement from Toyota. It won't save you any money, but many feel it's a superior battery. I have one of these but w/different sized terminals as the pencil post version didn't exist yet.
     
    #9 cwerdna, Dec 16, 2011
  10. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    7,663
    1,041
    0
    Location:
    United States
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    A new Toyota battery and the Optima yellowtop D51 pencil post are the only drop-in replacements. Anything else requires modifications to the car.

    A Toyota dealer should not charge more than about $200 for a new one installed. More than that and they're trying to gouge you; go to another dealer.
     
    #10 richard schumacher, Dec 16, 2011
  11. Feri

    Feri Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2011
    761
    144
    0
    Location:
    Maldon Victoria Australia
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
     
    #11 Feri, Dec 17, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)