I've started getting the large red triangle when starting the car. It has coincided with the cooler weather coming in in Wales. The car still starts up fine and I havent checked for error codes yet. Do we think this is the 12v? I believe it's the original 12v meaning it's now 10 years old so probably due a change. Does anyone have a good source for a new 12v in the UK? I've looked on a few websites and most have nothing suitable (based on my registration), I've also read that people use deep cycle mobility scooter batteries??? But there are so many different sorts it's hard to work out exactly what I need.
I went with OEM for $200 last week and installed it myself. It lasted 10 years. Do you really need to do any better than that? The new OEM replacement runs everything correctly and is guaranteed for another 84 months. You can't go wrong with it in my opinion. Plus, they don't just completely fail out of the blue after like 5 years like the yellow top optima that's now just as much money as a Toyota True Start... Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
I hadn't even thought of going OEM. I'll give them a call after work to ask prices. hopefully it's not £200 though! I've found this: B33 Varta Blue Dynamic Car Battery 12V 45Ah (545157033) (155) which seems to have gotten good reviews from prius drivers in the reviews, and I've used Varta batteries in my old big diesel and they lasted very well (8-9years was my best!) so am leaning this way at the moment... If someone could take a cautionary look over the specs to make sure it fits/has the right posts, that would be awesome!
After searching around on here it seems the Varta B33 is the one to go for in the UK at the moment. Vent hole in the right place, same physical size & higher capacity for £55~ delivered.
Send a message to @Britprius He's in the UK and knows more about batteries available in your area than anyone else on this list... The dude even built his own grid charger. Also he's wheelchair bound so he'll make it clear why wheelchair batteries are the best quality and value for Prius and other hybrids... Who can argue against getting much higher quality at a much lower cost?
It's his thread that got me looking at Mobility batteries! The wife wouldn't go for that idea "No! Use a car battery!". Didn't know about the DIY grid charger though, is there a link for this? I purchased the Varta and installed it yesterday. It fits exactly the same as the OEM, 330cca 45ah so higher capacity, £55. Also the vent pipe pushes into the went hole on the battery if you trim off the first 2 retaining fins on the elbow (I just used a craft knife to cut them off, only took 5mins). My interior lights are noticeably brighter so my old battery must have been on the verge of not starting!
Yeeeaaahhhh... I'd rather put $350 (converted to £ and adding shipping and import/tax charges) towards a complete new battery... If it was a cheaper DIY option I'd look into it more.
You could always see if other members in your area would benefit and go in on the device . That’s what we’ve done in our neck of the woods .
I only know of 1 other Prius in the area (we just pass on the motorway every so often, his is gen3) and he isn't on the forum or any facebook groups that I've come across so no way of getting in touch. I'll just leave it in savings
Nope, No codes. Whenever I started the car (Ready mode) when the temperature was around or under 10c I would briefly get the red triangle after pressing the power button followed by a long beep but then everything started normally and the triangle light went off. And if I drove within a few hours it didn't do it again (presumably because the the car was warm). So because I wasn't getting any codes I thought I'd take a gamble on the new (cheaper) battery. And all is well!
To read trouble codes just cheap generic code reader isn't enough. Get yourself or borrow from someone minivci cable and latest techstream software and you will see all codes. I got mine off Ebay for like 8 bucks or so.
Good to know! I will look into getting one. I thought it would be fine because it runs torque/hybrid assistant etc.
Torque isn't universal key for everything. It can give you some basic information, no more. In trobeshooting cases I trust OEM soft more, then any of aftermarket solutions.
Unlike most other cars, the 12 volt battery does not start the Prius engine so the requirements are different. It just powers up the computers & closes a relay so the high voltage Traction battery can start the engine if needed. A weak 12 volt battery can confuse those "intelligent" computer systems though.
\The Prolong grid charger is used to extend the life of the big, expensive high voltage traction battery. Another option for do-it-yourselfers is the kit of new cells linked to in my signature. I do not know what the cost would be to the UK, but you could private message @2k1Toaster here for details. Sometimes US dealers require them to install it too. Here is an example from a US dealer.
I've done this already before buying the Prius as wanted to make sure I had a backup plan in case I buy a car with a less healthy battery. I would definately go for the new style cells over OEM ones. Especially as we are a cooler climate. I don't remember the figure offhand, but I have the email from TK1Toaster with the shipping quote to the UK. I just have to hope that Brexit doesn't destroy our currency any further in the mean time
I had that problem with my 12 volt. Flash the red triangle untill the car kicked in and put 14 volts up than fine. The load of turning it on brought the 12volt down. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
