How to change out the 12V battery on your Toyota Prius for around $80.00

[patrickmountain]

Really appreciate you taking the time to make this switch possible at home. Took over an hour mostly because I didn't have the 10mm extended socket.

[briansmobile1]

@patrickmountain You're welcome

[josestafford]

The most useful vid. I've seen on YT in a long time.

[briansmobile1]

@josestafford Thanks! That's the goal!

[josestafford]

The most useful vid. I've seen on YT in a long time.

[hotcrockett2000]

I called BatterisPlus in my city and they wanted $200 for the battery. So, I went to their web site, did not find it, so I called Customer Support and they redirected me to the local store for the purchase.

[walkslowrun]

You're great even if you are ccrazzzzzy.

[briansmobile1]

@walkslowrun Thanks- Crazy is better than average I always say.

[Usernameinvalid16]

LMAO!  At 4:16 LOL! It can start a fire And a Shit head Smile!!!

[xsgbloom]

Thank you for your help on this!

[briansmobile1]

@xsgbloom You're welcome.

[kyleroden]

Thanks... This helped.

There's nothing left after where the video cuts out other than pulling out the old battery, popping in the new battery, and following this process in reverse (hose, air duct, postive terminal, bracket, negative terminal, secure air duct, reattach wire harness)

[briansmobile1]

@kyleroden You're welcome. I tend to fail at editing due to time constraints- but that doesn't stop me from posting SOME helpful info any way.

[not2L8t]

Thanks for the clean and clear video!

Just popped my old battery out of my 2006 and dropped in a D51Optima. No sweat. Used a small 12v 1.3Ah battery attached to front fuse panel to keep all electronics settings intact.

Yes, the video cuts off - but at that point the battery is full disconnected so no biggy.

Thanks again!

[briansmobile1]

@not2L8t You're welcome! I love hearing feedback like that. Something good, and something to improve on too.

[barneyrubble1970]

Your list of tools made all the difference. Thank you. I got the magnet and it made a huge difference! Thanks! Our car is up and running.

[briansmobile1]

@barneyrubble1970 You're welcome.. Love ya!

[bluebirdvintage]

Thank you for the video, still trying to figure out why it costs over a hundred dollars for the labor to replace the battery here in Los Angeles. Please do more videos on the Prius, it's very helpful!

[briansmobile1]

@bluebirdvintage I'd love to, but I don't get many in. I only have two customers that own them. And one lives in China half the year. (doesn't drive much)

[mrsambeaux]

Great video Brian - hey, I think the video cuts off too early? It goes out suddenly at 6:00.

Also, anybody have luck finding a 2nd Gen Prius battery for $80? I can't...

[briansmobile1]

@mrsambeaux I hear Optima has a kit for it.

[dlaxague]

Yes, I wish I could see the whole thing, too. The Optima yellow top is reportedly a better choice than a Toyota replacement, but pricier (right now on sale for $170 but I didn't check shipping). I'm trying to get up the nerve to do this myself and this video helped a lot.  Until it quit! Is there more somewhere else?

[bernie3015]

Excellent video. I have a Optima Battery in my 2001 Prius. It is now over 5 years old. Recently I left the lights on over night twice. The car started started but the light fixture was hot. The Toyota battery would probably be dead. (Optima is a deep cycle!)

The Optima D51 (for 2004+) is the exact same size as the battery that comes with Prius with Smart keys. The battery comes with an installation kit (has American posts instead of Japanese and the vent hole is different.) at eLearnAid.

[briansmobile1]

@bernie3015 Cool. Thanks for sharing that. That's awesome. Leave it to Optima to capitalize on that service that people need by providing a kit!

[peelout40]

I explained how important it is to disconnect the negative first before positive to a home repair friend of mine; he couldn't understand it. Then we got in a discussion about car electricity, and stuff; which I then said cars are DC, with AC to charge the battery.

He said, cars are AC because the alternator is alternating current for the whole system. Then I said, the whole system is DC because of the fact that the battery is the power source, and the volts remain above 12 V?? Who's right??

[briansmobile1]

@peelout40 You're both right. The Alternator is AC and the Battery and everything else is DC.

[peelout40]

@briansmobile1 Mater from movie Cars: "Kaching!!"

[epiphaknee]

Speaking for all Prius owners, That's Amore!!

[briansmobile1]

@epiphaknee Ha ha! Why pay more for a weaker pencil post battery? It's madness. Madness? THIS IS SPARTAAAAA!!!!!

[fredronquist]

Great instructions. See also related video by rrbcap for another great guide to essentially the same procedure. I like the way you remove the assembly on top of the positive terminal; it is easier than the alternative steps suggested by rrbcap.

[unclemasy]

How do you get the battery for 80 bucks???

[briansmobile1]

@unclemasy Go to Batteriesplus dott com

[Jolinator]

4:22 the smile of an arsonist

[briansmobile1]

@Jolinator That's hilarious!!!

[Jolinator]

don't think there will be many of your subscribers driving priuses lol, good comprehensive video as always however.

[integraz32lover]

so much work compared to a regular car...........hybrids suck

[PWRSTR0KER2008]

@integraz32lover I agree, Hybrids SUCK! 4 cylinder diesels would be a much wiser choice. Too bad we don't have more of them in this country. I have a V8 diesel, so we make big displacement ones.

[briansmobile1]

@PWRSTR0KER2008 I agree. Diesels are amazing. I really like the hybrid concept, but the environmental and financial benefits are lies as of this writing. I do give them props for trying and doing SOMETHING though. Technology has to come from somewhere.

[integraz32lover]

@PWRSTR0KER2008 yeah the 2009 volkswagen jetta tdi diesel set a world record of 58mpg and i have seen people get it up to low 60mpg,thats more than a prius,and also despite 58mpg its not that slow of a car,in my book its way better than a prius,even insideline agrees

[gwalia4]

@integraz32lover What about mpg in NYC, LA, Chicago, Sf traffic. Compare prius city number to vw tdi. Compare combined mpg. Prius will do over 50mpg in city traffic. Run mobil 1 every 5k and prius gas engine it will outlast vw tdi. No timing belt and brake jobs. Maybe you will need one if you go over 500k miles. Prius batteries are running over 400k miles. Hack your prius and you can get over 100mpg in city traffic. Yes its the most hacked car in usa.

[spelunkerd]

So, you need a battery that breathes through a tube? Is that a dealer only item?

Brian, when you disconnect the 12v battery do you have to reset anything in the car? My wife's Lexus has been reset to Canadian daytime driving lights, and I wonder what will happen when I disconnect the 12v battery.... Do you have any experience with those 9v batteries that plug into the cigarette lighter to try and avoid resetting? What do you do to disable the 'big battery', before auto work?