When to replace the 12 V battery?

great price, what date code?

 

I didn't see a specific date stamp, but I didn't search very hard either. There's a Bosch sticker on it that says "Shipped August 2018"

 

Is a year old normal? Do y'all recommend passing and looking for something more recent?

 

The battery I bought was April 2019.

 

I had the same problem. I called the customer service number (1-800-PEP-BOYS) and they helped me place the order for pickup at my local store. I didn't even have to give her a credit card #, I had the option of paying at pickup. 5 minutes after I got off the phone with her, the local store called and said my purchase was ready to be picked up.
Didn't look for a date code.

 

So, I had the new battery on the charger yesterday until around ~9pm, when I changed it over to my backup spare (non-sks battery). The new battery sat overnight and I just finished installing it. I used the spare non-sks battery and jumper cables to keep 12v power at the jump connection while I installed the new one. The new battery is rated at 440 cca....

After installation I used my digital battery tester to check everything. The first thing you do is set the tester to the rated cca of the battery. First test looks for bad cells, etc. Second test displays the battery voltage. Third test displays actual cca. Tested it four times. Two times resulted in 775 and two times 800 cca. Sounds like it has plenty of capacity. It will be interesting to see if I ever need another new battery since the previous one was from late 2011.

One other comment for anyone who goes this direction...the Bosch battery should come with it's own vent elbow, and can be moved to either side of the battery. It's pretty important that you make sure it has it, as the hole for the vent tube is NOT the same size as the OEM Toyota battery. It's slightly smaller. The oem rubber tube fits the Bosch elbow fine.

 

I put an Optima Yellow Top in, 4 years back now. Checked it's CCA yesterday: it's rated 450 and measures 580. I "cheat" though: our car often sits idle for multiple days, and during those periods I leave a smart charger on, 'round the clock.

 

I checked the battery in my son's 2005 today. It has a November 30, 2013 manufacture date and tested at 350 cca. That's saddens me, since the one I took out of my car has a manufacture date October 2011 and tests 400-425 every time. Thinking that I need to hunt down another Pep-Boys and buy one for his car, then put my old one into the new 2005 we just bought. Stinks that the PB closest to me only had one in stock. Don't know how I could ever beat ~$106 for a 12v.

 

I don't know what Bosch was thinking: there's a LOT Prius out there.

Up here Canadian Tire has a house-brand battery for Prius, a rectangular-cased AGM with the proper posts and vent port. Not sure who the parent company is, that's actually making it.

I have had good experience with their Honda Civic battery: it was a dead-ringer for the OEM, apart from the badging, and held up well.

If there's a next time I'll probably go with CT, unless they discontinue that battery. Geesh, the price has gone up. Canadian funds, anyway (about $169 US):

 

My local Pep Boys doesn't show that battery at all...but they do offer this one for 91.49 installed:

ACDelco Red BCI Group 51 Battery

I don't know that much about batteries or if it's a decent one or not.

 

Are the posts bigger on that one? Might be a generic picture too.

 

I would add that parking the Prius for 2weeks-2months also puts a severe negative drain on the 12-volt battery in our experience, partly depending on whether you successfully turn off the SKS system when you park it, among other things.

 

Update: Battery was dated Feb. 2019

 

Another interesting question about using a battery different from OEM. Both OEM and this Bosch are rated for 46AH capacity. So overall capacities are theoretically identical. The OEM is rated at 325 cca and the Bosch is rated at 440. Both test significantly higher when new, as I'm sure all batteries do. Typically, the deep cycle batteries have lower cca ratings. Toyota HIGHLY recommends never using the OEM for jump starting any other vehicles. I'm sure this has a lot to do with that 325 cca rating.

Cold cranking amps (CCA) is a measurement of the number of amps a battery can deliver at 0°F for 30 seconds and not drop below 7.2 volts. So a high CCA battery rating is especially important in starting battery applications, and in cold weather.This measurement is not particularly important in deep cycle batteries, though it is the most commonly "known" battery measurement.

The deep cycle battery has less instant energy, but greater long-term energy delivery. Deep cycle batteries have thicker plates and can survive a number of discharge cycles. Starting batteries should not be used for deep cycle applications because the thinner plates are more prone to warping and pitting when discharged.

I would venture that the Bosch, although a direct replacement for the OEM, probably would handle jump starting another vehicle. As for me, I don't think I'll try it unless a situation really requires it. It will be interesting to see how long this battery lives. This may be the longest long term test I've ever done....

 

The cost of an OEM battery from Toyota versus non OEM is marginal. Not enough to chance
a different battery. At least for me. Just like the coolant, and oil filters.

 

Great Question!

Wanna hear a good answer?
No.
BUT...that's MY good answer.

Some things you replace before they fail.
Other things you can wait UNTIL they fail.

You want to replace a tire for example before they get shiny from the steel belts showing.....HOWEVER (comma!) you don't want to replace a tire with 5/32" of tread remaining because "it's been on the car for an awfully long time"

Different people have different comfort levels, but FOR ME the best strategery with aux batteries is to get and keep a pocket jump starter.
That way...when the aux battery starts to give you trouble you will not be stranded in BFE when it fails completely....AND you get to use the aux battery until it shows signs of wear or it fails completely.
Besides....."my" Prius is a company car, and the only way to get them to replace an aux battery before it fails completely would be to "accidentally" leave the dome light on a few times and make them pay me a committing allowance.
A few times.

NOT that I ever have or would actually DO that.....

Of course.....different people have different levels of comfort with preparedness too.
Back in the old days people used to like to keep a spare tire in the trunk or cargo bay.....even the dinky little doughnut spares will get you to the nearest place to get a replacement.

Now?
Well....let's just say comfort levels will sometimes lead you astray too.
I know people whose idea of automotive preparedness is to keep the roadside assistance number programmed into their phone.

Your call.

 

Another reason that the Prius can have such a low CCA battery is because the battery never cranks the engine whether it is cold or hot. The battery just runs the electronics and the relay that connects it to the hybrid traction battery which actually starts up the motor which spins up the engine

Mike

 

I wish this was the case for me but it was a huge difference in price. $105 for the Bosch installed at Pepboys after $40 rebate and $299 at the dealership which includes $239 for battery and $60 for half an hour labor. So the cost at the dealer is almost 3 times more.

 

Prices vary area to area.
That's pretty cheap for a battery. I question the quality, and length of life.
I'm not saying the Toyota better is the "best" battery.
Changing the battery is pretty simple, MOST could do that themselves....
The previous owner had the battery replaced shorty before selling it to me.
It's only 2 years old so I think I should be good for another 4 or so years.....
I have a small jump box, just in case!

 

yes, I agree with this 100%, as the high cca batteries are considered ISA (ignition/starting/accessory) batteries and the deep cycle batteries are not. The deep cycle models aren't intended for ISA and should live a longer life, depending on how often they are cycled, and a Prius doesn't exactly go hard on them.