Prius Aux battery dead?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by KitsuneVoss, Jan 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM.

  1. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Just picked up my 2006 Prius and have an issue. Seems like I have had a number of items of bad luck. May see if I can hit up the seller for some of my money back.

    Really cold last night. Did drive though. Tried to start it this afternoon however and had a bunch of issues.

    First noticed remote unlocking would not work and even manual group door unlock not working. Would not start and got the triangle sometimes when trying to start it but not always. Interior lights look dim and windshield wiper barely moving. Middle panel not coming on as well.

    I am assuming that the aux battery basically just died?

    Assuming it is the aux battery, it is smart remote car. I understand I cannot use my non smart remote battery from my totaled car? According to O'Reilly's, the terminals are reversed?

    Also, being that the hatch will not open, what is the best way? Should I replace the battery from crawling in the car? Use a booster back to give enough juice to unlock the hatch?
     
    #1 KitsuneVoss, Jan 7, 2025 at 2:31 PM
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the battery is just a different size, you can use it, but would have to adapt the holder if permanent.
    easiest is to put 12v to the jump point under the hood and pop the hatch.
    otherwise, crawl in back and use the emergency release.
     
    #2 bisco, Jan 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
  3. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    How hard is it to adapt?
     
    #3 KitsuneVoss, Jan 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM
  4. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Do you own a voltmeter? If so, check the voltage at the jump point, or better yet, right on the battery. We are all assuming the battery is toast and that you would see 11V or something bad like that, but it could be something else entirely, like a bad short somewhere.
     
    #4 pasadena_commut, Jan 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i haven't tried it. probably not hard, depending on skill level.
    you could fabricate something, or buy the tray and hold down bracket for the smaller battery. but be aware that sks will drain it more quickly than the jarger battery. that's why sks gets the big one.
     
    #5 bisco, Jan 7, 2025 at 8:24 PM
  6. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    My plan was to pull the battery and test it. I hope it is the battery because anything else is far more of a pain in the butt. Batteries also do fail pretty often and who knows how old it is. I know with other cars, it almost always has been a dying battery although sometimes it is alternator not charging the battery.
     
    #6 KitsuneVoss, Jan 7, 2025 at 8:48 PM
  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    I can't imagine you would need to adapt anything to swap the smaller (S34B20R) battery in for the larger (S46B24R) one.

    It is the same height (202 mm) and width (128 mm), just a little shorter across the length (197 mm vs 238 mm), IIRC.
     
    #7 dolj, Jan 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
  8. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    There should be a date code on it. If the car sat for a long period of time without the battery being detached then the 25 mA or so the car draws when off could easily have run it down far enough to damage it.
     
    #8 pasadena_commut, Jan 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
  9. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    When I first test drove it, the car's inspection sticker was 2019 and by the number of miles, I suspect it has been sitting a lot.
    Waiting for sunrise to get started.
     
    #9 KitsuneVoss, Jan 8, 2025 at 7:20 AM
  10. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    Got the battery out. It is something like 25 degrees so my hands are like ice but going to head out in a few minutes
    No date on battery that I can see. Maybe original battery?
     
    #10 KitsuneVoss, Jan 8, 2025 at 8:23 AM
  11. MCCOHENS

    MCCOHENS Member

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    If you have another battery just put it in and see if the car starts. Just please make sure the "-" terminal on the battery goes to ground, the wire that is bolted to the body. Cold weather and age kill these but because all they do is power the computer they last a long time.
     
    #11 MCCOHENS, Jan 8, 2025 at 9:02 AM
  12. KitsuneVoss

    KitsuneVoss Member

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    I went to O'Reilly Auto Parts and they said the battery tested as bad. The person also thought it was the original battery and the side appeared slightly dented in which also usually indicates a dead battery. He thinks it was the original battery.
     
    #12 KitsuneVoss, Jan 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
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