Battery Vent Tube Questions

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018.

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  1. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I read through all 50 questions and answers on this battery on Amazon. There were a few people that claimed it was vented. The best was a question as to whether it was necessary to drill out the hole. There were 3 answers: Yes, Maybe and No.:ROFLMAO:
     
    #21 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  2. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    It's why I spend the cash on the Toyota.
     
    #22 cyberpriusII, Nov 5, 2018
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  3. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    In retrospect, that's what I should have done. Being new to hybrids at the time, I thought I could just go to an auto supply store and buy one. The first surprise was that none of the first few auto stores I called even stocked the Prius battery. Then when I found one at a Lordco store in Burnaby, BC, it was something like $280 Canadian (can't remember the exact amount, it was a couple of years ago). I should have gone to the dealer at that point, but was not in the habit of buying any type of accessories from a dealer, I just thought (perhaps accurately) that they would be even more expensive.
     
    #23 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  4. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Aye, I understand the issue with dealers. But, sometimes it just makes sense.

    This past summer we tried to cheap out with a new (aftermarket) ignition switch as well as a new aftermarket blower motor resistor -- both from NAPA and both respected (more or less) aftermarket brands for our Camry.

    And, while more often than not, that works fine, sometimes it does not. We ended up having to get the Toyota parts after real installation hassles. It would have much less trying if we had gone to the dealer in the first place.

    Having said that, I am the first in line to try to save money on an aftermarket part, but just depends on the part...Cabin filter, wiper blades, etc. fine......A battery that has quirky fit requirements -- dealer...
    kris.
     
    #24 cyberpriusII, Nov 5, 2018
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  5. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    One thing I would never do is drill into a battery like that. :)
     
    #25 Skibob, Nov 5, 2018
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  6. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
     
    #26 cyberpriusII, Nov 5, 2018
  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    =
     
    #27 PriusCamper, Nov 5, 2018
  8. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    I was not planning to. I'm not sure what shards of plastic inside the battery would do to it. I'm still hoping someone will tell me the plastic wall inside the battery that my tube is pressed up against is perforated and will pop out if the pressure becomes too great.;) I guess not. I can't believe a reputable GM-affiliated company would place a fake hole in the side of their battery to deceive the unsophisticated. That seems too devious even for them.
     
    #28 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  9. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    The factory write says the battery is pressurized. It would be bad to drill that out and release the pressure.
     
    #29 Skibob, Nov 5, 2018
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  10. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    Holy jeez we are beating this to death. Davecook....pm me your address. I will mail you a complete vent tube/elbow assembly. I have a couple in the shop, as I have a habit of picking up odds and ends from salvage cars.
     
    #30 TMR-JWAP, Nov 5, 2018
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  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    I think it's a safe assumption that the battery vent tube seal is not fake, but made of a much thinner plastic so it's the first point to fail if pressure builds up. Of course with the NiMH batteries in the Prius pack I've seen way too many cells that blow their plastic tops off rather than vent the pressure out the hole, so there's that.
     
    #31 PriusCamper, Nov 5, 2018
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  12. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    That's what I was hoping to hear. Thanks.
     
    #32 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  13. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Done.
     
    #33 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  14. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    That’s a good idea. Some of the photos show the vent tube installed, why take a chance. I wonder what happened to your old one?
     
    #34 Skibob, Nov 5, 2018
  15. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Good question. The grommet had a hole in it, like a donut. I doubt the shop that installed my battery would have thrown it away, especially since there is an obvious hole for the vent tube in the new battery. Perhaps the original battery had already been replaced with a non-vented one when I got the car.
     
    #35 davecook89t, Nov 5, 2018
  16. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Do they even make a non vented one? Personally if I were to change my battery and I got a non vented one I would just leave the tube there. It’s not like it’s hurting anything.
     
    #36 Skibob, Nov 5, 2018
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  17. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    One vent tube, will be enroute in the A.M.
    May need a little cleaning.

    IMG_1409.JPG
     
    #37 TMR-JWAP, Nov 5, 2018
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  18. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Thanks for helping and achieving resolution (y).
     
    #38 Raytheeagle, Nov 5, 2018
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  19. Avi's Advanced Automotive

    Avi's Advanced Automotive Independent hybrid repair shop

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    Did anyone tell him to put an oil catch can on that battery yet?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #39 Avi's Advanced Automotive, Nov 6, 2018
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  20. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    YES. Most ALL AGM batteries are sealed and non-vented......with an emergency pressure relief valve.
    IF.....you get into a situation where that valve releases, whether or not you have a "vent tube" on it is probably of little or no consequence.

    INSTALL THE BATTERY AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
    or keep obsessing unnecessarily.
     
    #40 sam spade 2, Nov 6, 2018
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