I picked up a 2015 Prius V the past summer with 130k km (80k miles) which had all service done at a Toyota Dealer. I decided to check on the 12v battery to figure out the age and if I should replace it now that winter has rolled in. I believe the original 12v battery is in the car, 311014 is the code if I'm not mistaken. There is also a 2434 stamp on the casing which could be a 2024 battery? Car has had no issues starting or exhibiting any weird electrical issues/inconsistent codes. I do fully intend on replacing the battery if the date code is indeed 2014.
Looks pretty new. Can't be a 2014 - they don't last that long. The definitive test is an old school load test, usually free at an auto supply.
I’d load test it (with one of the electronic load testers), go from there. last battery I put in our 2010 was September 2015, still testing like new. I’m using a Solar BA5 (latest iteration Solar BA9). note, the pictured battery is an Optima Yellow-Top, with 450 CCA spec, and maybe 38 Amp Hours. Not really optimal for Prius; when I replace it I’ll go with something with specs closer to original, say 325 CCA, and higher Amp Hours.
While I've never used the old school tester, I have a digital tester and based on my experience, wouldn't trust that too much. It's easy and cheap, but I'm not sure how accurate. Which type do the auto supply places use? I suppose it varies.
If the "old school" load tester (still available everywhere) has analog meters and ventilation it is more likely to be accurate. The better units are called "carbon pile" load testers.
I think harbor freight still has the lower pictured one for around $20; pretariff price. That intel is more than a year old....
I borrowed an analog load tester and ran a 10s test after driving the car a good 25km (i.e. 12v battery should be charged). The load tester indicated "weak" which is below 200 CCA on this tester. With temperature compensation from the chart on the tester and the ambient temperature at time of test, I should be removing about half step, so I guess it's (weak - 1/2 step) = still weak? In Canada, Toyota does not have the service records online unfortunately. I flipped through the paper invoices from Toyota and none were for a battery, I even called the servicing dealer and they said it was never done. I also emailed Yuasa asking how to read the manufacturer date and they indicated Oct 31 2014 is indeed the manufacture date. I was a bit surprised they answered my inquiry so quick. So either the previous owner replaced the original Yuasa battery with another 2014 Yuasa and some how it still works, or it is the original 11 year old battery that still works... The battery build date also makes sense based on the build date of the car. I'm going to replace the battery, appreciate the tips and ideas!
After installing a new 12V battery, driving it for about a week, and then filling up, the MFD is now showing a max driving range of 725 km, up from 685 km with the old battery. I went with an Energizer 51R AGM from Costco for $220 CAD, along with a set of JIS-to-SAE terminal adapters. I also had to extend the vent hose since the vent port on this battery is on the opposite side.
FWIW; "driving the car around"; doesn't guarantee a fully charged battery - especially a charging ECU that's biased to place as much power as it can into the traction battery. The proper procedure was to place the battery on an automatic battery charger. Remove the charger when finished and let the battery rest for 15-30 minutes - to disburse the surface charge. Then test. That weak battery may have been good. I routinely have batteries that last me 10+ years and prefer the ones I can maintain over the maintenance-free ones. I've noticed the maintenance-free ones tend to die right around the end-of-warranty. When I was in high school and working in an auto parts store; I processed a lot of claims. 95% of them would die right around the EOW (end of warranty). Processing the warranty claim would yield less than $10 credit towards a new battery - So a new battery on sale, would easily beat the price of a warranty claim battery - we're talking by $20+. Some people would understand this and bought the sale battery; others wouldn't and would insist on the warranty replacement for more out of pocket money. We are talking about the same battery here, not an apples to orange comparison. I'm sure the quality and amp output has improved over the past 40 years Just my two-cents.....
Everyone needs their own battery tester....this will tell you the expected life left on any 12-volt battery....I've found when it gets below 70%, time to find a new battery....at 60% is when you'll be going out somewhere (especially if it's cold) and the battery won't have enough power to start the car. (Which equates to the Christmas Tree lights in a Hybrid!) Hey there's a Black Friday deal on it....down from $60 to $47....
@ColoradoBoo the amazon link is showing a blank space for me. If you instead select a word, then embed the link in the word using this function: It'll behave.
Oh sorry, it's just a TopDon BT100 battery tester...will show voltage of the battery, % of battery life left, and can also test alternators, if you have those. Not sure why the link isn't going through....
I read about batteries in warmer climates last a long time online, but in cold climate areas like where I am, 6 years is a stretch for a daily driver gas only engine. My hobby car batteries last a lot longer because I bring the battery in for the winter and throw them on maintainers. The original 12v battery in my Prius V somehow made it to 11 years.. based on service record dates and under body corrosion it was driven in the winter. I could have taken the battery out, put it on a maintainer and test it, but I think it's done it's service time so just replace it.
I got 8 years out of my old PriusC, before someone totaled it out. Only got 5 years on my current one so far. I have noticed it getting low a few times a year, when I check it. Placing it on a charger for an hour @ 10A does the trick. I should start unplugging the charging cable when the traction battery is fully charged. I have a feeling that's what's drawing down the 12V battery - all that readiness testing.
