time for a new 12V battery?

you need a prius aware scanner, if there are trouble lights, there are trouble codes. it may or may not be the 12v. 12.2 is borderline, depending on how you are reading it. using the mfd, there is always a load.

speedo can be affected by the 12v, or could be a bad meter.

 

Probably out of engine oil as at 165K miles it probably eats alot of engine oil especially if the oil changes were done at the dealer.

And the dash going whacky is the combo meter has failed. Very common failure. The combo meter is what we call the dashboard LED circuit board. It will be intermittent for about a year then not allow the car to be shutdown. There's many Prius posters here that repair them for $100. You send the circuit board from your car to him he rebuilds it and sends it back and you re-install it. I recommend Matt from texas hybrids.

There's a great youtube on how to remove it called: Prius Combo meter.

Its the video I recently used to remove & re-install mine.

 

Another good tidbit of advice, Ed. The engine is more likely to use oil and wear out if you have the oil changed at a dealership.
WOW. What a crock.

I think you definitely should check/replace the 12 V battery first.
If it is more than 5 years old, don't bother with a test.

The Optima batteries don't have a really good reputation......and certainly are not worth paying MORE for.

 

Trust me when I say the car is throwing codes, you just can’t read them. The mfd is probably showing the radio codes, they mean nothing. You need a Toyota reader to get the codes. Or a paper clip and knowing how to read the flashing lights might work.

 

Go to your Dealership and have them run diagnostics.

 

That 100+ charge would buy a very nice vmi and copy of Techstream

 

They could, but I suggest these matters be addressed yesterday...not next week or when they get a "roun tuit". YMMV

 

Yeah as @bisco says, where there's lights there's codes.

Time for dealership to intervene? Sure it's $75~100, but does that break the bank?

It's a big step to acquire (a hacked copy of) techstream, a suitable laptop and the cable. And the outcome of that might be a trip to the dealership service department anyways.

 

Do check the engine oil often then, as oil loss from increased RPMs or 'spirited' driving can be real.

 

So, you check the oil regularly between services? Or do you rely on the service technician to mention it after a service?

And right now, you have checked the oil level?

 

pretty much a personal thing. some like oem, some like optima, some like auto parts, and some like to use lithium or tractor batteries.

 

Pep Boys seems to keep popping up in discussions about battery searches.

Call around or online search major auto parts stores in your area looking for an "exact fit" AGM.

 

Yeah, Pep Boys Bosch. Regular price around $170, and often on sale around $145~150.

 

I am needing a new 12v battery - ideally a cheaper if not as durable one. Prior one is from 2013 and I can jump the car drive it around and it will restart within an hour, but leave it overnight and it needs a jump again. Smart key is turned off.

My 2004 has 199,650 miles on it is well worn out and I was not planning on keeping for more than another year, but I'd hate to have to buy a new car just because of a 12v battery.

Best I can find is the Optima DS46B24R for $220 from elearning (that is where I bought the 2013 one from for $165 at the time) or
from Autozone the Duralast 46B24R-AGM $200+$18 for core locally.

Is the Duralast OK? Is there a cheaper option? Pep boys only sells the Optima for $237+core

 

I bought a used Prius oem 12 volt from offer up for $80 and it had 5 years left on the battery. They have a manufactured date stamped on top. Its reads day/month/year. They even sell new ones for $140 but these places usually have poor warranties usually only a few months.

SM-J737T1 ?