1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Faulty 12 volt battery + possibly nuked electricals

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by Uhcoustic, Feb 21, 2024.

  1. Downrange

    Downrange Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    365
    195
    2
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    SE
    If reliability and supply issues persist with the Yuasa Calcium-Lead battery, I'd think seriously about putting in an AGM for about the same price. Here's one, unfortunately from New Zealand. Toyota Prius Hybrid battery LN1 AGM 345ln1-mf — Superstart Batteries

    Might be an adequate AGM available in North America - not sure.
     
  2. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2007
    1,224
    457
    0
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Let’s see what you get, a Napa or Oreillys (old Kragen) is my bet. Nothing wrong with them.
     
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,489
    5,056
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    You get a vent port with aftermarket batteries. IMG_4391.jpeg IMG_4392.jpeg
    IMG_4394.jpeg
     
    #43 rjparker, Feb 22, 2024
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2024
    Mendel Leisk and Uhcoustic like this.
  4. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    249
    86
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Text above says "...flooded, lead acid 12V car battery. ..." then there's "a bit more" Text says "... calcium base superior MF battery ..."
    I read elesewhere 'MF' usually means Maintenance Free.
    so which is it, is it a flooded lead acid or a calcium base battery.
    The reason being that calcium silver batteries and lead acid batteries charge at different max voltages.
     
    Downrange likes this.
  5. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    1,671
    494
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    No-one mentioned silver until you - you just switched chemistry.

    It seems to be lead-calcium-acid, which is "standard".

    Some of the text above may have come from this Facebook post by the manufacturer:



    Edit: okay, seems I can't post Facebook links - they get transformed into some sort of embed which doesn't work.
     
  6. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    249
    86
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Can you message me the facebook link ?
     
  7. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    249
    86
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I don't understand what you just posted.
    "It seems to be lead-calcium-acid, which is "standard""
    Do you mean that lead-calcium-acid is standard calcium battery ?
    Or that lead-calcium-acid is standard lead-acid battery ?
    I just noted the calcium-silver because I think I found some Yuasa calcium-silver batteries but no Yuasa lead-calcium-acid batteries.
     
  8. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    To maintain the 12-V-battery health in my 2021 Prius Prime, I do all of the following:
    • Do regular long trips (which fully charges the battery)
    • Don't sit in the car unless it is in the READY mode (which drains the battery)
    • Don't leave the charger plugged in for longer than overnight (which drains the battery)
    Prius Prime electronics draw so much current that the 12-V battery will quickly drain if you sit in the car without the car being in the READY mode or if you keep leaving the charger plugged in for longer than overnight.
     
  9. KMO

    KMO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2004
    1,671
    494
    0
    Location:
    Finland
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Let's try to skip the mangling - edit this:

    www facebook com GSYuasaHKG/posts/the-new-toyota-prius-equipped-with-the-gs-yuasa-345ln1-mf-the-original-fitment-a/1520256938120313/
     
    RandyPete likes this.
  10. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    This is the factory battery. The dealer will install a Toyota TrueStart DIN H4 battery. Walmart sells EverStart Maxx BCI 140R and DIN H4 batteries (both equivalent to EN LN1). I have seen that the 140R EverStart Maxx has the correct exhaust-tube hole and plug. However, you want to have it replaced for free under warranty at the dealer. In any case, make sure that the battery comes with the exhaust hole and plug, as it will go into the trunk.
     
    GcinFl and Downrange like this.
  11. Downrange

    Downrange Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2010
    365
    195
    2
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    SE
    Quite right. It's lead calcium and charges at a higher voltage. AGM batteries also charge at a slightly higher voltage than flooded batteries, but not as high (for a portion of the charging curve) as the calcium enhanced flooded batteries. It is a very good question: will the onboard charger damage an AGM battery due to over-voltage? This may be why the service protocol is so stringent. But the NZ company markets an AGM plug-and-play, so perhaps the small over-voltage is acceptable?
     
