12v battery

Question about the 12v battery, I have a 2012 Prius v Five ATP and the car is now 4 yrs old. I checked the voltage using my scan gauge II this morning (after sitting overnight), after opening the drivers door and turning on ACC mode. The scan gauge showed 11.5v initially, then I turned on the car to ready mode, it went up to 14.5, drove the car a bit and it went to 13.4v and stayed there while driving. After about an hour of having it parked I checked the scan gauge again (this time from the passenger side and not turning anything on) and it was reading 12v.

So is the 11.5v after sitting overnight worrysome with a 4 yr old battery? I haven't had any problems or anything previously to indicate any issues with the battery.



**Backstory- This all started because about two weeks ago after I washed my car, vacuumed out the carpets and cleaned the interior with some armor all (same as with my other car- no issues) about two days later I have this smell in the interior. It kind of has a slightly old milkish smell, not pleasant. Doing the sniff test, I cant pin point it to anywhere - the carpets smell fine, nothing on or under the seats, nothing wet or anything. I checked the engine for signs of something that might have died in there - no signs of anything getting in there, the air filter is fine, the interior air filter was fine. I've tried to 'air' it out with the windows open and it seems to help a little, but it keeps coming back. I've even put several boxes of the refrigerator/freezer boxes of baking soda in the car to try and help - no success.

Due to this stickiness, someone suggested checking out the battery as a possible cause. I can smell the odor in the trunk just as with as the rest of the interior but can't necessarily say it's originating from back there or that it's the battery (maybe opening the trunk air's it out enough to dilute the smell back there?). The exhaust line from the battery is still in place and the battery looks fine. So I'm currently at a loss with a stinky car.

Thanks for your time

 

Yes, this was after the armor all, but it's the same bottle of wipes I used last summer (with no smell), and I used it on my other Prius at the same time as this one (ie- washed both cars at the same time, vacuumed and armor all'd) but only the Prius v is stinky. But it definitely can't hurt to wipe it down again with something else. Thanks.

 

Thanks, I'll check it with a volt meter tonight, if it's still around 11.5v is that a cause for concern?

I don't think it's the armor all wipes since I used the same bottle from last summer (no problems then), as well as using it on my other Prius at the same time as this one and no issue with smell in that car. But at this point it cant hurt to wipe everything down again to be safe.

 

At this point I'm pretty much willing to try anything. I think I came across one of your previous posts with a link on a
'how to' to do this yourself - if so would you happen to have that link easily accessible? Thanks,

I tried turning up the vents and blowing heat then air conditioning at full blast for a few minutes but didn't really notice any difference, usually the smell is strongest when the car has been closed up for a time.

Thanks for the idea.

 

It's a possibility, but I've pulled up the floor mats, looked under the front seats, in the door bins, center counsel, behind the back seats and in the trunk - including under the floor - pulling everything out except the tire I should have my wife double check though, this is a good idea.

I might just give everyone one of those Christmas tree air fresheners to wear around our necks.

 

Thankyou

 

Thanks for the link

 

Update - (sort of) - I think it is the battery somehow causing the smell. My wife was driving the car today and trying to see if she could figure out where it was coming from she couldn't smell the odor on the floor/seats/vents but up higher. When she got home I tried to clean the dash and seats again to see if it would help, and while doing that I noticed the smell a fair bit stronger by the hole where back passenger seat belt comes out of the plastic (same side as the battery). Opened the trunk again and could still smell it, pulled everything out (including the tire- no smell) just to make sure no stone was left unturned. I brought my wife back out and she instantly said the smell was coming from the battery (much better nose than I), or at least down in that corner. Looking around there is nothing below the battery (no water or anything) or around that would be causing the smell.

As suggested - I also tested the battery after several hours sitting from the jump points, although I just popped the hood from the passenger side, and it was reading 12v, hit the scan gauge and it was reading the same. After with the scan gauge if I hit ACC mode and Ready it dropped down to 11.5v again before coming back up.


I ordered the Optima Yellow Top DS46B24R from Amazon tonight and it should be here Wednesday. Is there anything I should be aware of before swapping the batteries out? It looks pretty straight forward, just the usual, pull the negative off first. I'm not worried about losing radio presets, I just don't want to brick my car by accident.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions, very much appreciated!

 

Thanks, that's a very useful table!