I am awaiting a Rav4 Hybrid and wonder now where, if any, the 12Vbattery sits, alternatively, where is the coverted 12V outtake placed? Are fuses for interior and exterior lamps placed otherwise than e.g. Petrol Ravs?
12v outtake/battery in Rav4 Hybrid
Robene
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So, you need a special battery for this? I did not know this until I tried to have it replaced. Seems like my only option is my Toyota dealer for $300 vented battery, yet other batteries are like $120. My current battery is 6 years old figured it was past its shelf life.
I did not know it required such a specific battery with apparently no real options. Or are there?
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There are a couple of manufactures that make compatible models but the savings doesn't seem worth it. There seem to be many reports of people having issues with them.
FWIW when the time comes I'm going to get a dealership one.
- I don’t know whether it’s the same for other model years, but for the 2017 RAV4 Hybrids Toyota used two different 12V batteries. The Toyota dealer’s parts department guy told me the “group size” number of a new battery has to match the group number of the one that came with the car. If you get the wrong battery, it won’t fit in the hold-down bracket I guess. There is nothing on the sticker inside your driver’s door or in your owner’s manual to indicate which battery your car has. The only way to find out which one your car has is to look at the battery. There’s a label on top of the battery. The group number for my battery is S46B24R. (I don’t know what the other group number is for the 2017 model year. The dealer can tell you.) This is apparently a battery size that has also been used in Prius models for quite a few years, FWIW.
- In order to see the group size number on your battery, you have to access the battery. To do that, you remove the floor mat in the back of the car, remove the spare tire cover, and remove two plastic pieces that cover the battery compartment. There are several Youtube videos that show how to do that, and I highly recommend watching one of them.
- Here's my original battery, showing where you can find the Group Size number. If you're in the US, Advance Auto has the battery (a Diehard) that exactly matches the OEM battery, except in one aspect: The Diehard has more CCA, 410 vs. 325. Plus, I paid $90 less for the new battery than I would have paid at the dealer.
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Check Prius chat but I remember something about Non-OEM 12 volt AGM aux batteries not having the drain tube and/or the voltage sensor connections. Again, just from memory as I have not had to install a 12 volt aux battery in a while.
The battery @Ed Stock references does indeed have the drain tube port on which to attach the elbow/adapter.
The unknown is if the elbow/adapter that came with the oem battery will fit properly into the diehard. If not, easy fix can be found at your local hardware store.
I purchased the S46B24R and will install at some point in the next few months. I will provide info on what I find regards the battery fitment and drain tube access using the current apparatus or if I have to buy a different size.
Amazing to me how hard it is to find details on something as simple as a 12v battery replacement on a gen 4 RAV4 hybrid. No one ever seems to remember any specifics or follows up with any details to help others out.
Now I'm kicking myself for not taking photos of the new battery and the vent hose when I had the battery out of the car. The vent hose "elbow" fitting that plugs into the battery fit perfectly into the port on the Diehard battery. I think - but I can't say for certain - that when you insert it and it seems to "snap" into place that's what opens the vent port. There was no plug in the port that needed to be removed before installing the vent hose, so I think I'm right about this. Since replacing the battery I haven't had any acid smell in the car, and maybe that means it's venting properly.
As for the "voltage sensor connections" Variman mentioned above, I don't think there are any attached to the battery itself. There's some electronic-looking stuff attached to the positive battery cable, and I assume that might be what Variman is referencing. I'll post a photo showing that when I find it on my phone and transfer it to my computer.
Here's a photo of my original battery before I replaced it.
The red arrow points at where the vent hose coupling inserts into the side of the battery below/near the positive battery post.
All that electrical/electronic stuff you see near the positive cable clamp is actually attached to the clamp, not the battery. You have to be careful when removing and re-installing the cable. I have no idea what that stuff does, but I imagine it's expensive to replace if you get careless and break it.
You can see how spotless the battery posts were. It's probably one of the benefits of having a vented battery and having it inside your car rather than exposed to the elements in your engine compartment.
![Image]()
The red arrow points at where the vent hose coupling inserts into the side of the battery below/near the positive battery post.
All that electrical/electronic stuff you see near the positive cable clamp is actually attached to the clamp, not the battery. You have to be careful when removing and re-installing the cable. I have no idea what that stuff does, but I imagine it's expensive to replace if you get careless and break it.
