Any 2012's running original 12v?

It's the current best diagnotic I think, but with inadvertent drains, who knows. I know how long mine will last: typically around 5 years at most, because that's when I get nervous and replace it, regardless of condition.

 

i will put it to the test, and keep you informed. it is said that warmer climates are a problem for longevity, and cold can spell trouble for weakened batteries, so i suppose one size does not fit all.

admittedly, i baby my cars and batteries, and have never drained them. i don't drive much, which may spell trouble, but my 2004 oem lasted 8 years, and my 2008 lasted 10 years. i'm all about risk reward, and i'm going to try to smash my record.

 

No cheating now...

 

and it will sit in the unheated garage from 01/16/19 thru 03/24/19 with sks on

 

I'll already be wearing sunscreen in March.....

 

I never stop.

 

no need here, starting to feel like london all summer, and frostbite falls all winter.

 

My 2012 PiP 12v died in March 2018, almost 6 years exactly. I came home to an endless click click click click sound, then couldn't find the battery! Thanks to all who gave me advice!

 

While it's true the Prius (including PIP) 12 VDC battery's main purpose in life is to "boot up" the boxes, they also were designed and installed with the equivalent of a lawn tractor battery for that purpose. Anything over 5 years with normal use is beyond expected life...so I'm proactive at 5 years. I don't try to stretch my fluid and filter changes, go without a spare or drive my tires bald either.

YMMV

 

yeah, but thesis one area where i just have to go for it. it's like the mpg challenge!

 

My 2013’s are 5+ years old. 150k miles and 138k miles. Use battery tender nearly everyday. Beginning to think about replacement.

 

My built in April 2012 built Prius Plugin Advanced has it's original 12v battery. I was in for the Fuse recall 1/16/2019 and asked them to check the 12v battery, it was still good (crossed fingers). But I'm seriously considering replacing it, I will need to anyway and would rather change it at my convenience not some Sunday evening in the middle of nowhere Kansas (yes I chose to live in Kansas) and will be left with no choice but to purchase whatever they are selling generally an EL Cheapo battery to get home.

 

The Toyota service department did a load test on my 6 1/2 year old battery. The result was CCA 270 with the battery rated at 325 CCA which is 83% of rated value. The voltage over night (not plugged in of course) is 12.5 v. What does this tell me about the battery condition?

 

You’re still good.

 

Yes I get that My concern is what if I were to park the car for 3 weeks in an airport garage while on a trip?

 

What I did (and still have) is a portable jump pack that I keep in the car .

Charge it up and it’s good to go.

I was able to make our 2010’s original 12 volt go for almost 9 years without the fear of being stranded. The mechanical key gets you in the car. The jump pack gets you going if it’s drained.

And at ~$40 on Amazon it’s a quarter of a new battery.

You can also help others without feeling like a bad person.

 

It's weak. I would replace.

 

Mr. environmentally conscious is saying replace before it is done?

Why not run it further and buy a jump pack to keep in the car .

Then when a co-worker or someone else needs a jump, your well prepared and don’t look like the bad guy when someone asks and you respond: “I would but I don’t want to potentially brick my car for you”.

In the 3 years I’ve owned my jump pack I’ve charged it up twice and not needed it for any reason.

But when the original 12 volts was getting old, I felt better about taking trips and not returning to a car that wouldn’t start.

All about perspective.

 

Done, lol. JNC660 in the underfloor tray. And a spare CTEK charger; you can never have enough charger.

I'm really out of a job though: daughter was pretty much my only jump start "client", and I got her a JNC660 for XMas. It's still sitting in her living room though, so...

Yeah, regarding the battery longevity question: 6 plus years old and 270 CCA, just replace it. Why prolong the agony?

 

Yes, that's the best way to go. Does anyone know what is the actual draw on the battery when the car is "off"?