Keep going with a dead 12v battery?

Do not put off installing the new battery once it gets there. If you get the jumper cables wrong it can cost you $3500USD.

 

Welcome. The answer to your question is the traction battery. Yes, you can continue to operate the car like this for as long as you want. The only downside, like Jimbo said, is if you switch the polarity of the jumper cables you'll drop a pile of cash to replace everything that shorted out.

 

To be even more precise, the DC-DC inverter converts the traction battery high DC voltage to 12VDC so all systems that use 12V will have it as long as the traction battery is charged by the gas engine and the DC-DC converter keeps working.

Why aren't you buying a replacement battery, Alejandro? Seems awfully inconvenient to need to jump start the Prius all the time.

 

Hi im having the same problem and idk what to do this is my very first car and im getting worried . im certain my 12v battery is dead. Once jumped its fine. Until turning off again .

Where can i get a new 12v battery ? About how much are they? Should i have a mechanic install it ? Please help

 

welcome! dealer, on line or auto parts store. it's certainly easy enough to install it yourself, but if you don't want to, go ahead and have them do it. batteries are around $150. - $200., and install anywhere from $50. - $200. toyota will run $3-400., installed. all the best!

 

Do you know about how much they are ?? And what kind of dealer ? Specifically a TOYOTA dealer ?

 

see my edit.^^^

 

Thank you! And are there different types of 12v batteries ? Does my 2002 need a specific 12v battery ?

 

yes, a specific type. if you don't want oem, you'll have to search the gen I forum for alternatives, i'm not familiar.

 

Ok thank you

How do i make my own post / thread ?

 

go to the forum main page. find the gen 1 forum in small print on the first of the gen 2 forums. click on it, then see the 'post new thread' in the upper right.

 

It'd need to be a Toyota dealership. Though, you might check 3rd party auto parts retailers too: I needed to pick up a Honda battery night before last, and Canadian Tire's Motomaster branded battery was an exact match for the Honda battery we pulled out, apart from the label. They had a very sweet battery analyzer tool on hand, tested it for me, no problem.

 

also, if you search '12 volt battery' in that forum, a ton of threads come up.

 

I don't know where you are located or if all Toyota dealers (or regional) are the same price, but I was given an advertisement that says to come to the dealer and get my battery replaced with a Trustart battery for $149 installed.

I am in California.

 

Thank you ! Has your car been ok since you've gotten your new battery ??

 

I didn't take advantage of it because I seem to have an "ok" battery.

I don't know how long these batteries are suppose to last. I assume 5 years? My battery is 3 1/2 years old.

 

I've heard 5 years or so. The 12V battery in my 2010 has a date code of 140111W (Jan 14, 2011). I just had the 90K service done and the dealer said the battery is fine, but I don't expect to get more than another year out of this battery.

 

depends on your climate, how long it sits idle, and how many times it's been drained. i expect to get 8 years out of mine, like i did on my '04 and '08.

 

Good to know! Maybe this one will last awhile...