Horrible Sulfur Smell need new 12 volt battery?

The fact a car needed jump starting indicates a problem; often with the 12v battery. Hindsight is great but it would have been prudent to have checked the 12v at that time rather than carry on.

You need a new 12v and many dealers offer a fixed price, though $344 fitted seems excessive to me. Here in the UK it's a fixed price dealer job and is about £150 ($240) inc 20% sales tax fully fitted.

Perhaps members in the US could confirm a dealer fit price?

 

I'm not sure it means it's about to explode but it does sound like it is almost dead. I believe when they become that dead they short internally which could be causing the smell. You don't want a dodgy 12v venting into the car as I'm sure the smell is some rather nasty chemicals and possibly explosive (can others clarify?).

Get it replaced asap as it will only fail again and soon. Cars usually break down at very inconvenient times, usually in a bad area and mostly when it is raining hard.

 

Can others clarify whether this smell indicates a 12v about to blow? I'd hate for you to have that happen esp as it is sited within the cabin space in the Prius!

 

It is located in the trunk. I mean the open cabin space so that any vapours from the trunk will quickly be breathed in by passengers. If the 12v was in the engine bay, then at least you could turn off the fan to avoid the smell and/or fumes.

 

I agree you should replace the 12V battery now, which is located in the right-rear corner of the hatch floor. If possible, put the new battery on a charger to make sure it is fully-charged prior to installation, or measure the battery voltage which should be 12.9V out of the box. If lower, have the battery charged first.

I hope that you are buying an Optima battery that has the small-sized terminals?

The original equipment 12V battery is supposed to be equipped with a vent fitting and a hose which vents gases produced by the battery cells to the outside of the car. Maybe that hose came loose, or perhaps the battery had previously been replaced with an incorrect battery which does not have a vent fitting.

In any event, I suggest that you open the windows as required to vent that smell and minimize your driving time until you have had a chance to replace the battery.

Please take photos of the battery currently in the car, especially if it turns out it doesn't have a vent hose attached.

 

It's the Vent Tube, as Patrick W indicated, all you really have to do is plug it back in to the vent hole located on the Positive (Red) side of the battery. The tube consists of a plastic 90 ° "L" and a length of clear tube that goes through the floor to vent out the Hydrogen gas the battery produces.

 

It looks like the original equipment battery. Note the vent tube which goes into the hatch floor, near the left lower corner of your photo.

You will find that it is necessary to remove the traction battery vent, running over the battery, and very helpful to unbolt the brake power supply, which is the black object in the foreground of your photo, for better access to the 12V battery. It is not necessary to remove the wiring harness connectors to the power supply.

 

well done!