Prius 2nd Gen 12 V Battery Replacement Exide vs Optima Yellow Top?

Rebranded Interstate? Interstate Batteries are manufactured by Johnson Controls battery division which was sold to Brookfield private equity and rebranded as Clarios soon to register for IPO.

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The dealers I have around here don't ship batteries to where I live. So if I'm down in the city, which is 4 hours from here, I'll look into getting one then if I go OEM.

On a side note, Toyota does seem to still offer the OEM battery, at least the smaller one last time I checked (there were two sizes). But they also sell a cheaper one that isn't made by Panasonic. It's a rebranded Interstate battery you say?

 

So I spent some time last night checking Toyota dealerships for the 12V battery. I probably opened and closed about 100 tabs (or that's what it felt like) until what I was doing started to look sketchy and it was throwing me Capchas. I came across 4 or 5 dealers who's website will allow you to order the OEM battery for $200 for shipping. I wasn't able to make sure that they accept the free shipping code, because the the Capcha was interfering with my session, and I couldn't even get past the shopping cart.

When I'm back at my computer later, I'll post the dealerships that are selling the batteries for $200.

 

SoCal here, land of “Whaaaat…10 years on one 12v battery?!”

12v batteries in my Gen 2’s last 3-5 years. The OEM one lasted about 7 years and I never thought of checking dealer for OEM…d’oh!

The Optima do have a 3 year no-questions-asked warranty, so buy those for vehicles w electrical problems and exchange often! A friend said.

 

One can’t exchange it beyond first three year period. Many batteries have three year full exchange.

 

Around these parts automotive 12v batteries are pro-rated after they’re installed, It’s the Optima no-questions-asked straight over the counter exchange that sets them apart when you know you’re gonna need to do that several times.

No arguments, no side-eye…just in and out with another battery. IMHE.

 

The Ohmmu has a 5 year replacement warranty, but it's also considerably more expensive.

Toyota OEM is 2 year replacement followed by 5 year prorated warranty. That's why they call it an 84 month warranty. This is only if you buy the 12V battery, not the battery included with a new car!

 

So they seem to have blocked my IP address, and I can no longer access any parts.*toyota.com websites! Either that, or they happen to all be down now.

In any case, I'll post these here now, and hopefully you guys can verify this information.

Following are 4 Toyota dealerships who all have the OEM 12 volt battery listed online currently for $200.59:

Madera Toyota
1300 Country Club Drive, Madera, CA 93638
parts.maderatoyota.com

Vescovo Toyota Of Las Cruces
780 South Valley Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88005
parts.vescovotoyota.com

Bommarito Toyota
9095 Dunn Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042
parts.bommaritotoyota.net

Lowe Toyota Of Warner Robins
375 S. Houston Lake Road, Warner Robins, GA 31088
onlineparts.lowetoyota.com​

To test, set your location to one of those ZIP codes, then find the appropriate dealership. You can start at parts.toyota.com and click on Battery. You can search for part #54421171325, though for all I know there may be other part numbers.

The free shipping code (use code FREESHIP for free ground shipping on orders over $75) may or may not work. I currently can't even access parts.toyota.com, so I can't currently check -- or buy -- anything!

Of course, just because it's available for purchase online, doesn't mean it's immediately available.

 

Battery Part Number 2nd Gen Prius: 2880021171 12 VOLT. 325 CCA. A power source for a vehicle's electrical system. Battery marked S46B24R. $204.68

eg: Fort Worth Toyota shipping charge depending on State, no provision for CODE. Free ship depends on participating dealer.

2008 Toyota Prius Vehicle Battery - 2880021171 | Toyota, Fort Worth TX

 

I guess I'm unblocked now!

I have tested, and I was able to add the 12V battery to cart and successfully apply the FREESHIP promo code at the Las Cruces dealership. It would have come out to $200 + tax + core charge, with free shipping! The others may also work (I don't want to kill my access again!).