Prius new owner - Day 3 - starting problems!! :(

12v battery problem, if the car sat for that length of time with out being charged it will be dead. All the symptons you have described point strait to the battery. Double check no lights left on.

 

12v battery issue!

My Toyota dealer charge a fixed rate of £100 (I think) to exchange one. You certainly shouldn't pay more than £200 fully fitted but it should solve your problems and possible electrical gremlins that go with a failing 12volt.

The Prius doesn't charge the 12v as quickly as in a 'normal' car so it is very important to look after your 12v. Be grateful if you could update us all as to how you get on.

 

Toyota will have them in stock but probably expensive, most motoring shops sell them at a much better price. Halfords stock batteries that fit but are slightly higher price.I have seen Varta and Lucas batteries for around £45. The prius has smaller battery terminals than most cars but these can easily be changed. Buy a battery with as high an amper hour cappacity as you can get do not bother about cranking amps as the 12V battery does not start the engine. Can you go back to the seller to replace the battery.
Where are you in UK i live in Herefordshire but come from the midlands.
Good luck.

 

Most definitely the 12V battery.

Tom

 

That battery is fine and if your not ok with fitting yourself fitting charge is fine. Motor shops are cheaper but you still have the problem of fitting although any small garage would do this. You should have no problems i think Halfords garranty is 3 years. You may have to reset your electric windows (see hand book) and fuel consumption may go up slightly till the engine computer learns your driving style

 

The 12V battery is located in the rear of the hatch area, on the right-hand side below the triangle-shaped hatch floor piece.

One problem with the Halfords HB054 is that the positive terminal is on the right hand side, at least per the photo in this link:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_264271_langId_-1_categoryId_165762

You need a battery with the positive terminal on the left hand side.

Another problem is that it appears this battery is the traditional flooded acid type. The Prius battery is AGM and is supposed to be replaced only with AGM for safety in the event the right-rear fender is hit in an accident, crushing the battery case (which would leak acid everywhere if the battery is flooded acid.)

A third potential problem is that the battery terminals may not be the correct size; compare against the original equipment battery to see whether the terminal connectors will need to be replaced.

 

In the UK the battery supplied by Toyota is the flooded type as standard i have a 2008 with OEM battery that is flooded. The HB054 has the small terminals and is produced in both terminal layouts.

 

Hi there, I just installed the Halfords battery in my 04 Prius. It fits, but as Patrick Wong correctly stated, the terminals are set on the far side of the block. You just have to stretch the +ve terminal block a bit. The terminal connectors are the correct size. Slight problem is that there is a black plastic ventilation duct that goes over and above the battery, and it will be a tight fit with the terminals beings on the far side. I managed to get it installed. Other thing to note is that the top cover which sits over the battery has 3 legs underneath that sits on the battery. Because the terminals are right underneath the rear two legs, I have to just cut them off (easily with a bread knife, they snap off).

 

The button under the steering is the internal radar, if you lock the car with a window open and reach into the car with the radar on the alarm will sound. Hope this helps.
John.

 

The button under the steering is the internal radar, if you lock the car with a window open and reach into the car with the radar on the alarm will sound. Hope this helps.
John.

 

I'm pretty sure the Toyota price is £100 fitted. Ring your dealer and check. Why mess up a complicated car like the Prius for the sake of trying to save £30!?!? You'll recoup that £30 in petrol savings in no time!

If you mess up the reconnection of the 12v (is the terminals are reverse etc) then you mess up the computers and might probably fry them. I wouldn't trust Halfords to change my wipers, let alone the 12v on a car like the Prius.

Get yr arse down to Toyota and get it sorted for 4 years peace of mind.

 

It sounds like you've positioned the battery so that the terminals are near the fender. The problem with that installation is if the right rear fender is hit and the positive terminal contacts the fender, this results in a fire hazard as the battery produces sparks and vents its stored energy into the fender.

 

Sorry this may come too late since you got it fixed already. My question is whether the used car comes with any warranty? Since you have only owned the car for a few days shouldn't the seller be responsible for the bad battery?

Yes the water pump tends to weep a little bit. Just keep an eye on the coolant level - if it does not drop over a long period of time then it's probably OK.

Good luck!