    RandyPete likes this.
  12. Tooly

    Tooly Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2023
    49
    42
    0
    Location:
    Okanagan, BC
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Went and grabbed some pictures of the 12V in my 2023 Prime for those that are interested. You can see in the last picture the battery is vented with the tube running into a grommet on the floor.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Gokhan likes this.
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,671
    39,221
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There seems to be a concept, that there's one battery that's 100% compatible. I've subscribed to that, presumed anything else would be some sort of generic, one-size-fits-all, sort of...

    Our son called one night, his civic wasn't starting, could I do a run to Canadian Tire, pick up their "compatible" battery. I did that, got to them, looked at the old and new batteries: apart from badges the batteries were near-identical, the same folding lift handles, edge molding, dimensions. Later on checking the specs, saw they were also near-identical

    Canadian Tire also carries a 3rd gen Prius battery, seems to be a similar story, has vent port, skinny posts, the same alpha/numeric moniker.

    Maybe battery compatibility issues are more prevalent with newer car models, at least till demand for replacement batteries increases?
     
  14. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    Thanks for the nice pics. Does it have the plug on the opposite-side hole? Make sure you keep it when you replace the battery, in case the replacement battery is missing the plug.
     
  15. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    249
    86
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
  16. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    All modern 12-V batteries use lead–calcium plates:

    EXIDE batteries—Technical guide 2020

    AGM will probably work, but I would stick with a flooded one to be on the safe side. Also, again, make sure that the vent holes and a plug are present in the replacement battery. Walmart EverStart Maxx BCI 140R is a safe, solid choice and probably better than the OEM Yuasa EN LN1. It has a higher Ah capacity than the OEM, which will certainly help with the charge draining.
     
  17. RandyPete

    RandyPete Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2021
    249
    86
    0
    Location:
    Santa Margarita, CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2024 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    I don't agree. The Batteries (2) in my 2005 F250 5.0L diesel pickup are 100% pure lead plates. Still avaliable today. The Brand is ODYSSEY. Many seek this brand battery out for use in diesle trucks and Jeeps. They are good batteries (the besst in my opinion) for heavy use and high starter cranking amps. They last for years. AGM battery.
     
    Gokhan likes this.
  18. Mr.Vanvandenburg

    Mr.Vanvandenburg Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2007
    1,224
    457
    0
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I noticed only the agm is for sale now at Oreillys.

    More things seen, the VW ID.4 takes the same battery. If it is made by Varta in Germany, if it has the vent, and is under $200, may be an option. Apparently this size fits quite a few cars.

    Ohmmu makes a lithium ion battery for the gen 4 and many others. Pricey, but light weight and may last a long time. Should fit the Gen 5? No vent needed.

    Taking long trips is no assurance the battery gets to 100%. This little battery discharges fast. My experience is a trip might not end with 100%. Have to have a battery monitor to know more. I externally charge to 100% often, and it doesn’t stay there 24 hours.
    So many still good hybrid 12 v probably going to recycling when they only need charging.
     
    BiomedO1 likes this.
  19. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2008
    4,959
    1,950
    0
    Location:
    Paramount CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    I see. I didn't know Odyssey didn't use calcium. They are top-rated by Consumer Reports.
     
    RandyPete likes this.
  20. Uhcoustic

    Uhcoustic Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2023
    53
    28
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XSE
    Unfortunate update for you all - after applying the "new" battery, there are still a number of error codes. The service technician determined that the "main fuse on the junction block" was blown by the backwards jumpstart attempt. They cannot diagnose further until this part is replaced; there is likely to be other damage. Unfortunately, this is not covered by warranty, so it's on me to contact toyota or file an insurance claim with the towing company. Toyota ought to cover it, because they were contracted via Toyota Roadside, so we'll see. I'll call them tomorrow.
     
    bisco likes this.