Optima - Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery Installer

In spite of the fact that the Optima has some superior qualities, I went ahead and replaced my dying original battery, 2007 - 50,000 miles, with an oem.

Started having some of the classic weirdness in the past two weeks. Didn't know they were classic until reading about them on this forum. Was at dealer for 50K service and new water pump today and they also diagnosed low voltage, bad battery. They'd be happy to replace for $252.50 plus tax and shop fees.

Did so for a couple of reasons. It's a bit cheaper ($138.70 plus tax). I could do it today vs next week if I ordered Optima from ELearnAid.com. I didn't have to mess with the adapter kit for Optima.

But, primarily, because I live in Arizona. Over the years, we've bought expensive batteries with 7 year warranty and bought the basic with 3 year warranty. None have ever lasted more than 3 years. I don't expect this battery to last much more than 3 years and wouldn't expect an Optima to last any longer.

In fact, I feel fortunate to have had this problem when the weather is cool. Don't think I've ever replaced a battery when the temp wasn't 100 or more. Maybe that's selective memory ;} Nor, have I ever had warnings like the Prius. Usually, you get in the car, turn the key, and 'click' if you're lucky.

 

$250+ is a bit steep for the OEM battery replaced by a dealer, but it's certainly the fastest and easiest solution. Happy motoring!

 

I wasn't clear, Richard. I bought the battery at the dealer and installed it myself.

The install wasn't hard at all. Some of the instructions here are complicated and could be intimidating. It took me about 1/2 hour to remove and 1/4 hour to install. Mostly because I was tenative during the install.

Thanks

 

Well where did you find suck a great deal?

 

For folks having battery issues, like a dead 12v battery, and wondering if there is excessive draw when the car is off, there is very good info in this thread. I'd like to add to what to what Patrick Wong and pEEf have posted.

If you want to check how much of a draw there is, you have to do it under the hood since having any door or the hatch open will create a larger draw which isn't representative of when the car is just sitting unattended. Plus, one of the computers is pinging the door and if you're using a multimeter, you will get a series of readings (10 numbers altogether) that repeat continuously and probably will mask any other draws that you're wanting to know about.

Also, if you are using a multimeter and have the two amperage options (10A and 400mA on mine). Use the higher option. The car throws a spike of current that is greater than 400mA and it will blow the fuse in the multimeter. I thought that I had inadvertently shorted it out but when it happened a second time, I knew that the car sends a high enough current that exceeds the 400mA fuse. It may have happened when I opened the door...

As shown in Patrick's photo, it really easy to just unbolt the main lead coming into the fuse box under the hood. There's enough give in the wire that you can pull the terminal up and off of the stud and move it off to the side.

As mentioned by others, when you first hook the multimeter up, the draw will be high but after half a minute, it will settle down to a value that represents the baseline level of current passing thru the system when the car is off.

Contrary to others, mine is really low: 6mA. Which leaves me scratching my head as to why I'm killing batteries. I replaced the original with an Optima a year ago Jan. and just recently, the battery died. This is the first time and it's also the first time that I've left the car to sit for two days. I'm OCD enough that I don't leave things on or doors ajar....

As a side note for other testers strangely, I saw no change in current when I had the smart key system on or off and had the keys near the car or away. Maybe I had to have the car locked?

Also, has anyone else noticed that electrical systems are flaky when the dome light is burnt out? I don't know if its just coincidence but in the past, I've had flaky things happen when trying to start the car when this bulb was burned out.

 

The 12V battery on my 2007 just died yesterday, and I plan to buy the correct battery from my local Toyota dealer tomorrow. The price remains at $139 and the battery is made in Japan (not China) so the price seems reasonable to me.[/QUOTE]

I just called my dealer to ask about the 12V battery on your recommendation from last night. They told me the list price was $205 and $45 to install it! When I expressed shock and outrage at the cost because my friends at Prius Chat were only paying $139, they offered to match the price!!! Thanks, Patrick!

Mary Alice

 

Hi Mary Alice, Good for you.

When I lived in southern California I noticed a trend in the last few years where dealers there inflated their parts pricing substantially above MSRP. They appeared to think their parts customers are really stupid, and have no way to find out what MSRP is.

I could see paying at MSRP for a small parts purchase but as a matter of principle I refuse to pay any amount above MSRP. Hence I will usually buy my parts in bulk at toyotaworld.com, where ~25% discount from MSRP is given.

