2016 Prius C 12v Battery Replacement Dealer vs self vs other

12V battery swap is pretty easy, even for a first-timer.

There are bad consequences for reversing polarity. So... don't do that. The youtube you watched offering the sequence of operations should help you considerably.

Don't be too worried about the tightening torque required. It doesn't take much strength, and it isn't hard to verify that you have the terminals tight enough: you should not be able to remove them or rotate them on the battery posts at all.

If it isn't tight enough, the terminal can slip off and cause a no-start situation. If you overtighten, you can damage the terminal clamp, though this may not be apparent until the next time the battery is removed.

I don't think there's going to be anything to reset in the c One model apart from the clock. The Threes and Fours got the fancy gizmos that need more advanced resets. Your MPG readouts will be inaccurate for a while after the swap, but there's nothing to do, it eventually corrects itself.

A few tips:

• Use a magic marker or paint marker to enhance the + and - markings on the new battery ahead of time if they are hard to see when you're working under the back seat. Extra defense against reverse polarity.
  
• I like to use a flat screwdriver to slightly pry the terminal clamps a little wider after the old battery has been removed, as the new ones goes in. Then I turn the screwdriver around and use the plastic handle as a mallet to gently tap the clamp down onto the battery post until it bottoms out. Then I tighten the clamp with the wrench.
• Another problem to avoid is accidentally bridging both + and - battery posts with the tools. It's not impossible when rotating a wrench in there. Not a bad idea to wrap the wrench handle with vinyl electrician's tape so it cannot make an electrical contact.
  
• Keep the tools in the car for a couple of days after the swap, just in case you need to re-tighten a clamp. Not likely, but good to be prepared since you are your own warranty for this labor.

Places like firestone and pep boys and batteries plus can all do this job, probably a lot of walmarts and tire shops too. Kind of surprised that the autozone turned it down, honestly.

 

How bad could YOU mess it up ?
It is probably more likely that people who do it every day will do it right.

Find a place that has an "exact fit" battery available and stop worrying about
something that hasn't happened yet.

 

I would drive the 20 miles to the other dealer. Your chances of getting the job done right are better even though you seem to have some less than competent techs at dealers in your area. $350 seems a bit high but It was a few years ago I got mine at a dealer for $279.00 installed. It also had an 84 month warranty which is probably better than you will get anywhere else. 4 years for full replacement and prorated after that.

 

We just had to have our battery replaced at the dealership and it was $396.00 October 15, 2023. It was too late to buy a new battery at Auto Zone and found out the price was for $560.00. The dealer was definitely the cheaper option. My son already agreed to the installation before I watched the video on you tube, then I was upset at the cost. They said they didn't charge for the installation because I told them that it takes less that five minutes and i could do it myself if I had a way to get there.

 

It’s definitely a ripoff, should be about $200. For the battery and $50. For labor