2003 Prius Battery Issues

10786 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by fartsalot, Dec 6, 2021

Wilderness Way

Discussion Starter · Jan 4, 2013

Help please. The battery had died earlier and needed a charge so I removed the auxilary battery in the trunk and charged it up till my meter read that it had a full charge of 12V. I did that two days ago and today the battery warning light on the dash came on. What is all this telling me? Do I need a new battery? Please help if you have an idea.

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Jimbobillybob

· #2 · Feb 12, 2013

My 2002 Prius was having the same problem. I got 3 years out of my last battery and just replaced mine because I was having the same issue. I replaced the battery with a Optima D51r. I had to retro fit the cable ends and take out the battery box to make it fit but it is well worth it if you have a car like mine you plan on keeping for a while. Seems like the car really depends on a good battery to run all the electronics. Here's a link
12 Volt Toyota Prius Battery for 2001-2003 with installation kit. Hope this helps.

MuganEjaz

· #3 · Jul 20, 2013

Hey please can you please tell me that how long does a Toyota Prius battery last? How much does it cost to replace one?

Devesh

· #4 · Sep 12, 2013

In the US, the entire hybrid system (which includes the hybrid battery pack) is warrantied for 8 years/100,000 miles.

Thomas Habig

· #5 · Oct 31, 2013

I replaced my 12v battery on my 2001 Prius for the second time with the Optima kit I found on line for $180 as opposed to the $350+ price tag from the dealer.

brogrimm

· #6 · Jul 27, 2014

Thomas Habig said:
I replaced my 12v battery on my 2001 Prius for the second time with the Optima kit I found on line for $180 as opposed to the $350+ price tag from the dealer.

I purchased the same (probably) Optima kit from a place in California for $180. So far a year later it's been a solid battery with minimal installation headache.

Ahickpoet

· #7 · Dec 29, 2015

I have replaced my 12v battery with the Optima kit a couple of times. I have not kept careful track, but it seems these start to deplete after about 3 years. Is that normal? I have recharged the battery and was able to start the car for about a week before it began requiring a jump box and needed recharging again. It seems something must be depleting the battery, but I am unable to determine what.

I do notice that the electronic key light alternates between being constantly on and flashing. Are there known issues with battery depletion from the electronic key security?

Easy Rider

· #8 · Dec 29, 2015

Ahickpoet said:
I do notice that the electronic key light alternates between being constantly on and flashing. Are there known issues with battery depletion from the electronic key security?

No not really. But there have been some problems with the Optima batteries over the years.

A lot of the auto parts dealers and battery shops have good quality AGM replacement batteries for the Prius line now. I suggest that you try a different brand......and be sure it is charged up before being installed.

You might also want to check the battery voltage occasionally after being run and again after sitting overnight.

Cars that sit unused for long periods or that are used mostly for very short trips, of 10 miles or less, are known to be hard on the 12 V battery.

Ahickpoet

· #9 · Jan 12, 2016

Thanks. Since I work at home, the car does not get driven every day, and when it does, it is often for only a few minutes. What is strange is that we can put the battery on a charger and go without issues for a few days, but it depletes very quickly and has to be charged again.

Admittedly, our battery charger is probably more suited to a museum than actual use.

Easy Rider

· #10 · Jan 13, 2016

Ahickpoet said:
Admittedly, our battery charger is probably more suited to a museum than actual use.

Given your usage patterns, you NEED a small automatic tender type battery charger.
Many are available in the $25 to $35 price range.
There is a brand called Battery Tender but others are good too.

Connecting it when the car is not in use can extend the life of your battery by YEARS.

Note: but that is with a new or good battery. If yours is questionable now, a new battery AND a tender type charge BOTH are needed.

Elena

· #11 · Jan 15, 2016

Hello. I have a problem with the battery in the winter. Quickly battery lasts. Battery 2 years. The first winter did not notice, and now has become noticeable. What do you advise?

Easy Rider

· #12 · Jan 15, 2016

Elena said:
Hello. I have a problem with the battery in the winter. Quickly battery lasts. Battery 2 years. The first winter did not notice, and now has become noticeable. What do you advise?

MUCH more information is needed.

What kind of a problem have you noticed exactly ?

The general advice is to get a new battery, fully charge it before installing it and then have your charging voltage checked while the car is running.

If the car gets only very little use, you may need a battery tender while it is not in use.

Where do you live ? It appears that English is not your native language.

Elena

· #13 · Jan 15, 2016

Easy Rider said:
MUCH more information is needed.

What kind of a problem have you noticed exactly ?

The general advice is to get a new battery, fully charge it before installing it and then have your charging voltage checked while the car is running.

If the car gets only very little use, you may need a battery tender while it is not in use.

Where do you live ? It appears that English is not your native language.

Thank you. I live in Moscow. Blame It on Google Translate)

Elena

· #14 · Jan 15, 2016

Easy Rider said:
MUCH more information is needed.

What kind of a problem have you noticed exactly ?

The general advice is to get a new battery, fully charge it before installing it and then have your charging voltage checked while the car is running.

If the car gets only very little use, you may need a battery tender while it is not in use.

Where do you live ? It appears that English is not your native language.

Was in repair. They said do not work five sections. Replace. Week worked. Now again problems.

Easy Rider

· #15 · Jan 15, 2016

Elena said:
Was in repair. They said do not work five sections. Replace. Week worked. Now again problems.

Let's see if I can guess at a translation of that:

There were trouble codes stored the pointed to 5 different problems.
They replaced the 12 V battery and the trouble light went away for a week.

You need to take it back to the repair shop, first to test the new battery and test the charging voltage.

If those things test good, they need to look at the suggested fix in their books related to each trouble code that is present.

I think it was absolutely proper for them to do what they did.
But now it appears that the battery was not the ONLY problem......so they need to go to the next step.

How old is your car ?

See less See more

Elena

· #16 · Jan 16, 2016

Easy Rider said:
Let's see if I can guess at a translation of that:

There were trouble codes stored the pointed to 5 different problems.
They replaced the 12 V battery and the trouble light went away for a week.

You need to take it back to the repair shop, first to test the new battery and test the charging voltage.

If those things test good, they need to look at the suggested fix in their books related to each trouble code that is present.

I think it was absolutely proper for them to do what they did.
But now it appears that the battery was not the ONLY problem......so they need to go to the next step.

How old is your car ?

Thank you. Once again sent into workshop. Auto 5 years.

Easy Rider

· #17 · Jan 16, 2016

Good luck.
Don't know how it works where you live but in the US the "hybrid components" are covered by an extended warranty, either 7 or 10 years, I forget the details.

fartsalot

· #18 · Dec 6, 2021

Wilderness Way said:
Help please. The battery had died earlier and needed a charge so I removed the auxilary battery in the trunk and charged it up till my meter read that it had a full charge of 12V. I did that two days ago and today the battery warning light on the dash came on. What is all this telling me? Do I need a new battery? Please help if you have an idea.

purchase a "scan gauge" available at lots of auto parts stores. Once installed you can monitor 4 functions I monitor my Hybrid % of charge and 12v bat volts and water temp and engine rpms. Note that 12 volt reading is not a full charge 12.6 or .5 is what you should see.

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