In the case of hazardous and bulky items like car batteries, freight costs don't make it practical to ship such items. It is good that your local dealer could be talked down in price. However this also shows you that their pricing practice has no integrity.

 

Thanks for sharing! Can the 10A scale measure 6 mA accurately?

Regarding the dead Optima in a year, do you drive the car often enough to keep the battery charged?

It seems that the smart key system is really smart - turning itself off when the door is unlocked. Cool!

 

I feel lucky my local dealer actually prints out the MSRP along with their sometimes-discounted price on the receipt.

 

Was just quoted $138 for the battery - no haggle. My service advisor was actually suprised at that price and wasn't sure if there had been a price change or what. ~$195 installed.

 

I was just quoted $367 for the aux 12v battery plus $99 install @ Temecula Toyota CA

Told the high price is due Prius is only vehicle to use that size battery.

 

That's an extreme ripoff. Run away!

 

This wins the prize for the highest 12V battery price that has been cited so far and is > 2.5x MSRP. Pretty hard to believe, unless the GS Yuasa battery factory was washed away by the tsunami.

 

I am now getting a differnt cost from the parts department

"""I have the battery in stock, pt# 28800-21171. List price is $284.14, but since i missed your first email you can have it at a wholesale price of $227.31.

As of the first of this month the battery jumped from $138.70 to $284.14 due to some sort of redesign of the battery, so i think the price you are looking at online is for the older design of the battery which i no longer stock, you can confirm this with anyother toyota dealership in the US. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask."""

 

Run away! If really want the OEM battery, one guy at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...860-new-12v-battery-part-28800-21171-a-2.html got the 21171 battery for a lot less.

Even though getting Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 - 10 doesn't normally save money, it will in your case. I'm using the Optima D51 myself.

 

First time poster. I bought my 07 Prius used from a local Northern California dealership in august of 2010. Have had intermittent problems for some months now, and finally on Saturday got a large exclamation mark and took it in to the dealer, who told me ($91 later) that I needed a new aux battery. Was quoted $400 - I assume for both parts and labor. Was way to steep for me so I said no thanks. Mechanic told me that it's expensive because it's a very specific battery, only they can get them, and that Japan's problems have caused rarity of supply (told me that I need to hurry and buy it before it's not available any longer). Seemed like a real charlatan to me.
However, besides the Optima battery, I can't seem to find any Prius aux batteries to buy online. I've followed any links from this site I can find (like toyotaworld which has changed to championtoyotaparts.com), and I can't find batteries - I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I would love to buy the battery for the $130ish price I've been seeing quoted, but I don't know what to do to get that. My next move is to call the dealership and tell them what I've been reading online, and that they can either match or get nothing. I'll get the Optima if nothing else I suppose, just a little worried about the install (not super mechanical).
Any help or advice appreciated!

 

I don't know where in Nor Cal you are, but Luscious Garage | Hybrid Specialists seems knowledgeable based on their blog. I've had no personal experience w/them. They could probably install the Optima battery for you, if you provide the part.

When I lived in the Bay Area, I bought my Prius new from Toyota Sunnyvale. I was satisfied w/their service department but I can't really help much regarding the pricing confusion. Some dealers aren't willing to install non-Toyota parts or those provided by the customer. (Toyota of Kirkland up here recently decided to stop allowing it.)

The install isn't that difficult. You just need all the right tools and I suggest getting a long ratchet handle, for more leverage. If you can, maybe you can do the work parked outside an auto parts store or one that sells tools so that you can pop in for a tool, if you need it. I installed my Optima D51 in an O'Reilly's parking lot.

I luckily was able to borrow a longer ratchet than the one I had from their box of random free to borrow tools. Mine didn't give me enough leverage.

 

Solved my battery issue. Called the parts dept of the dealership that had quoted me $400, and they quoted me $200 for the battery itself. I then called a dealership about 30 minutes away, and was quoted $150 (including tax). Bought it and installed it myself (well, my friend who knows more about these things did most all the work, although I'm sure I could have done it too - looked really easy).

 

I appreciate your posting this for the sake of others who may be doing this for the first time. After I unbolt the main lead, where do I connect the multimeter leads?

 

Set the digital multimeter to measure current. Connect the red or positive lead to the loose wire. That wire is hot at all times with 12VDC, make sure you do not short it to ground.

Connect the black or negative lead to the stud that the wire was removed from.

Since the meter is digital, there is no adverse impact if you switch the leads; you will just see a - sign on the reading.