12V battery choices

For an '04+? If you're willing to modify the terminals a bit, your
choices are much wider. The pencil-posts style is fairly rare.
.
_H*

 

There is a $10 kit available that will allow you to install a Optima battery.

http://www.elearnaid.com/pakitforinop.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Nov 13 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]539189[/snapback]</div>

And the Optima battery is $140 + $10 kit = $150. :lol:

Autozone listed Duralast ($75) and Duralast Gold ($85) for the 2005 Prius, http://www.autozone.com/N,318892/initialAc...icleSelect4.htm. Anybody wants to give them a try?

 

Sounds great! Then I read this on their website:

"At least three users have told me that their 2001-2003 Prius now gets better mileage with the new battery. One told me that getting a new battery restored his mileage back to the original mileage he was getting when the car was brand new and another told me that he is now getting better mileage then he did originally. So if you 12 volt battery is weak it could also be affecting your gas mileage."

This sounds to me like pure bulldada, and I hate buying from people who make (or pass along) ridiculous claims.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Nov 14 2007, 08:10 AM) [snapback]539443[/snapback]</div>

See this is a point of debate. If the car has to turn itself on to recharge the aux battery then that could negatively effect your gas milage. IE a weak battery will not hold a charge as well as a larger stronger battery and may not require the ICE to be on as long. That is how I've read these threads so far but I could be completely wrong. I do want to know the truth though as I intend to put another large car audio amplifier in my Prius which would push my rms wattage up to 1900watts.

 

So there's nothing magic about the current battery, and another battery that fits the cubbyhole and offers the correct amps and such will do just fine?...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Nov 14 2007, 09:28 AM) [snapback]539502[/snapback]</div>

Toyota, for reasons they regard as significant, have always used an externally vented 12 volt battery in Prius. This limits the battery replacement choices somewhat.

Those who go "unvented" do so at their own risk.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Nov 15 2007, 12:04 AM) [snapback]539818[/snapback]</div>

That's OK as long as that Gold Duralast from AutoZone actually fits and works with no issues...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Nov 15 2007, 11:58 AM) [snapback]539969[/snapback]</div>

Aye, there's the rub: if something does go wrong an unvented battery creates some possibility of an explosion. I would not risk that just to save $100.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Nov 14 2007, 12:46 PM) [snapback]539476[/snapback]</div>

Hmm, good point, but in that case *any* new battery would have restored fuel economy. Quoting those anecdotes as they did it they're trying make it sound as if the battery they sell was responsible. Still kinda sleazy IMHO but I admit I'm tempted to buy from them anyway when the time comes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Nov 15 2007, 11:12 AM) [snapback]539977[/snapback]</div>

That's where this quote from AutoZone is important:

Unless vented has multiple meanings?...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Nov 16 2007, 10:09 AM) [snapback]540500[/snapback]</div>

Do these batteries fit the Prius vent tube?

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the Optima company has stopped producing the 51R battery and there have been numerous problems with the batteries failing. I will be looking at other battery options but I will still purchase the adapter from LearnAid. Here is a link to one of the many discussions that I found about the problems with the 51R Optima battery: "http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1588217"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mikepaul @ Nov 15 2007, 09:58 AM) [snapback]539969[/snapback]</div>

Autozone and advance auto parts DO NOT have the right battery for the Prius yet,Toyota has not yet released thier pattent on the battery so no one can produce that battery yet,the main problem is that the battery posts are about a half inch in diameter which is almost half the normal size,I have replaced both of my 04's allready so I'm not real happy with Toyota on this subject,also get ready to spend $155.00 if you can install it yourself like I did ,my dealer wanted $60 to install it wich is a joke I hope this answers some questions out there.
2 grey 04' with package 9

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(grizzly1 @ Nov 26 2007, 03:11 PM) [snapback]544348[/snapback]</div>

I don't think a patent can be done of the size of either the box or the terminals. The guts are another story, but so far I haven't read where a Prius needs the OEM battery, just that an acceptable non-OEM replacement has yet to be found.

If there are charging issues, like the Prius would ruin a regular-formula battery, then I'm going OEM but might try the install myself...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Nov 13 2007, 09:41 PM) [snapback]539189[/snapback]</div>

I just found them a couple days ago ... they sell the mod'ed posts for $10 so you can then buy the optima battery from Costco.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Nov 13 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]539189[/snapback]</div>

So, nobody here has used even this kit to install an Optima? One would think the kit's existence proves that the Optima does work. And one could be wrong.

And has anyone else tried the free shipping part of that order page and seen $999 quoted for shipping alone? So far I haven't liked any of the ship options but a $10 investment for when my battery does go doesn't seem too bad...

 

As a former Miata owner, I'm familiar with the issues. Both the Miata and Prius have their 12v battery in the trunk, and both require sealed/externally vented batteries. Here's a link to a company that makes a battery specifically for the Miata, I wonder what it would take to get one to fit in a Prius?

Westco Battery Miata page

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(narf @ Nov 27 2007, 04:39 PM) [snapback]544862[/snapback]</div>

Hmm, comparing its dimensions to those of the battery well (shown in Hobbit's 12V battery paper), it would seem to fit. Hard to tell from the photo in your link whether the size and orientation of the posts are a close enough match.

 

I spoke to the guy at elearnaid.com on the phone today and he said he's fit them in the newer gen Prius and assures buyers that the Optima DOES fit.
NO, I didn't have the shamelessness to ask him what model Optima he uses so that I can do an end run around his profit. Anyone else care to guess? I went to the optima web site and entered mx-5 or whatever they call 'em and nothing came up. I know I can make up a set of terminals . . . but It'll probably cost as much at elearnaid.com is selling them for.