Most cars use a single battery, which supplies all of the electrical parts of the car with the necessary power. This includes the expected lights, turn signals, and other items, but it also plays a crucial role in the fundamental functions of the car. Your car may be powered by fuel, but the battery actually supplies the engine with the constant, stable voltage it needs to start and function smoothly.
The Toyota Prius is an example of a hybrid car that runs a little differently from other cars. They have two batteries, in fact. The smaller of the two is a 12V battery and performs many of the same functions as a typical automobile battery, including starting the vehicle and powering electrical components like the lights and the radio. The car is powered by a second, higher-voltage battery, which cuts down on the demand for gasoline.
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The Toyota Prius has how many batteries?
The Toyota Prius is typical among hybrid vehicles in having two batteries. a considerably larger high voltage hybrid system battery and a smaller 12-volt auxiliary battery.
When the hybrid system is not in Ready Mode, the 12V serves to start the car and to power the computer and accessories. Instead of powering the engine as you might anticipate, a hybrid’s 12V battery powers the computer, relays, ECU, and other components. The hybrid battery is actually the one who does the labor-intensive work of starting the engine. The 12V battery also serves to lessen the hybrid battery’s needless consumption by giving power to:
- Headlights
- audio devices
- the use of computers
- auxiliary systems
A few safety features are also offered by the 12V battery. The high voltage hybrid battery can be separated from the rest of the system when the car is not in ready mode thanks to the 12V. Therefore, in the event of an accident, the 12V helps reduce the likelihood of excessive voltage getting into the wrong places.
These 12V auxiliary batteries can be found either under the hood or in the trunk, depending on your vehicle’s make and model. Typically, they are built out of lead-acid or absorbed glass mat (AGM).
How much does a Prius battery replacement cost?
The Prius battery is no exception to the rule that hybrid and electric car batteries are more expensive than gas-powered automobile batteries. A new Toyota Prius battery can run you anywhere from $2,200 to $4,100.
Remember that even a used Prius battery costs roughly $1,500 when calculating the cost. You’ll be looking at a substantially bigger bill once labor costs and additional charges from your mechanic are taken into account. To maintain the lowest pricing possible:
- Comparative-shop for batteries. It’s unlikely that the first battery you come across will be the lowest choice.
- Obtain price quotes from mechanics. Prius frequently need specialist work, but every mechanic will charge labor in their own way. A different store might have a better offer for you.
- Think about switching to a different model. A new Prius can run for years without any problems, but you will need to pay the difference in price between it and your old one.
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Where is the Prius’ 12-volt battery located?
You must determine whether you want to keep the vehicle’s electricity on at all times before beginning the work. Even while it won’t be a big deal, if you don’t retain power, you’ll lose things like radio presets and power window limits. Both errors can be easily fixed by entering the radio information once more and repeatedly raising and lowering the windows.
You’ll need jumper cables or a battery charger, a second battery (perhaps in another car), if you wish to prevent this minor issue. Once the power supply is connected, follow the instructions in the section below. Please pay attention to the warning there.
- Open the hatchback and take out any floor mats you may have there. Get rid of the carpet and the covering on the secret storage area.
- The spare tire may be seen by removing the plastic storage container.
- In the back of the trunk, under a piece of plastic molding, is where you’ll find the battery. Molding should be released and taken out. The battery will be made visible in this way.
- A square air duct used to cool the primary driving battery crosses the top of the battery. It must be taken out before the battery can be removed since it is far too close to the battery to allow removal. Behind the side carpeting on the automobile, there is a 10 mm bolt, and there is another one closer to the middle. The duct can then be worked out and put aside after raising the carpeting high enough to reach the bolt and remove it along with the second bolt.
- Moving the brake controller, which is located directly inside the vehicle next to the battery, will make the task much simpler. It is fastened with three 12 mm bolts; take out the bolts, then carefully move the object away. Take care not to pull too hard on the wires that are still linked to it.