You can see how spotless the battery posts were. It's probably one of the benefits of having a vented battery and having it inside your car rather than exposed to the elements in your engine compartment.
Good post @Ed Stock Thanks for the info...now I know the vent tube adapter will fit the port on the diehard.
Additionally, your post about the two different batteries the 2017 RAV4 hybrid may house is very beneficial. Why Toyota would do that is perplexing but knowing this is an issue necessitates opening up the rear to look at the group number a particular RAV4 has.
Admittedly I haven't opened up the back yet as I wanted to have the battery on hand when I do... hopefully the S46B24R will fit the bill. I've had the battery for about 6 weeks but procrastinating because of the holidays. I do plan to put it on the smart charger prior to install.
After replacing the 12v in the RAV4, I will add comments as well to assist others.
Thanks again.
Additionally, your post about the two different batteries the 2017 RAV4 hybrid may house is very beneficial. Why Toyota would do that is perplexing but knowing this is an issue necessitates opening up the rear to look at the group number a particular RAV4 has.
Admittedly I haven't opened up the back yet as I wanted to have the battery on hand when I do... hopefully the S46B24R will fit the bill. I've had the battery for about 6 weeks but procrastinating because of the holidays. I do plan to put it on the smart charger prior to install.
After replacing the 12v in the RAV4, I will add comments as well to assist others.
Thanks again.
Finally had time to check out the 12 volt battery in my 2017 Rav4 Hybrid limited. Unfortunately, the battery in my Rav4 H is the Panasonic D23.
The short of it...the S46B24R Diehard Ed Stock mention's which works in his 2017 Rav4 is about 3/8 of an inch too long to properly fit in the battery holder as it is designed. Width and height of the S46B24R would not be an issue.
The lead posts on the S46B24R are much smaller diameter than the ones on the OEM Panasonic D23.
The vent plug connected to the D23 works well on the S46B24R. The vent hole however is on the other side of the battery which would necessitate extending the hose about 12 inches for it to reach.
Push comes to shove, I can reconfigure the battery holder, shims bought to correct the post size differential and vent hose easily extended. The battery will work fine.
From start to finish it shouldn't take more than 1/2 an hour to swap out a 12 volt battery on a 2017 Rav4H if it is the correct size.
I used a 10mm socket for the rear bracket bolt and a 10 mm wrench for the front bracket nut and a 10mm wrench to loosen both battery cables.
Really kind of ridiculous for 3/8th of an inch. Engineered to ensure as many people as possible will go pay Toyota not only for the battery but installation as well.
At the end of the day, I will pause to see if I can find the correct sized battery for my particular Rav4 H. The Panasonic D23 (aka) S55D23R. I will run by the local Toyota place if I can remember where it is next week...look online...and decide whether to pursue the OEM or use the S46B24R
I will post up info when it is replaced.
Picture of battery which came with the 2017 Rav4 H limited. Just to the right of the + post...you can faintly make out the designation for the S55D23R in case you're wondering where that came from.
![Image]()
The short of it...the S46B24R Diehard Ed Stock mention's which works in his 2017 Rav4 is about 3/8 of an inch too long to properly fit in the battery holder as it is designed. Width and height of the S46B24R would not be an issue.
The lead posts on the S46B24R are much smaller diameter than the ones on the OEM Panasonic D23.
The vent plug connected to the D23 works well on the S46B24R. The vent hole however is on the other side of the battery which would necessitate extending the hose about 12 inches for it to reach.
Push comes to shove, I can reconfigure the battery holder, shims bought to correct the post size differential and vent hose easily extended. The battery will work fine.
From start to finish it shouldn't take more than 1/2 an hour to swap out a 12 volt battery on a 2017 Rav4H if it is the correct size.
I used a 10mm socket for the rear bracket bolt and a 10 mm wrench for the front bracket nut and a 10mm wrench to loosen both battery cables.
Really kind of ridiculous for 3/8th of an inch. Engineered to ensure as many people as possible will go pay Toyota not only for the battery but installation as well.
At the end of the day, I will pause to see if I can find the correct sized battery for my particular Rav4 H. The Panasonic D23 (aka) S55D23R. I will run by the local Toyota place if I can remember where it is next week...look online...and decide whether to pursue the OEM or use the S46B24R
I will post up info when it is replaced.
Picture of battery which came with the 2017 Rav4 H limited. Just to the right of the + post...you can faintly make out the designation for the S55D23R in case you're wondering where that came from.
