My car alarm goes off, or at least it tries to, when I open the car in the morning. Then every time I try and start the car, it seems to delay starting. IE. I put key in and it struggles to turn on, and lights dim. Is the 12v battery out of charge? What do I need to do? Cost? Thanks in Advance.
Yes, you need to replace the 12V battery now. If you have your local Toyota dealer do this, plan to spend $200+ for the battery and labor.
Depends on the exact shop but labor is at least $60/hr, and the part is $280 MSRP ($220 online) to consumers at my dealer (one poster got it from their dealer for ~$140, so YMMV). It's 2880021171. Most posters here recommend an aftermarket replacement, Optima D51 which can be obtained online through elearnaid. I haven't had to replace mine yet so I can't speak to anything personally. Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 - 10
You can try charging, but if the battery is original equipment and 9 years old, charging will likely be an exercise in futility. Note that the battery for Classic is not the same as for 2G/3G, as the terminal polarity is reversed. Hence you should not use the Toyota part number or the Optima battery in the link provided by Politburo above. That info is good for 2G/3G owners. The battery MSRP is supposed to be $139 so I suggest you call your local Toyota dealer parts depts and see what they can do for you. It is possible that you may only be able to purchase a Panasonic replacement battery that has a higher capacity but also requires an installation kit which will probably cost another $40 or so. Most Toyota dealers that sell parts online will not ship the battery as it is deemed to be hazardous material.
