New 12 volt battery improved MPG

Actually, I have replaced quite a few batteries on cenventional cars and trucks, just never have on a Hybrid, and was curious if there were any precautions to be taken; or do you simply change it out like on a conventional vehicle?

 

Just change it out. There is nothing special about it other than making sure you plug the ventilation tube back in. The Optima conversion took me about 20min or so to install.

 

20 min sounds good F8L.
I just got Optima yesterday sitting in my garage.
I do not plan to hook up an alternate battery to retain (radio etc) settings, but this is possible minor complication, right?
Also assuming I have the right tools, find out soon.
Extra mileage would be nice if true. Maybe that is why I am lagging MPG lately.

 

I was rushed because I had students waiting for me while I performed the swap. If you just take your time and have a beer while installing it you will do just fine. I think the hardest part was getting the bolts back into the battery holder because they are way down in the well and there is a narrow gap between the battery and the car. It's been awhile though so I may have forgotten the specifics but I did have a thread I created to refer to the amount of time it took. Forums like this are great for those with faulty memories. lol

 

How do you get the battery voltage display?
Thanks
Charlie

 

Dang I'm out of beer, one key tool I am missing.
I will just tell my wife I needed to get some beer for the fix.
Since it is her car, she will support it.

 

Hi Charlie. Follow the link from my post #8 here : http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...conditioning-12v-aux-battery.html#post1188923

 

Dear god man. How can you expect to perform the job competently without that tool? Tell the wife that the boys at PC said it is required for a successful install.

 

Optima success here, but F8L, you are a mechanical genius. Took me about 2-hrs. I either did not get, or lost the famous Page 1, but I think Page 1 is instead now a small white label on the batt that says to check crevices for all the hidden parts. Litte Easter egg hunt to start off with. Overall 50 steps or so. I go slow. No beer. Did not fiddle with extra batt to save settings. Fun to use some metric sockets I had for 30 years with little use.

I was little uncomfortable with the small battery vent tube, thinking there could be acid in there. Also little confusing because you had to realize you only want to reuse the tube itself and not the plastic connector to the orig batt.

 

I'm no genius. You should have seen me struggle with the exhaust manifold/catalytic converter on my GF's daughter's Honda Civic. lol

I'm glad you got it installed and it didn't take too long. No beer though huh?

 

UART
Thanks.

2 hours huh-that sounds about right.I agree 20 minutes means genius hands.
Charlie

 

OK, just checked my 12v battery voltage at the jump/charging station in the fuse box under the hood, and got a reading of 11.4, after letting the car sit in the garage all night; Now, does this sound to all you knowledgeable guys like my 12v battery is ready to crap out soon? From what I have read here, seems I should be seeing voltage of around 12.5 - 13.0. Does anyone concur?

 

Sounds like it bit the dust to me. If there is no load placed on the battery and you got that reading then I think it is time to replace it.

 

Checking from the front terminals can be misleading. Take your readings from the battery terminals in the back. The length of the wires from the battery to the front adds resistance and lowers the reading.

 

11.4V is not great. It probably has some life left, but if you keep it watch carefully for any odd behaviour.

 

I forget to take into account the wire resistance from the battery to the front terminals; will take another reading at the battery itself. But I'd like to thank everyone for all the good advice! Have picked up some great tips off this forum.

 

Good deal. Let us know what you find.

The general rule of thumb is at 12.2v you are at 50% capacity so 11.4 is pretty bad.

 

Car runs well with new Optima, but first half tank gaso MPG did not seem any better, low 40s. Now seems getting to be better up to our average 46. Next tank will be the referee case.

 

OK, here's one last question I just thought of before I do this change-out. Will all this have any effect on my Smart-key? Or should I consider coupling in an auxiliary 12v battery at the charging station just to be safe (besides keeping radio channels, settings, etc.)?

 

Went ahead and bit the bullet, so to speak. Yestarday, during one of our hottest days, had the triangle of death come on after running the car for a little while, shutting down, and re-starting within about 30 seconds. After this, plus with what knowledge I have been able to gleen from this forum, I went ahead and purchased a new aux. batt. from the local Toyota dealer. (was going to order one via the internet, but above circumstances caused me to want to hurry it up!) After setting up a second 12v battery in the circuit, I pulled the old battery per instructions found here, dropped in the new one, and went for a test drive. Results are encouraging. Battery monitor went to full bars and green, something it hasn't been able to do for a couple of months now. Also, air conditioning seems to be working much better, getting much colder air. I attest this to the fact that the A/C runs off the 12v system? I thought thats what I had read. And, best of all, went on a 15 mile round trip and MPG went from a dismal 34.9 back up to 38 in that short drive. So looks like I may be back in the hyper-miling business again. Thanks again for everyone's help!