How long should my original battery last?

 

       There are a lot of variables that affect how long your original battery should last but from the research and repairs that we have performed this is what we have learned. Under “normal conditions” you should be able to get between 150,000 and 180,000 miles out of the original battery before it has to be replaced.

 

       What may cause your battery to fail sooner, HEAT! Batteries (or anything that conduct or store electricity) do not like to get hot. With that being said, you should never block the intake to your batteries cooling fan. If you like to let your German Sheppard that sheds ride in your back seat don’t be surprised if you start having problems with your battery sooner than normal. There is no filter for the cooling fan so all of that hair just gets stuck in there and restricts air flow. Don’t worry though, you don’t have ban your furry friends from the car. You may just want to consider having your cooling fan inspected and cleaned before it causes problems down the road.

 

       Hybrid cars like to be driven regularly! Ok, it’s actually the battery that doesn’t like to sit for a long time. Your Prius has a Nickel Metal Hydride battery in it. These batteries naturally self-discharge and there isn’t anything that can be done stop it. You shouldn’t worry about a week or two but if you regularly leave your car sitting for a month or more it will most likely affect the life of the battery. For more information on self-discharge and battery imbalance see Why did my battery fail?