- Remove the plastic casing covering the terminal as well as the positive cable from the battery. Open the terminal slightly by loosening the 10 mm bolt and using a screwdriver or tiny pry bar. Lift the terminal straight up, taking great care not to let it touch any of the car’s components. To stop it from shorting to the car body and to put it out of the way, cover it with an old glove or wrap a cloth around it.
- The bar that runs over the top of the battery is the battery hold down. Remove the hold down by unscrewing the 10 mm bolt and 10 mm nut that are located on either side of it.
- The negative terminal can be removed from the car’s body rather than the battery, which will be simpler. It is secured to the automobile by a 10 mm bolt, which is much simpler to access than the bolt on the terminal itself. Fold the wire over the battery after removing that bolt.
- On the battery’s forward side, there is a vent tube. Without removing it from the vehicle, remove the tube from the battery and set it aside.
- Remove the negative battery terminal and wire from the battery by lifting it out of the automobile. Before removing it, pay attention to how it is directed.
Will a Prius still operate if the hybrid battery dies?
In the event that the hybrid battery fails due to a P0A80, your Prius will still run, albeit more often. Since we lack the necessary amount of battery energy, the car will still run, but with less power. The automobile won’t start easily and won’t stop smoothly either.
Prius is a parallel hybrid, which means that even if one part breaks down, the car can still run until the problem can be fixed properly.
Yes, the Toyota Prius can continue drive even if the hybrid battery fails, to give you the quick answer. However, you will experience a worse drive and poorer fuel economy. Visit your dealer or a qualified company that can assist you in getting it back into working order if you run into this problem.
I sincerely hope that this is helpful to anyone who has experienced a bad hybrid battery. For extra assistance, feel free to contact us through the Toyota Prius Owners Club Facebook group.
How long is a Prius battery good for?
There is no denying that owning a Toyota Prius has a lot of advantages. You should be proud to own your hybrid, whether it’s for the increased fuel efficiency or the contribution you’re making to the industry’s shift toward smarter and greener technology. However, just as with all cars, your Prius’ battery will eventually need to be replaced. When will that be, though? How long do the batteries in a Toyota Prius last? There are a number of variables that will affect which end of the spectrum your battery life falls on, but the average estimate is that it will operate efficiently for 8 to 10 years, or anywhere between 100,000 and 150,000 miles.
For many years, the Toyota Prius has been among the most well-liked hybrid vehicles, and one of those reasons is unquestionably its dependability. You can depend on these cars for years of excellent fuel efficiency, which will allow you to make fewer trips to the gas station and protect the environment. But the battery in your Prius will only function at peak levels for so long, so it’s critical to understand the variables that can shorten or lengthen its life.
For starters, the lengths you travel can affect your battery. If you routinely commute a considerable distance, your battery’s lifespan may begin to veer toward the lower end of the 810 year range. It’s also crucial to consider the weather you’re driving in, as walking through snow and ice might drain your battery due to the subzero temperatures.
Can a Prius be jumpstarted?
Jump-starting a Prius or another Toyota hybrid is quite similar to jump-starting a gas-powered car. Jumper cables, a helping vehicle, and a solid metallic point are all required to jump a Prius.
How long is the Prius’s lifespan?
A Toyota Prius owner may anticipate getting between 200,000 and 250,000 miles out of their vehicle with routine maintenance, with some owners exceeding the 300,000-mile milestone and still going strong. The Prius has a well-established history of dependable service for more than two decades as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle.
Suppose the Prius battery dies.
When a hybrid vehicle’s battery begins to fail, the vehicle’s fuel efficiency may suffer or its ability to hold a charge may be compromised. The automobile won’t start when the battery is entirely dead.
How many batteries are there in a hybrid Toyota?
Many of us are being encouraged to park our cars if we can, as the UK government has advised the public to stay at home and only leave the house for specified, vital reasons in light of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) scenario. Some Toyota hybrid owners may be concerned about what will happen to their vehicle when it is not used for an extended period of time, especially with regard to the battery charge.
