$151 Optima battery free shipping

Ordered mine yesterday.
I aslso downloaded a copy of the installation instructions on the forum

I used the VISA discount, and printed off the rebate.


IMy Prius is a 2008, and I'm not having any problems .........so far.
But I have heard the original battery is marginal at best, and seeing as we are going on a vacation in a few months.

Now is a great time to do it.

Thanks for the info on this deal1

Better now, than waiting until I have a problem.

Gary Swiatowy

 

My AA store has the battery for $199.99, less than the $200 minimum on the coupon as mentioned in the preceding threads. But I found another coupon too, BATX, which takes 25% off of new batteries.

 

Battery is installed now and working great. Thanks for the coupon and rebate tips.

 

Hey Gang, glad it worked out fr you all. My experience didn't go so well. I last posted that I was able to get the discount and battery ordered from my local AAP store. All good right? Well, the battery came, I threw my battery tender on it just to top it off till I put the battery in a few days later. I installed the battery and noticed it didn't seem to be holding a charge well. Dropping to below 12 volts overnight. Charged it up again, same problem. I started to suspect the car drawing too much current while sitting somehow.
Nothing obvious, so I put the 4 yr old original battery back in and it held a charge better than the Optima. OK, must be a defective battery, so I took it back to AAP, they said it was too drained to properly check it, and they would charge it, then check. A few days later I called since they hadn't called me, and this guy said, it reads "replace battery". Great, order me a new battery. 4 days later, I called them again, spoke to manager who said the test didn't say a bad battery so no warranty replacement and would not be ordering a new battery for me. But, he would offer to give a refund. After an hour on the phone with AAP customer service, who also spoke to the Mgr, she basically said the same thing, but noted that I was given differing answers. Fine, I went in and took the refund, the Mgr wasn't there but the counter guy checked the battery and it said 'needs replacement'. Tried to call his Mgr who didn't answer, but gave me the refund anyway.I did receive the rebate since then by the way, oh well. So started my research again and found a lot of not so good reviews about problems with the Optima batteries, with some dealers saying they quit using them at all, premature failures mostly I guess. I work where we order deep cycle batteries from several suppliers, (never an Optima tho) and discovered Exide just came out with an AGM 'Edge' battery including a model for the Prius. I got it at our cost, otherwise I think they are 180-200. The specs are a little better than the Optima, and the whole square area is battery, not just the 6 pack area of the Optima. Anyway to finish this story, it took several weeks to get it from the factory, but it looks good, seems to work great and holds about 12.8 volts in ACC mode. I'm sure my Optima was a bad one, and hope everybody else has good luck with theirs. Just wanted to share my 'fun' experience, and make aware of the new Exide 'Edge' AGM battery available for the Prius. Info at Exides website if you want it.
Later
J

 

This Exide battery is just one of the many batteries available in the UK and Europe along with Bosch, Lucas, Varta, Numax, Haze and Ritar, the latter being made in the US. Surely there must be more batteries available in the US other than the OEM, Optima, and now the Exide.

The Exide edge battery comes with a 4year full replacement guaranty and is a 45amp/hr capacity, and small posts.
Part no FP-AGM51JIS

I believe this battery is available at Sears at leased we in the UK are getting adds from Sears for these batteries being shipped from the US at prices including shipping cheaper than the Optima.

Exide also make a spiral wound battery like the Optima.

 

I'm glad some Exide employee came here to spamvertise their battery. But it isn't available anywhere in the US. (unless you live in chicago)

So good luck finding a 51JIS or any type of AGM51. So thanks for nothing.

 

Some people jump to conclusions without knowing or checking any facts, we have one hear.

I have never been employed by Exide or any other battery manufacture for that matter and if you check through recent posts you will find someone that has purchased and installed the Exide battery in the US.

The companies that I gave are advertising these batteries along with the prices, see my post "another battery for the Prius"

 

Yes, I am in upstate NY and I believe this battery is made in GA. They are fairly new, as the announcement of the new series was dated March 2012 I think. Do a search! I work as a service tech repairing commercial floor care equipment, much of which is battery powered, with up to 8 large deep cycle batteries. This battery I noticed looking through some new sales brochures from Exide. As I said, it took us several weeks and delays to get our hands on one, so I think demand is high, or supply low. This is a NEW product from Exide, and is made to fit the Prius. I don't know where it's available yet, other than an Exide dealer. Do your homework, you should be able to find it. My 08 Prius is using one right now driving around NY state!
Exide PN, FP-AGM51JIS


Exide Launches Advanced Technology Battery

 

I wish I had heard of this coupon deal earlier. The optima yellow top is now out of stock and AAP customer service rep told me they are no longer going to ship lead acid batteries for "safety" reasons. I don't know if I believe that story, but I checked other batteries on the site and they all now say, "item not available for delivery." There are also no stores within hundreds of miles of where I live.

 

Got my $25 rebate yesterday!