12volt Optima-no vent? and stiff plastic carry handle-in way

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by phoebeisis, Nov 22, 2013.

  1. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    Just replaced the 12 volt OEM battery -after a rotten eggs odor- complete failure- after 90 months of service-- in New Orleans-so hot.
    Replaced it with the OPTIMA drop in battery.
    2 questions
    1) I couldn't find a vent nipple for the vent tube-so the Optima really is sealed?No vent??
    2) The stiff plastic carry band on the Optima-was in the way.
    It is too thick to put under the battery hold down bracket- and soooo stiff it gets in the way of the plastic control "stuff" that sits on the positive pole. The factory handle is a thin woven band-it lays flat.
    I finally cut the carry handle-because I didn't want it pressing on the red plastic "electrical box" on the battery. Made it two handles instead of one.
    How did you folks manage that handle?
    Thanks
    Charlie
     
    #1 phoebeisis, Nov 22, 2013
  2. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    The correct battery for the Prius in the "yellow top" is the DS46B24R

    It is my understanding that this battery is vented and should have the vent hole on the side in the same place where the OEM battery vent was located.

    Are you certain you got the correct battery?

    Watch the video below for the technique to remove the carrying strap.

     
    #2 dorunron, Nov 22, 2013
  3. goldfinger

    goldfinger Active Member

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    I can confirm the DS46B24R has the vent in the exact same place as the OEM battery. I'll bet phoebeisis has the D51. I popped my carry handle off and threw it in with the spare tire.
     
    #3 goldfinger, Nov 22, 2013
  4. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Yes, I suspect he has the wrong battery. That is why I posted the correct battery number. It's not the first time this subject has come up here on Prius Chat.
     
    #4 dorunron, Nov 22, 2013
  5. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    Thanks guys
    I just pulled the various covers-this is read directly off the battery-not the packing slip
    DS46B24R

    CA 575
    CCA 450
    AH 38
    RC66
    I still didn't see a vent-never had a lead battery with no vent.
    It does call itself non spill able- but guessing that just means the acid is more or less absorbed in the fabric
    No vent?? Looked felt around-no vent?
    It fit perfectly-other than the strap?
    Any ideas?
    Charlie
     
    #5 phoebeisis, Nov 24, 2013
  6. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The battery doesn't have the vent as shown in the pic?

    [​IMG]
     
    #6 El Dobro, Nov 24, 2013
  7. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    El Dobro
    Thanks. Yes I went to optima-and found that picture a few minutes ago-went out-pulled the little L-Tube nipple off the old battery-plugged it in the optima
    Yes it has that recessed opening.
    Two questions-does the Optima not come with a nipple? I was looking for a nipple-just like the old battery-none in box none on battery?
    Any chance that opening has a recessed plug? Meaning I have just jammed it into the battery-and have been running with an unvented battery?
    I put the nipple in with the battery in place-tricky-so I couldn't actually see any plug?
    Guessing there would be a warning on it if it did-but it didn't come with ANY instructions?
    Thanks all-
    1)Optima comes with no nipple?
    2) Did it have the opening plugged-in which case I had better pull it take a look?
    Thanks again
    Charlie
    PS Put it in in the dark thur am-5:45 am-hate working in dark-obvious reason
     
    #7 phoebeisis, Nov 24, 2013
  8. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    Usually any replacement batteries don't come with the little elbow for the vent, you have to use the old one.
     
    #8 El Dobro, Nov 24, 2013
  9. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    congrats, sounds like you have the right battery and got the vent tube hooked up.

    Now just be sure to drive it for a couple of hours (go on a long trip) or put the battery on a smart charger. Not as much of an issue if you have a long commute but for us short trip people you have to charge the battery at least once with something other than the Prius.
     
    #9 dhanson865, Nov 24, 2013
  10. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    ElDobro Dhanson
    Thanks.
    I dug up the box-took a look for a nice yellow elbow-nothing. As you say they don't come with the elbow-seems kinda cheap.
    Just took a look at the battery in my ancient suburban-no obvious nipple vent-but the rectangular caps are called vent caps-so no mystery there.
    My motorcycles all had obvious nipples vents-with a tube
    This prius battery-in the cabin-so venting can't be casual.
    Our trips are short too-so will find a reason to take a long one
    Thanks again-my "old person" sight- and working in the dark-tricked me again
    Charlie
     
    #10 phoebeisis, Nov 24, 2013
  11. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    When I changed ours, I went with the OEM replacement. It too just had the hole in the side of the battery. Had to reuse the old elbow and vent tube. I guess the Prius battery is looked at differently from a m/c battery that traditionally has the vent tubes.

