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

the OTHER battery

Discussion in 'PriusChat Website Questions' started by m144man, Dec 26, 2008.

  1. m144man

    m144man New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2008
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    san dimas, california
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Anybody else having trouble with the 12-volt battery? Mine has died 5 times in 3 years and the dealer says there's nothing wrong but "Priuses do this sometimes."
     
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,767
    5,251
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Once that traditional 12-volt battery is deep-discharged, its never the same... just like with non-hybrid vehicles. The plates in that lead-acid solution have corrosion built-up on them now, limiting the capacity available.

    Replacement is required.

    Identifying the originating cause would be a good idea first. Was there a "forgot the lights on" type of event that you could attribute the damage too? There is always the possibility of a genuine problem, like something draining the battery rapidly (which is not normal, unlike the dealer claim).
    .
     
  3. PriuStorm

    PriuStorm Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2007
    2,239
    149
    0
    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Hello and welcome... I'll just speak for myself. I've had no trouble in the year and a half I've had the Prius. Friends of ours have had a Prius for the same amount of time and have not had that trouble either.
     
  4. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    As John said, replace the battery & find the problem. The hatch is notorious for not always closing. Lock the car when you leave. It'll beep if a door is open. Disable the SKS if the car is going to sit for a long period. I suspect it is something stupid rather than something major and, no, "Priuses don't do this sometimes".
     
  5. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,212
    188
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, California.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Assuming you have done nothing wrong, Go to the dealer and demand a new 12V Battery! I had problems with mine within the first three months and politely insisted that they supply me with a new free battery. They did this for customer satisfaction. Unbelievably this work could not be done then, about mid-day, as I remember, so they provided a free loaner overnight and I picked up the car the next day. It seems that many cars are off-loaded at the dock and the puny little battery never gets serviced properly. As a result there have been many 12V battery problems. At Priuschat we only hear from the members. In your case, the battery problems should not have gone FIVE times, that is outrageous! Go do it, let us know what happens. One note: In my case, I wanted the old battery, as I'm a battery freak, but Toyota does not let the customer have the old battery. I found thier reasoning for this policy inadequate.