In 2008 I had my 12V Battery replaced by Toyota. Apparently they "upgraded" the battery from Toyota PN: 28800-21050 to a Panasonic S55D23L (which seems to be Toyota PN: 28800-21180), which required them to change the battery tray and cable ends. They failed to mention the switch over at the time. Oh, and they failed to install the vent tube. The battery lasted until about a month ago, when the car failed to start a few times. Apparently, the system can switch to the traction battery to charge the 12Volt system, so when the car fails to start, you can just wait a few seconds and then it starts. So when I discovered that the battery was low I started looking for a new battery to replace it. Autozone etc, won't touch it. For whatever reason they haven't figured out what battery to stock, so I called around to Toyota, who asked me the VIN so they could get the correct part, and they ordered it for $199. But when I went to switch out the battery, I find that the "correct" part won't fit the upgraded tray or cable ends. Again, I called a Toyota dealership, and they said that Toyota will not sell them the upgraded battery (Panasonic S55D23L) only the original one that doesn't fit. So now my choices are to try to find the parts to convert it back to the original battery, or find something that will fit this battery tray and cables. Anyone have any suggestions?
You can probably use the original YellowTop - which used the larger posts. Check eLearnaid.com for the battery.
Is the yellow top the same dimensions as the later toyota battery? Or the earlier one? If the terminals are the same that would certainly be easier. I just have to be sure it will fit the battery tray before I spend the money on it.
Here is the link to the correct battery: Toyota Prius 12 Volt Auxiliary Battery with install kit for 2004 + including Plug in
You might check with them on the battery tray. I looks like you got upgraded to the larger tray that. I think, this battery will fit.
The OP has a 2001. This is the link for Gen1s (Positive and Negative terminals are reversed from Gen2) Optima battery and installation kit for Prius 2001 to 2003
If you buy the Optima battery, you will receive everything you need. When I installed mine, the seam in the fenderwell needed to be bent down to fit the battery in. It sounds like your new space will be good to go. I have had the Optima battery for almost a year now and no issues. This install was not difficult at all.
I think the S55D23L battery had a PN of 28800-21190 (not -21180) - the upgrade was announced in a Technical Service Bulletin EL014-03 back in October 2003. (That's the battery in my car too.) Apparently Toyota didn't stop selling the original, smaller capacity battery, but simply upgraded customers who came in with capacity complaints. The upgrade was done with a kit that included a resized battery tray and terminals. The -21190 part number has recently been superseded by 28800-31290. I think that's the current number for the battery you've got (though I haven't gone to the dealer to see one in person yet to make sure). I think it's listed as the standard battery for some Lexus somethingorother and the price is up substantially from what I was seeing for the 28800-21190 just a couple years ago. It is a pretty good battery: there's an earlier post around where mlibanio found specs on it, which compared more than favorably to the aftermarket upgrades often discussed here, and at the old price it was hard to beat. At the current price it might not make you a convert, but as you've already got one and the tray/cables were changed to fit, depending on how much a convenient, exact fit is worth to you, maybe it's still worth a look. The one in my car has a date code of 120406 and has been starting to show the first signs of weakness this winter (no trouble starting or anything, just key-ON voltages lower than I'd like in the morning). I'll probably replace it before next winter. That's not bad longevity for an automotive 12 volt. -Chap
My dealer has a 28800-31290 on hand, so I took a photo and confirmed it is the updated Panasonic S55D23L, now with capacity marked on the label--and it seems to have grown three more amp-hours in capacity since mlibanio found the 48 Ah figure on an old datasheet. At 51 Ah this might be the highest capacity of the batteries usually discussed for the Gen 1 (for example, the often-mentioned Optima yellow top seems to be 38 Ah; this beats it by 34 percent). With the price increase it now also costs more than the yellow top, so it's no longer quite the unsung bargain it used to be. Still it's a very good battery, and if your car ever had the service bulletin EL014-03 performed in the past, this is the battery that will drop in and perfectly fit. I guess I'm not sure how to read Panasonic's date codes. I assumed the 120406 on the one in my car meant it was from late 2006, but the 060313 on this one doesn't really make sense that way. (If you're reading this post after June 3rd you might think it makes sense, but the dealer told me it arrived in April so the date of manufacture can't be later than that.) Anybody know the official right way to read these codes? -Chap
Ok, now I feel a little dopey for not having thought of that, but it makes perfect sense. (My consolation is the guy at the dealer parts counter didn't think of that either.) Thanks! -Chap