    Glad to hear you got it figured out and sorted. Just out of curiosity, what's the voltage on that new Optima?
     
    #11 dorunron, Nov 24, 2013
  12. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    dorunon
    Just checked various displays-oddly enough I can't find the voltmeter-can't find it on the display?
    dashboard?? 7 years never noticed anything that indicated the voltage of the 12v battery?
    Is it available from the display?
    If not I can put my voltmeter on it-see what it says.
    Son drove off with car-so it will be tomorrow am.
    Charlie
     
    #12 phoebeisis, Nov 24, 2013
  13. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    I changed mine for an Exide battery recently. I was concerned about the OE battery as the car is 2008, but when i removed it, it was dated from earlier this year. I replaced it with the new one anyway as the OE battery had less amps than the one I bought, so thought that it might be able to hold a bit more charge.

    My replacement did fit straight in, but again, did not come with the little nipple for the overflow. I just used the one from the old one.

    It's in a few months now and no hassles
     
    #13 Tony D, Nov 24, 2013
  14. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Check the battery with a meter. The Mfd is not always accurate.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #14 Britprius, Nov 24, 2013
  15. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    don't be surprised if the new battery seems low on voltage by MFD or by a direct measurement.

    The battery itself has a charge with no load.

    Put battery cables on it and the load in the car with the car off will drop the measured voltage a chunk.

    Turn the car on to accessory mode and the measured voltage will drop again.

    Turn the car on to IG-ON (not ready) and the measured voltage will drop again.

    If the car is in ready mode the voltage will be in the 13.x to 14.x range and you'll be measuring the charging mode not the battery.

    Change any variable (fan, lights, charging a cell phone, satellite radio, etcetera) and you'll see even lower voltages in accessory/ig-on modes.

    post 67 in New Optima Battery DOA (almost); And Getting Worse | Page 4 | PriusChat shows my test results from when I got mine less than 2 years ago.

    I haven't bothered to charge it much or test the voltage level in the last year since I now have a slightly longer commute to work.

    If I remember correctly you have to leave your foot off the brake and hit the power button to cycle from off, to accessory, to ig-on. Not sure if you can ever get to ready without the brake pedal. It surprised me to see the voltage changes for some actions and no change for others.
     
    #15 dhanson865, Nov 24, 2013
  16. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    Hmm-so the display-in the mode I use when I'm just sitting listening to the radio-
    will show 12v battery voltage? But a meter is more accurate?
    When my son gets home-I will check the display
    Thanks
    Charlie
     
    #16 phoebeisis, Nov 24, 2013
  17. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The accuracy of the MFD display voltage seems to vary from car to car, but can under read the voltage by as much as 0.5 volts. This is a very large discrepancy for the state of charge of a 12 volt battery. Not all cars will have such a large error, but once you know how far out the readings are "if any" you can use that offset in the future when using the MFD.

    John (Britprius)
     
    #17 Britprius, Nov 24, 2013
  18. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    First link in my signature will get you to the onboard test for voltage, not as accurate as a voltmeter. There is no "per se" volt meter on the dash, but there is one hidden in the MFD. Click the first link in my signature for more info. What I am interested in is what the first and second reading is (accessory mode and ignition on mode).

    For reference, a fully charged AGM type battery should read a minimum of 12.8 volts when measured at the battery posts with NO load applied.

    Battery SOC Chart.jpg
     
    #18 dorunron, Nov 24, 2013
  19. phoebeisis

    phoebeisis Member

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    I do have a Scan Gauge
    Quick look 14 volts with engine running-
    turn engine off-it reads 12.1 12.4 for 10 seconds or so until the SG shuts off.
    The engine off but very little load reading maybe is a little helpful
    I'll try the MFD deal later
    The SG doesn't read anything volt wise in "on but not engine on"
     
    #19 phoebeisis, Nov 25, 2013
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