There appear to be 2 different sized batteries used, depending on options. I just had to replace the 12 V battery in my 2016 RAV4 H Limited as well & the available after market ones don't fit. (At least the Advance Auto DieHard does not) The difference seems to be with or without premium audio. Mine has the JBL audio and the battery is a "standard" size battery with full size terminal diameter. The batteries listed at Advance Auto, AutoZone etc. have disclaimers of "w/o Premium Sound System" and the DieHard I bought had exactly what DARav4 mentions, smaller diameter terminals, a bit longer, and a lot narrower. The difference seems to be 41 to 45 Ah w/o premium audio vs. 51 Ah with...
I ended up taking the DieHard back & going to the dealer since I was having to jump start the car and my jump box clamps are a bit too big for the jump point under the hood... i.e. a hassle and difficult in a parking lot... It was $515 with install...
The OEM part number for the w/ premium audio battery is 28800-28100
I ended up taking the DieHard back & going to the dealer since I was having to jump start the car and my jump box clamps are a bit too big for the jump point under the hood... i.e. a hassle and difficult in a parking lot... It was $515 with install...
The OEM part number for the w/ premium audio battery is 28800-28100
Short of it... I called the local Toyota dealership and asked if they had the OEM Panasonic D23/S55D23R which goes in the 2017 Rav 4 limited H and if so how much was it. He said they had it in stock for $240 plus tax. I asked again...so this is the direct replacement for a 2017 Rav4 limited H which came with the Panasonic D23/S55D23R...was told yes.
When I went to pick it up...the same guy I talked to on the phone brought out the S46B24R. When I told him that is not what we discussed he said that is the battery his system says goes in the 2017 Rav4 Limited H....showed him the picture of the OEM Panasonic and he proceeded to look again...low n behold...2 different batteries as we all know. The Panasonic D23 was in stock for $291 plus tax.
I ended up getting the Panasonic D23/S55D23R for $240 plus tax..so it worked out. About what the comparable battery at auto parts store runs.
Today I installed it in 25 minutes start to finish.
Moral to the story...look at what YOUR Rav 4 H has installed before wasting time reading these threads trying to figure which battery to buy. I should have obviously but who in the world would think a manufacturer would put two different sized batteries in the same vehicle year n model? I bought the S46D24R based on reading old threads. @Ed Stock report would have been very beneficial if I had read it prior to battery purchase...which wasn't posted till a month after I purchased the battery.
For those who will ask...my vin starts with the vaunted "J"
Hope this helps.
@bp463
Thanks for the write-up.
The difference very well could be the premium sound requires the higher amps (ie) Panasonic D23/S55D23R.
While the vehicles with out the premium sound will use the S46B24R.
I would still suggest folks check the battery installed in their Gen 4 Rav4 H to be sure at least until others post up which battery they have vs sound system as holders are apparently different. IMHO...Doing this first will alleviate lots of unnecessary research.
Thanks
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Please be aware that you should never jumpstart another car with your hybrid car, doing so might cause 1000 euro plus damage to your hybrid.Good to know that there seems to be an easy way of jumpstarting when needed, also for helping others stuck with frozen depleted batteries! :thumbs_up:
For your second comment; the electrical motor block & cabin heater and the intelligent 12V charger is a 3rd party solution commonly fitted to cars in North Sweden. The package is as said powered by 240V mains through a standardized 'pre-heater' plug usually placed in front bumper area. There is then a special pre-heater cable used for connection between the car and a Swedish std 240V mains outlet.
![Image]()
The heater/charger package is totally relying on its own 240V wiring and only interface to the car's electrical system is the two wires from the charger's 12V output. (The charger is the black cube with connectors on the red front plate in picture below).
![Image]()
Anyway, many thanks for your clarifying help!
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I just have one simple question. When you replaced your battery did you just disconnect the old battery and replace it with the new one? If so, didn't you lose anything that was in the memory settings or have to reprogram your radio? Seems like I can't get an answer to this no matter where I look. Thanks in advance!
Sorry for the delay. Have been out of socket.
I just disconnected the cables and replaced the battery. Didn't lose any settings.
The one thing that did occur...the automatic rear door would not respond so had to close it manually after replacing battery. Took car for test drive to test everything out and when I got back to the house, pushed the rear door open button on the console and it worked fine.
Had no issues what so ever.
Good luck
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