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Won't start without a jump and windows won't roll down.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Leon786, Aug 27, 2023.

  1. Leon786

    Leon786 Junior Member

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    I got to my 2013 Prius at the airport after it was sitting for 7 days to find it would not start...yay. I got a jump pretty quickly and it turned right on. But now it won't start without a jump and when it is on, only the driver window will roll down.
    I took it to an auto parts store and they tested the 12V battery and it was very low but I replaced it about 3 years ago...does it seem odd that I'd need to do it again?
    Also, I checked the voltage of the 12V using the display screen and it read 13.9 V....?
    Help!
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If the battery is under warranty, try to claim the warranty. It’s also possible you left something on and it drained. You should try to charge it up and see if it’ll test good afterwards
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    1) you need to drive it a lot for the car to charge it up adequately, a charger is more effective

    2) it's only odd if you never drained it, the car doesn't have an unusual drain when off, or it isn't defective. but in a hot climate, 4 years is average i think. what brand?

    3) 13.9 volts is with the car 'ready', meaning that you're seeing the inverter voltage being applied to the system, not the static battery voltage
     
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  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Get a 4 amp charger and charge the battery for at least 8 hours.
    Check the voltage about an hour after removing the charger.
    What does it read? Then turn the headlamps on, high beams.
    What does it read?

    Is it a Toyota battery? If so, you have an 84 month warranty.

    How often do you drive? How long do you drive?
    Does the car sit at the airport often? You should invest in a solar charger to keep a charge
    going to the battery when it's sitting.

    Also, invest in a jumper pack.

     
  5. Leon786

    Leon786 Junior Member

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    Thank you for this.
    Yea, I was parked in Atlanta in a non covered lot where it was very very hot last week. Once jumped, I drove 2 hours home but that didn't seem to charge it. Right when I turned it off when I got home, it would not start. I'm going to take it to an autoparts store for them to charge and then see what it does. I may just have to buy a new battery.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Our '10's battery is an Optima Yellow Top, installed September of 2015. We drive about 3000 kms yearly. It's still in the pink. It basically lives on a charger, connected any day the car is not used, and left on till it is.
     

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  7. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    NO. Not "odd" at all.
    If it is bad, it is bad.

    Leaving it sit unused for long periods makes them fail sooner.

    The 13.9 V that you measured was with the car ON and is the charging voltage and
    NOT the battery voltage. It might also read that high immediately after turning the car OFF.

    Get a new battery and be sure it is fully charged.
    Don't make this harder than it NEEDS TO BE.
     
  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    This is NOT a helpful post.
    MOST batteries will not last 8 years, tender or no.
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Seems to beat "drove it around to charge it", at least.

    I appreciate not everybody's got a secure garage with 120 volt outlets though; different circumstances abound.
     
  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    The battery is dead.
    The parts store won't be much help, except to sell you a battery.
    You would be wise to purchase the Toyota battery. 84 month warranty.
    But you will still have to put a charge on it. They do not charge them.
    You could ask them when you purchase it if they will charge it for the day, at 4 amps.
    If you are a veteran, they will likely give you a 10% discount.

    You can purchase a 4 amp AGM charger for $30 or less.


     
  11. Leon786

    Leon786 Junior Member

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    EDIT: I put new 12 V in and everything is working EXCEPT the passenger and back seat windows will not roll down...any relation or just a blown fuse?
     
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  12. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    That's great! Did you charge it first????
    Fuses are always the quickest and easiest thing to check.. They were working
    before changing the battery, right?

    UPDATE: Some people think the new battery doesn't need to be charged. Wrong.
    That battery has been sitting on the shelve for months, most likely. Slowly discharging.
    Auto parts stores and dealerships do NOT charge the batteries, they just sit there, discharging.

    The "NEW" battery I purchased from Toyota read 12.2 volts I think it was. It just barely turned
    the lights on when I pressed the start button, then it died. Even with my jump pack, it wouldn't start.
    It took 3-3.5 hours of charging at 3.5 amps to bring it to enough of a charge to start my Prius.
    A 20 minute drive, then it sat for half an hour, started, another 20 minute drive. Sat over night,
    and it was just enough to start the car in the morning. A 3 hour drive, then an over night charge of about
    9 hours. No problems since.

    If your's worked, great. It had just enough to get your Prius started. But if you are smart,
    charge it!!! Because it is NOT at a full charge. And the inverter/converter does not put enough
    of a charge on it unless you drive for several hours.

     
    #12 ASRDogman, Aug 29, 2023
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2023
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    A brand new battery in good condition will be ok without a preliminary charge, almost without fail I would think. Especially with a car seeing lots of use. That’s the usual battery change scenario; most owners swap the battery, or have someone do it, and are on their way, without a protracted external charger session. And they’re fine.

    that said, a preliminary charge is a good idea. I just wouldn’t say a battery is doomed without a charge. I’ve rescued a couple of family members stuck by roadside with dead battery, did the Canadian Tire battery run for them, without the luxury of charging, worked out.
     
  14. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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