Finally replaced my 12V on my 05

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by usnavystgc, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    I finally had to replace my 12V on my 05 Prius. The battery lasted just over 10 years. Amazing!!!!! It gave up the ghost when my son was listening to the radio in IG ON. Went to start it and it wouldn't. I knew it was the 12V since it was giving the usual symptoms of "Park in a Flat place" and no headlights, weak dome light etc, etc. I first tried to charge it but it was not having it. Wouldn't take a charge. New battery was purchased from O'reilly Auto parts for $153.87 after military discount.
     
    #1 usnavystgc, Nov 2, 2015
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  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I hope your son kicked in at least part of his allowance.
     
    #2 Munpot42, Nov 2, 2015
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  3. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    He was cleaning the car for me so, I couldn't fault him. Lol
     
    #3 usnavystgc, Nov 2, 2015
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    10 years, that's like the life of a hv battery. Amazing
     
    #4 JC91006, Nov 2, 2015
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  5. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    I DON'T care about the damn battery....How did you get your son to clean your car! :D
     
    #5 Stevewoods, Nov 2, 2015
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  6. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    WOW! And I only got five years out my Prius battery. Great!

    And, I think replacing the battery took at least a year off my life when I went to connect the negative cable and I was showered with sparks.

    As for cleaning your car, my brothers and I always lobbied to clean the family cars -- for a price of course.

    Funny; one time, I overheard dad telling mom that he would rather pay us NOT to clean the cars.
    kris
     
    #6 cyberpriusII, Nov 3, 2015
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  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I was recently replacing the battery on a jump pack. Made the dumb move of loosely connecting both terminals, and then torquing, starting with the positive terminal. And I was using a ratchet with an extension. Long story short, the extension bridged from the bolt on positive terminal, to a spade connector running a lead back to the negative terminal.

    Nice bang and cloud of smoke as that wire toasted, scared the cr@p out of me. Those things are quiet and well behaved, until they aren't...

    Resolved to wear safety glasses always in future, and looking to get a face shield for Xmas.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Nov 3, 2015
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  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be a new record! i only got 8 out of my '04, but my daughter had it the second 4 years, so who knows what might have been...
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 3, 2015
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  9. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    Do you have any idea why it lasted do long? I see you are in Tucson. When I lived in Phoenix people said batteries don't last as long there d/t the heat.
     
    #9 Silver bullit, Nov 5, 2015
  10. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    Heat and batteries...

    Around here, they say cold kills batteries...

    I used to see batteries that had specific builds for different areas of the country. I remember seeing ones built for the hot regions that were filled with styrofoam-like balls in the cells....
     
    #10 Stevewoods, Nov 6, 2015
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    My 08 battery still going strong, I'll know in 3 years if I can match usnavy
     
    #11 JC91006, Nov 6, 2015
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  12. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

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    I have no idea why it lasted so long but I do think that should be a typical life for a Prius 12V battery. In my 01 (before it met a deer at 70mph), the 12V also lasted about 10 yrs. The 12V in a Prius is under little stress. It doesn't crank anything and as long as you don't listen to the radio or use other accessories in IG ON or leave the vehicle sitting for weeks at a time, you will not stress the battery.

    This car was in KY prior to me moving to Tucson in Jan of 2015 so the heat was not as much of a factor. Additionally, Tucson is not as hot as Phoenix because we are higher elevation and have much less blacktop to hold the heat in.
     
    #12 usnavystgc, Nov 6, 2015
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. i think most trouble is caused at the dealer, prior to sale, followed by owner unintended abuse.
     
    #13 bisco, Nov 6, 2015
  14. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    Are we thinking the lotboys are sitting in these cars in "whatever" mode and playing tunes :) Could be something "like that," I suppose?

    Darn, lotboys is probably considered sexist....lotpeople...lotlizar....opps...better stick with lotpeople:whistle:
     
    #14 Stevewoods, Nov 6, 2015
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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm thinking more about the time the cars sit on the lot, especially in bad weather. there seems to be some correlation between times when pri aren't selling, due to low gas prices and etc., and a proliferation of short lived batteries. add to that moving the cars around without letting them run for awhile, leaving doors open, etc.
     
    #15 bisco, Nov 6, 2015
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Heat weakens batteries, and cold reveals the weaknesses?

    Just sitting an interminable time on a dealership lot, or anywhere, is gonna kill a battery. They should hook up some kind of low cost tenders, big waste of lead and resources.
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Nov 6, 2015
  17. Fred2726

    Fred2726 Junior Member

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    Finally replaced my 12v in my 2004 with 158k. Not bad 11 years on it.
     
    #17 Fred2726, Nov 6, 2015
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nice.
     
    #18 bisco, Nov 6, 2015
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the 2004 was a beast, in more ways than one.(y)
     
    #19 bisco, Nov 6, 2015
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