Was not intentional, as I really meant to change it at the 10yr mark, but life got in the way and then it was out of sight out of mind. Battery still works as it should as far as I can tell, car starts and runs normal, but I'm going to change it out with an Optima Yellow this weekend or the next just for peace of mind. Anyone else get extended life out of their factory 12 volt?
Before just replacing it, you may want to stop by an auto parts store to get it tested. I've found that these car will go into ready mode; all the way down to 10.5V - as long as the battery can deliver a continuous current at that sustained level. A new 12V battery may make it more reliable, but I don't believe the cost of an optima yellow top is going to give you better performance than a standard battery that you currently have.
The battery could very well last another 14+ years for all I know, I just don't want to risk getting stranded because I pushed it beyond reason, which 14 years of use seems to be. The dealer here wants $520.00 for a Toyota battery, just the battery. BatteriesPlus no longer carries the Duracell I was looking at two weeks ago for $275.00. That leaves me with O'Reilly's, their store brand is $259.00, while the Optima is $299.00. So I'm choosing the Optima as it's not substantially higher. Local Toyota Dealer:
that's actually a decent price for an optima. It's been more than a decade since I looked at an optima for a 4x4; but then again battery prices was less than $100 for a good one back then. You can check with Sam's club or Costco - I believe they carry them. The way the store employees handle those batteries is key. Those cells don't like sharp impacts, whereas the Optima used spiral cells - so they handle impacts better - that's why they are ideal for 4x4 that go off-road.
Perhaps you should get the Sodium Ion 12v battery. I believe the cost is a lot less. The voltage is a little high and it's more stable.
The OEM battery on my 2012 Prius lasted for 12 years. It could last longer, but the smart charger was accidentally removed from the battery when the car was parked in the garage for over a year. Before parking it in the garage, I tested the battery with a load tester, and it was still in good condition. I would not be suprised if your battery could last longer. Just check its condition using a load tester.
I'm all for making something last as long as possible. But there comes a point when something just wears out. Like the 12v battery. You run the risk of if failing at the worst time, and you get stranded. If you only drive close to home where it won't be an issue, no biggie. But if you travel farther, You risk getting stuck somewhere where you can't get a battery until the next day, it forced to get one that cost a lot more than you want to spend. Replacing things like oils, coolants, batteries, etc., BEFORE they fail, is the smart thing to do.
The optima yellow top has higher CCA and lower amp hour than stock, not sure it’s superior in any way. Full disclosure: I installed the optima in September 2015, and it’s still testing like new (voltage check and with electronic load tester). More disclosure, we’re very low usage and I have it on a charger pretty much constantly when parked. If and when I replace it’ll likely be the Canadian Tire battery (excuse their flakey website); it’s currently $301 CDN ($220~ USD), has specs (and appearance) sim to Toyota’s stock battery. Your dealership’s $520 USD price borders on larceny. Last time I checked with our dealership they were asking around $450 CDN. Might be a bit more now; that was about a year back. “Larkspur” is presumably somewhere in the USA?
It is possible certainly. I've seen 8 on a cars that was well used daily . Everything on the car was good alternator connections everything. Deka batter in like 2004 in SC USA
Yep; that's a lot cheaper than a battery. Costco Novato, next town over: https://costco.interstatebatteries.com/results?key=auto&Program=100500&ZipCode=75254&l=75254&Country=United%20States&year=3513101&make=3514988&model=3515021&engine=3515022&option=3515023
Just finished installing the Optima for 300 usd, I have no regrets assuming this gives me at least 7-8 years of use. The other batteries did not have the battery vent hole, so another plus.
My 2010 Prius's battery (12 volt) lasted until 2015 with 140k miles. Replaced it with a $40 lawn mower tractor battery from KMart. Had to do a little rigging at the terminals which was no big deal. Has been working fine every since and it DOES have a vent hose for what it's worth.
General-purpose 35 a-h AGM batteries work well with "a little rigging," don't present the risk of acid leakage that the cheap flooded lawnmower batteries do, and cost well under $100 at Harbor Freight or on-line. I bought one for $65 in 2015. I replaced it in 2024, probably needlessly. It still holds a charge.