So, after reading over numerous threads about 12v replacement, I'm still not exactly sure what 12v battery I should get. Pretty sure I should get one, though, since after reading the voltage through the car, my numbers were ever so slightly below minimums and my MPG has recently dropped to an appalling 37. I've read plenty of people saying they like the Optima battery, and really I was close to just getting that from advance auto parts, but then I saw that it was $279 when people had been saying it was $200. So now I'm still a bit confused, so can anyone point me to some viable battery options that go in with as little trouble as possible? (I've never done this battery change before, so the less hurdles the better).
Optima DS46B24R Yellow Top Battery for Toyota Prius with SmartKey System - Free Shipping: BatteryMart.com Optima Batteries 8071-167 D51 YellowTop Dual Purpose Battery : Amazon.com : Automotive And then there's advanced auto 279$ no thanks Buy Optima Batteries YellowTop Dual-Purpose Battery, Group Size 24, 450 CCA DS46B24R at Advance Auto Parts
This one has recently ben discovered too Super Start® Extreme AGM PRIUS - AGM Battery | O'Reilly Auto Parts
The Optima battery was the first battery other than the Toyota battery offered in the US that was both externally vented and AGM. Elearnaid devised a kit to adopt it to the Prius, and eventually, Optima themselves built a custom Prius Battery. Optima DS46B24R Optima battery direct fit replacement for Prius 2004 + with Instructions There is an Exide Edge vented AGM battery as well. Toyota Prius Starting Battery - Exide Edge 51JIS Flat Plate AGM Just today I read about a third aftermarket Prius battery Super Start® Extreme AGM PRIUS - AGM Battery | O'Reilly Auto Parts in this thread Another 12v Battery Option: O'Reilly's Super Start Extreme AGM | PriusChat
Two reasons: Everyone knows how to tell when their normal car has a low 12 volt battery it makes a distinct noise when starting. The Prius does not run a starter motor with the 12 volt battery, so it is easy to not realize it is low. Everyone wishes a small battery would cost less than a big battery so are disappointed by the prices. Economies of scale have not helped.
If you go directly to the Optima site and do a search for DS46B24R you'll get a page where you can order the battery directly at the $200 price... free shipping.
I got my Optima from batterymart.com for a little less than that and installed it today. It took about an hour as others have said and I did not drop the infamous screw that attaches the vent duct to the side! For me, the hardest part was taking off the black nut that is attached to the battery hold-down because I did not have a deep socket and had to use a box wrench. The battery voltage without load was 12.6 which is on the low side according to the AGM charts and I've got it hooked up to my charger to get it to 100% before I begin using the car.
