I own a Prius, and since I do not yet live full time down there, I cannot comment on the hybrid battery..........except to say that the hybrid battery is vented, and that when I am on the Priuschat forum, I have never read anything to suggest thet the hybrid battery is affected by living down south. It is really a moot point, because Toyota warranties the hybrid battery for like 10 years, 150,000 miles.........
The 12 volt battery in the Prius is not under the hood, but in the rear right quarter panel, easily accessible through the rear hatchback. I just replaced mine with a yellow top Optima battery. The Yellow tops are recommended for the Prius because of how they maintain the cars computer systems.....they do not "crank" the car or start the car.
This Optima battery is much different and better made then regular batteries. It has gel in them instead of liquid. As to checking the status of your battery, any voltmeter should give you a reading on how strong it is.On my Prius, with just a couple of pushes of the buttons, it gives you a readout of voltage with load, without load, etc.......
Frank
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The Plantation in Leesburg, just south of you good people. Love being a Floridian!
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