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Loose tube near starter battery

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Frank O, May 11, 2023.

  1. Frank O

    Frank O Junior Member

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    When we were checking the 12v starter battery at the back of our 2011 Prius today, we noticed a loose tube (see photo).

    Any help on what this is? Should the loose end attach somewhere? Thanks in advance

    Having trouble posting a picture. Image url is:

    https://i.postimg.cc/15wdykdG/tube.jpg
     
  2. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    It is the vent tube from the 12V battery to allow any gases to be vented from the battery to the outside. This is to keep the gases from accumulating inside the vehicle. There should be a nipple on the battery where it attaches.
     
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    The nipple is hiding under the positive terminal assembly.
    You should be able to push it on without having to disconnect the positive terminal.
    If you can't, make sure you disconnect the negative first, and write down your
    radio stations! :)

     
  4. Frank O

    Frank O Junior Member

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    Thanks. Here's a closeup of the positive terminal of the Toyota battery we just removed, which itself was a replacement for the original battery:

    https://i.postimg.cc/zfVrJJRd/battery-terminal.jpg

    Hiding in plain sight? Do all replacement batteries always have the vent duct?
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    No, a lot of people put in non vented batteries and leave the tube hanging.
    It’s a safety issue . Some are concerned about it and some aren’t
     
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    No. At least not exactly the same.

    And if it is an AGM battery, the vent should not come into play except in a
    catastrophic failure, like damage in an accident or a HUGE overcharge.

    I personally would not worry about it if the battery is AGM.
     
  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Sorry, I didn't give enough information.
    Look on the SIDE, UNDER the positive battery cable.
    If it's not there, someone didn't tranfer it from the original battery.
    It looks as though that battery is a Toyota batter.
    You may have to go to Toyota and get the 90 degree angles plastic
    that plugs into the battery so you can attack the hose.

    I do see a plastic piece attached to the hose. So maybe it was broken off.
    And the rest is in the battery. At the Toyota dealership they should be able
    to show you a battery and where it goes....

     
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    My battery do not have the vent tit. My ne HB battery no have vent tits I threw away the rubber tubes . Well they're in the junk pile anyway so the battery was reassembled the HV one with no vent tubes My AGM battery 12 volt has no vent tip no place to put it It's just isn't there so the tube is just standing there like this car.
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    P.S. The 12 V battery in a hybrid does NOT perform starter functions like in a conventional car.
    So it really is not a "starter battery".
     
  10. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Well, the car won't start without it, so...
     
  11. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    We'll end up putting the word 'starter' in front of a whole lotta parts, if that's the criterion.
     
    CR94 likes this.
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    I like “ready battery “
     
  13. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    There's a not-ridiculous reason for calling it the starter battery: after all, the other battery is completely disconnected when the car's off, so this is the only thing around to supply juice to the button you push when you want to use the car.

    There's also a non-ridiculous reason for not calling it the starter battery: that term, to vast numbers of people, means a battery that has to supply high cranking amps to turn a starter, and if you go shopping for one of those, you'll get steered toward the exact opposite kind of battery from what works well in a Prius.

    Toyota calls it the auxiliary battery, so maybe it's good to just nudge people toward that official term for consistency (but maybe not by jumping on them for saying something else).
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Ya, that’s not gonna change
     
  15. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    It's the 12 Volt Auxiliary Starter Battery! :rolleyes:
     
  16. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It won't start without a LOT of other parts too.
    Your statement is worthless.
    But you really knew that already.