Optima Yellow Top Battery Question

you need to make sure you get the right battery. I got an optima and when I got home I noticed it had normal sized terminals instead of the tiny ones on the prius battery. JIS terminals I think. so I had to replace the battery cable ends too, because the idiots at advance auto didn't have the correct battery and my original one was dead. honestly, the Toyota battery is probably just as good or better than the optima.

 

Make sure the Optima battery has vent hole like the picture below. Should be Optima Batteries 8171-767-FFP (DS46B24R). I got my on Amazon

 

go with the toyota oem, the optima isn't what it once was. the oem now has an 84 month warranty with the first two years full replacement, then pro rata.

but yes, the correct model optima has the correct posts and vent.

 

Follow Bisco's advice...

 

Please elaborate on this point.

 

Any S46B24R battery will fit. Optima, specifically elearnaid.com was an early source of Prius batteries. The Toyota SureStart 84 month warranty is pretty compelling.

Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 + , Prius V & Plug-in Prius with Instructions has pages of installation instructions.
Amazon.com: AGM Toyota Prius Auxiliary Battery - Made in the USA: Automotive

 

there have been a lot of complaints of new batteries arriving undercharged or defective. not as many success stories as when they first came out.

 

Classic american business story. Arghh.

 

Shop around as sometimes it is cheaper to buy through amazon than through the seller's site.

I have had no problems with the Optima I bought from elearnaid. Liberty Toyota sold me a crap battery that was replaced under warranty. Liberty's mechanic also broke the positive terminal cap. They offered to replace it but I declined.

 

I'm a fan of the Yellowtops. We have them in two '07s. Never have to worry about them, even when sitting for a week or more.

Do shop around. At the time, I found a considerable discount from Advance Auto Parts.

I noticed the DS46B24R seemed just a touch taller than the original. I put a washer or two under the hold-down bracket.

 

About a year ago, I bought an Optima as a replacement for the ten-year-old original, and haven't had any trouble. Installation took more time than it should have, but that was due to discovering a puddle of water in the battery compartment. And, I dropped a nut a couple of times, and of course it fell under the battery......

 

Shame, shame, shame, you should have followed my instructions from when I replaced mine and used some white grease on the socket to hold that nut in place (and I stole that advice from a guy that used to post a lot.....dorunron)

kris

 

You're right, I should have. It would have saved me fishing the nut out - twice. Arrgh - and *then* putting grease on it. But then, I might not have discovered the water problem....

 

http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/optima-yellowtop-deep-cycle-ds46b24r/?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adword&gclid=Cj0KEQjwu-CuBRCQ2byQtMep7e0BEiQABQKlkYLBo0EnQiCLG56-fwqsIfLfMbvTDCCtJdHd5j7v8pMaAixv8P8HAQ

Fast, free shipping - arrived fully charged and absolutely fits perfectly on my 05 w/smartkey.
Bill

 

FWIW - I've replaced the 12v battery three times on my 2004. The first Optima battery lasted almost two years, but the second went into full meltdown mode after only three months (Amazon purchase). I was on a road trip hundreds of miles from home and had to pull into a dealership for an emergency replacement with an OEM battery. $$$ but it was my only option.

As someone once said, the Optima isn't what it used to be.

2004 230k

 

Your research needs improvement. There is only ONE size by Optima, made specifically for the Prius (Yellow Top, 38AmpHr). Yes, the initial production of Prius Yellow Tops had the wrong terminal posts, forcing owners to change cables or replace the supplied posts with JIS posts.

SKS Prius (like yours) came standard with the larger 45AmpHr battery from Toyota. Downgrading to a Yellow Top Optima, you loose 7AmpHr capacity. This 7AmpHr, might be crucial should you leave a door ajar or the map/overhead interior lights on, say overnight, or listen to the radio in ACC mode, for a prolonged period.

Optima Yellow Top: 38AmpHr, 3 year warranty.
Toyota Smart Key 12V Battery: 45AmpHr, 7 year pro-warranty
Bosch AGM Battery (likely made by Exide); 45AmpHr, 4year total warranty, not-prorated; $190 - $40 total promotions going on now at PepBoys
Exide AGM Battery (FP-AGM51JIS); 45AmpHr, 4year total warranty not pro-rated; $190 at Amazon

For Convenience and simplicity, just go to a Toyota dealer. You will probably always be near one, and be down a battery for a few hours vs days from shipping back to Amazon or whoever.

 

Any more information on the discount you got? Looking to replace a spotty Optima (now 3 years old) on my 2006 with SKS. Also the exact Toyota part number would be great if you have it handy. Thanks in advance!