New Optima 12v Yellow Top D51 battery with Pencil Posts

My 2004 OE Battery also lasted 7.5 years (and still holds a charge). I bought my "Pencil Post" with the early $170 coupon and stored it for a month or so before installation.

I attribute the long life of my OE battery to:

1. Mostly long trips which keeps the battery at a high SOC - preventing "sulfation".
2. NEVER fully discharging the battery - partly luck - partly attention to detail.

JeffD

 

It is the same dimensions as the higher capacity OE in a Gen2 and should fit a Gen3 as well. I'm sure someone with an older Gen3 will confirm compatibility.

JeffD

 

The DS46B24R YellowTop will fit a 2004 and newer Prius.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

 

Thanks for sharing the info...price is pretty close to that $170 shipped one :rockon:

 

Jim, my understanding is that the demand for the DS46B24R is very strong, perhaps quite a bit stronger than what you all at Optima were expecting. Are you in a position to comment on future production plans and opening up distribution to additional vendors?

 

Mine will be 6.5 in March. Probably should make 7 years.
Would be even longer if I didn't leave the Headlights on(It's possible, when I exit from the passenger side door and I use my HL for Daytime Running.)
Tips for longer lasting battery:
Keep the Interior cool when parked. Use shades or find a shady spot.
Top off the 12V battery whenever you can. Esp. when you don't drive it often.

 

seilerts, as I'm not involved in the sales end of things, I have not heard anything about how sales of that battery are going or when more retailers will be added. I will look into it and let everyone know if I hear anything.


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

 

My car-pooler's '08 is starting to throw low voltage symptoms of low battery funk. I noticed an Optima reseller, RIGHT here on THIS thread's right side banner. I called to get a price. He says they don't sell it ... as optima doesn't make it available to them, to resell.
Boy ... talk about wasted marketing banners.

so much for tryin' to help a bro out

.

 

To anyone thinking of buying a new accessory battery:

eLearnAid has these on sale for $170, including shipping.

Based on the good reputation of eLearnAid here on priuschat, I ordered one yesterday for my '07. Although the simple voltage tests I did a few months ago showed my original battery was still OK, I'm hoping to keep my Gen-2 until the Gen-4's come out in maybe '15 or '16, so this seems like a good time.

I'm hoping for 3 or 4 more great years, and if the good people at Toyota have taken care to study the many thoughtful opservations posted here on priuschat, the next generation model could well be even better!

 

That is what I paid for an OEM battery from the dealer last month. No big savings. Delivery time was 1 hour; let's see eLearnAid top that!

 

Interesting point. I suppose it depends on whether the hype about this battery being better than OEM is true.

 

Optima Yellow Top battery article:
ELECTRIC BANANA | LA Car


The Optima Yellow Top replacement

 

Jim can you through any light on why the Optima is so expensive in the UK? I know the product is very good but I cannot justify spending close to the equivalant $300 for a replacement battery for my Prius when other manufacturers can supply a AGM battery with 40% more capacity for around $100/120. Or is Europe outside of your e brief. Europe must be a huge potential market.

 

eLearnAid has been extremely reliable in providing a freshly-charged battery, which dealers, eh, don't always do. eLearnAid also provides very clear detailed installation instructions, which dealers less often do :_>
Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 +

 

Richard, I needed a battery that day, not a week or so later. I got one within an hour. If Optima would sell their Prius battery at FLAPS then that would have been an option. I suppose one could just buy the adapter from eLearnAid and have it on hand. Then you could just get a regular Optima D51 from your FLAPS within an hour.

 

Wow! I ordered it Friday at 6:30am MST, and it arrived at 4:30pm today, Monday -- California to New Mexico. They sent it in a USPS large "priority flat rate" box with the most fabulous fitting foam packing.

I just finished installing it. The instructions were well intended, but not the clearest -- maybe more pictures would have been better.

Rather than using "another car battery" and jumper cable to keep the computers up, I attached a little old power brick I've used in the past for trickle charging other batteries to the jump starting points while I was working. Worked OK.

 

Britprius, unfortunately, I don't have any pricing information on our batteries, either in the States or abroad. If you are looking to pay more for an AGM battery and find our batteries too expensive, I would encourage you to choose an AGM battery that uses pure lead (not recycled). Pure lead makes a difference in performance and lifespan and anyone who uses it in their products is more than happy to share that information with you (we do).


Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries, Inc.
www.facebook.com/optimabatteries

 

Not quite sure i need a new battery yet but i found a great deal through advance auto parts website. use promo code VISA and you can get the battery for 150 shipped

 

Optima Battery at eLearnAid is 180 with free shipping within US.

 

It was cheaper than that at advance auto parts with the "VISA" discount code.