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Leaving vehicle for vacation

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by lindat, Jan 28, 2018.

  1. lindat

    lindat New Member

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    Hello, I am going on vacation for 10 days in about a week and then 16 days in another month. I have a 2017 Prius 4. Only 850 miles on it so far. I was searching the threads to see if there was anything I needed to do differently with the Prius, it's my first one. The vehicle will be parked in my garage the entire time. Some of the posts mention deactivating the SKS and some type of switch under the steering wheel. I don't see any switch. Is there anything I should do while on vacation with no one to start the car?
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i also am leaving tomorrow for 7 weeks. i pumped up the tires to max sidewall pressure, and charged the 12v battery. the o/m says the sks shuts off after 6 days, so i'm not concerned about that.
    my battery is 6 years old.
    for gen 4, it should be even better. if you were leaving it in an arizona summer, i would be more concerned about heat.
     
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  3. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I think the switch was in the gen 2. (2004 to 2009) In a Prius as new as yours, I would not worry about it. In four years, 16 days may require a trickle charger to keep the battery healthy.
     
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  4. Elektroingenieur

    Elektroingenieur Senior Member

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    For the time periods you mentioned, there are no special requirements; I’ve left mine for longer with no trouble at all.

    For new vehicles in inventory, Toyota tells its dealers to disconnect the 12-volt auxiliary battery after 30 days, and to run the hybrid system for 30 minutes at least every two months. There is an internal counter that records the number of times the car has gone more than 60 days without being started. See my posting from November for more about this and links to the service bulletins.
     
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  5. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Have a nice trip.
     
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  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    I wouldn't worry about it - maybe if it was more like 4 weeks - like someone else commented.

    Just make sure the spare FOB isn't too close to the car so the immobiliser works properly. (I take the battery out of mine and hide it in a different spot - if someone steals the FOB, they're not likely to go to the bother of diagnosing why it doesn't work and go next door and steal their car instead).
     
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  7. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    I left mine outdoors in the full June sun for 15 days, no problems. Before switching off, I turned the heater right up to Hi and the team until the Hybrid (HV) battery was up to near full. Not sure if that was wise or not, but like I said.... No problems on my return. Have a great vacation.
     
  8. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    @RCO I think spell checker strikes again. Your thoughts got a little jumbled.
     
  9. Lucifer

    Lucifer Senior Member

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    A two amp trickle charger wouldn't be a bad investment, they automatically keep things in order.
     
  10. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Spend ~$20 on a small automatic tender type 12 V battery charger. Connect it at the "jump points", wherever that is for your model.
    Then don't worry. It will be fine.

    Note that anything labeled as a "trickle charger" is NOT appropriate.
     
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    On the Gen 4 the battery is under the hood, so no more jump points.
     
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  12. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    And that is just being argumentative......as the "jump points" in that case are the battery posts.
     
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  13. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Nah, he has a little team of Cornish pixies pumping his HV battery up :D
     
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  14. RoadNoise

    RoadNoise Active Member

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    I try to achieve a charge of 50-60% before an extended time away. At least that's what's generally recommended for other (although smaller) Li-on batteries I own.
     
  15. SneezyKevinA

    SneezyKevinA Junior Member

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    Don't leave the parking brake on and you will be fine. It's a former mechanics word of advice.
     
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  16. Haschwalt

    Haschwalt Member

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    What does leaving the parking brake on do?
     
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    I think the brake pads can stick to the discs ( or drums). IT is not good to drive when the brakes are stuck on.
     
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  18. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Much too short to worry about, unless the 12V battery is already very weak.

    When I'm planning to be gone about 3-ish weeks or more (max was 44 days, with car parked at an airport lot), and the battery has a couple years or more on it, then I make sure to top it off overnight with a battery maintainer (not left connected during the absence), and turn the SKS off from the big screen menus.
     
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    For 10 and 16 days, there's not really much you need to do.

    • Ensure the battery is closer to 6 bars (i.e. don't park it with 2 bars showing on the battery meter)
    • Turn off all the switches - headlights, dome/room lights to reduce the 12V battery accessory drain

    That's it. That's normally what I do with my Prii.
     
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  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Prior to @Haschwalt, last post was over a year back, lol.
     
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