I just finished installing a Optima battery into my 01 Prius. The battery removed was without any history. Now that I have it removed when was this battery last replaced? The battery is white, has GS (Nippon Denchi) on the side, and the only code on the top is 220407 W. I assume this battery was made in April 22, 2007 based on how I see this code. It looks like a model # on the top. S34B20L. Any guesses as to when this battery was replaced or is this an original Japan battery? It looks like the replacement was a good call no matter what! 5 years by my guess or 11 years if original.
Toyota superseded the GS battery with a Panasonic S55D23L (Toyota p/n 28800-21190) in October 2003, so my guess would be you had a pretty old battery (and there might be some different way to read the code for a date). Or maybe GS still made the same battery and somebody had an independent source to buy one in 2007? Toyota's battery change has been discussed in various threads, for example here. -Chap
I can't believe this would be an original battery. The car has 225,000 on it now and used with highway driving. I hope the optima last this long. The GS battery voltage wasn't crap to my understanding, but now I have history with this car as to what was changed when. New CV boot and front wheel bearing going on it today.
How was the install on the Optima? Did you get the install kit talked about on here? Easy enough for a beginner?
Very easy replacement. The install kit came with the battery and done under an hour....taking my time. Follow the directions that come with the battery and no issue. Folding over the seam in the wheel well is important to give the needed space for the battery. I bent it with a cresent wrench, but also smacked it over with a hammer and no issues.
I would change it out now. Mine started getting weak in the winter (and even the cold nights). I started getting intermittent errors and just stuff you don't want to deal with. 11 yrs is an excessive amount of time for a lead acid battery. My recommendation is, change it now and yes use the Optima. The Optima is a deep cycle battery so it is less susceptible to extreme discharges. Your original battery is probably still good and may last another year (or longer) but, its days are numbered and when it does go, you never know what situation you'll be in. Most likely you'll be in a hurry and in dire need of your car. I compare it to changing tires before they're bald.
Can anyone scientifically confirm this. It is my belief the DC-DC inverter wastes a ton of gasoline by having an old battery. Basically the thing chemically is depleted and really sits around 12V or so. When the car is running the DC-DC inverter is trying to shove 13.5V to 13.9V at it, and there is substantial charging current for maybe the first 15 mins driving the car. This is happening every time you start the car. I know I need a current meter clamped around the battery wire... Just wondering if there is more scientific study yet.
I just found the service record for the battery change. It was done in '08. So in '08 the dealer replaced the original with an '02 battery.
+1 on that. There is no doubt that a depleted 12v is inefficient. How much has not been studied (to my knowledge but, I have seen posts where bigger batteries were put in // w/ the 12V to try to limit the draw from the DC-DC inverter. They report 1-2mpg gains but as always, driving habits and conditions could have caused those variations.
Some modes of failure cause the battery to have low voltage, I am sure the charging circuit wastes energy for those failure modes, other failures reduce amperage, I am less sure that the charging circuit works harder for those failures.
