A failing 12V battery

Use of -any- charger when the battery is connected to the car is asking for a blown ECU. The Prius is fully an electronic car. There is way too much expensive electronics to put in danger! Get a new battery. The reason yours is dead is the low mileage. It was probably fully discharged many times.

You can also (for about the same price as the Toyota battery) get an Optima with an adapter kit from elearnaid.

There -are- a few safe charge maintainers available, such as the "Battery Tender". They won't recharge a dead battery, and if it has sulfated (very probable) there may be enough leakage to fully absorb what the Battery Tender puts out.

 

1. Toyota's repair procedure requires disconnection and physical removal of the 12V battery before it is charged. The concern is that if the battery charger produces excessive voltage, then damage will be caused to the car's electronics and the battery might eventually explode. Hence, I cannot say that it is "safe" to use the jump start terminal at the main relay/fuse box, or for that matter charging the battery directly.

However, most owners will not bother to remove the battery before charging, so as long as you recognize that you are depending upon proper battery charger operation and keep an eye on it, then no worries. You need to limit charging current to 4A or less per the warning label on the battery.

2 and 3. I will not venture an opinion on the merits of the specific charger that you are considering. The pricing seems quite high compared to chargers that one can purchase in the US. I prefer a charger that has an ammeter so that you can see the charging rate. The model that I have allows selection of 2A/10A/50A charging rates.

Regarding your difficulty in getting the car READY, since you notice that the brake lights do not come on, this is an indication that the brake light switch needs to be either adjusted or replaced. The same switch is also relied upon when the Prius decides that the car can become READY. <This is a known trouble area, BTW.>

It is also likely that you'll need a new 12V battery because the car was very lightly used over the past three years, hence the battery probably spent most of that time in a partially-discharged state which is not helpful for its longevity. Good luck.

 

I'm brand new to Prius ownership, however in my experience with various cars, trucks, airplanes and boats, it's a better and safer idea to physically remove a battery before charging. With all the expensive micro-circuitry in a Prius, I would say that goes triple.

Also, if the battery is in good condition, a fairly cheap charger will work fine (I bought mine for about $30 if memory serves, a decade or more ago). If it's not in fairly good condition, replace it, for crying out loud!

Unless you're running a garage, save the additional expense of a high end charger and and buy a good replacement battery every few years or as needed.

My two cents, YMMV, etc.

-- Kelly

 

I have two more weeks driving the old Sienna minivan until the current owner of my Prius leaves for Florida (She's a friend, and cut me a deal contingent on keeping her car until she can kiss it goodbye at the Airport). I'll post a couple Guam scenery shots then if you like.

After 18 years of Toyota Box, Previa and Sienna minivans I am REALLY ready to be driving something that gets more than 20 MPG and doesn't make people shake their heads in sympathy!

Lessee, we need new tires, Wet Okole seat covers with lumbar support, Darwin Fish plaque, USAF window sticker . . . and I think that's all!

Let me know if you're ever making the trip over here, OK reeed?

 

I'm wondering how many annual miles you log. I'm thinking that you can't go too far on Guam before you return to where you started (I grew up in Honolulu.)

If your driving trips are quite short you probably won't log great mpg on the Prius. In the first 5 minute period after initial start-up, mpg typically is in the mid-20s as engine timing is retarded to allow the catalytic converter to warm up. You'll note this on the mpg bar histogram displayed on the MFD.

 

Hafa adai, Patrick,

Actually, I'm about optimal (I think). I live by the ocean on the Southeast (most rural and IMHO best!) part of the island, about a 20 minute commute to my regular teaching job +/- traffic and construction. Trips to shopping or my AF Reserve duty are up to double that. I drive about 15,000 miles per year, average trip probably 15 miles. The original owner lived around the corner and has averaged 50+ MPG.

My cousin Dan is in Phoenix, where he's big into outfitting his house with solar goodies. Gotta get him into a Prius!

 

Hi Kelly,

OK, then you should be logging mpg into the 50s without trying very hard. What are the speed limits on your commute route: around 45 mph or less?

Yes, there's no lack of sun in southern AZ and to take advantage of that, I just had a 5.4 kW (DC rating) solar electric array installed at my home this week.

 

In the US, the brake light switch would be covered under the comprehensive 3 year / 36K mile warranty. You'll have to review the warranty terms and conditions applicable to your country.

Even if not covered under warranty, this is a pretty easy repair. You could DIY if you obtain the correct replacement part. If interested, look around under the instrument panel where the brake pedal pivots, and see if you can find the switch. Good luck.

 

Maybe it just needs adjustment. See this excellent post if you need to DIY:
http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...-i-m-being-tailgated-so-often.html#post414978
Good luck!

 

I don't like pulling the plastic panels either - being afraid of breaking them. When I did my silver panel I had more trouble with the top claws than the bottom ones. It does need a very firm pull and when it releases it does "fly" off. So yes be very careful especially if there are wires attached. Although there is usually enough slack - how else the factory assembles the thing at the first place? So as long as you prepare some kind of "stop" behind your pulling hands - maybe your knees or tummy - it should be OK to pull firmly. Good luck!

 

Edit: Comments moved to;

http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/84797-newbie-guam-glad-find-forum.html#post1184133

:redface:

 

No experience, but that is a great price.

 

Do note that there are only a few battery factories in each country and they apply labels for many different "makes" to the product they produce. Other than the specialty batteries such as Optima, batteries are pretty much a "commodity", mass produced and marketed under many names. Even Optima puts different labels on their product (I've seen "Interstate" ones, for example).

One of the main reasons is shipping costs. Imagine how much it would cost you to ship an Optima from the US to Singapore!