The good news is that no challenging auto maintenance is required. But if you follow a few pointers, your Toyota will stay in excellent shape throughout a protracted hiatus.
In summary, Toyota hybrid vehicles typically have two batteries: a 12-volt battery (which powers components like the headlights and the audio system) and a high-voltage hybrid system battery (which supplies the power to start the combustion engine and drive the electric motors).
The easiest way to keep both of these batteries charged is to simply start the car as usual, pressing the “Start” button while keeping your foot on the brake to make sure the dashboard’s “Ready” light is on (you don’t have to keep your foot on the brake after that, but make sure your car is in “Park” and the parking brake is engaged).
If you can do so while following the government’s guidelines for social seclusion and Coronavirus, we advise leaving the automobile in “Ready” mode for roughly 60 minutes before turning it off again and repeating the process at least once a week (Covid-19). When your automobile is set on “Ready,” please do not leave it running unattended.
You might hear and feel the internal combustion engine start up when the car is in “Ready” mode; this is a typical occurrence during the self-charging process. While it may be tempting to turn on the radio or other devices to pass the time, remember that doing so would only use a small amount of electricity, therefore it is best to leave them off.
No need to take a drive; just make sure the handbrake is engaged. However, we must emphasize that this method should be performed in a well-ventilated environment, so keep that in mind if you park your car in a garage.
What if my Toyota isn’t a hybrid?
Our 12-volt battery, which also powers the other systems indicated above, is the only battery found in our petrol and diesel cars. For a battery to be kept in good condition, we recommend running for 60 minutes at least once per week. A regular start-up of the car on a normal petrol or diesel engine requires roughly 20 minutes of running to put back into the battery what you remove on start-up.
Is there anything else I need to do?
There are a few additional simple car maintenance tips that can make sure your Toyota hybrid is healthy and content during an imposed slumber, regardless of whether you own a hybrid or a Toyota powered only by an internal combustion engine. Once more, heed the most recent government recommendations regarding social distance.
- Verify that the tire pressures are at the recommended level and top them off if required. Repeating this procedure the first time you drive your car after a prolonged period of idleness may be a smart idea.
- Inside and out, give the car a thorough cleaning. Make sure the automobile is entirely dry before putting it away if you are keeping it in a garage.
- If you do decide to keep your vehicle in a garage, be sure the chosen space has adequate ventilation. If the area is safe, you can think about slightly opening one of the car’s windows to let some fresh air in. If you do this, you might need to adjust your car alarm’s settings to stop it from activating the intrusion sensor. For additional information, refer to your car’s manual.
- To avoid the brakes from binding, it can be helpful to leave the parking brake disengaged, but only if you are certain the car is still and on level ground. Put wedges or chocks under the wheels if you have them and make sure the transmission is in the “P” for park position.
- If you are comfortable utilizing a solar panel charger or a 12V battery trickle charger, these are good options to keep the battery completely charged while the car is immobile for a while.
- If your car has smart entry and start but isn’t used for a while, a battery-saving feature will automatically turn on to save the 12-volt battery and the electronic key battery from being depleted. By preventing the electronic key from receiving radio waves, battery life is reduced. Please refer to your car’s manual for more information on how to manually enter battery-saving mode on various vehicles that have this technology. Consider storing the smart key in a safe location rather than keeping it in your pocket if you won’t be driving your car for a while. In the event that you chance to walk close to the automobile in your garage or driveway, this will stop it from “waking up” unnecessarily.
- You can think about requesting a Statutory Off Road Notification if the car will be maintained on private property throughout its storage (such as in a garage) (SORN). This notifies the DVLA that the vehicle has been taken off the road, and any remaining full months of tax will be refunded. It is only advised if you are certain you won’t use your automobile for a long time because you won’t be able to legally drive it till you tax it again. More details on how to SORN your car can be found here.