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Prius left on all night

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by terkar, Jul 29, 2009.

  1. terkar

    terkar New Member

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    Dumb? of course, but it happened. Question is will this have any affect on the engine or hybrid components?

    When I got into the car in the am it was still on. Battery low but not gone - expect the engine cycled on and off all night.

    Anybody else done this? Any damage to car?
     
    #1 terkar, Jul 29, 2009
  2. Politburo

    Politburo Active Member

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    Others have done it (mainly for running the A/C while sleeping.. or perhaps while using the Prius as a generator). No damage as long as you don't run out of fuel.
     
    #2 Politburo, Jul 29, 2009
  3. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    Plenty of others have done this simply by forgetting to turn the car off. Yes, I know it takes some effort to intentionally ignore the car's beeping at you, but it can be done. (Believe me:eek:)

    There is no harm to the HSD or any part of the vehicle. The only real dangers are CO build-up (if this happens in a closed space) and running out of fuel. If you do the latter, you likely will run your HV battery "dry" and that could be expensive.
     
    #3 a priori, Jul 29, 2009
  4. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    At car shows, people leave their Prius [ON] all day. It's essentially the same thing. Like you said, the battery gets drained and the ICE cycles on/off to recharge it.

    No harm, no foul.
     
    #4 TonyPSchaefer, Jul 29, 2009
  5. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Even if you left the car on and it ran out of fuel, the traction battery would not "run dry". The car will shut off automatically once the charge level gets too low. It can still re-start a refueled engine -several times- (as in 5-10 times).

    But don't get into the habit of doing this. You DO run the risk of reversing a cell in an older battery. THAT will render the battery a "lamp lighter" as in the triangle !, and would eventually result in a replacement of the traction battery.

    The worst part of this is it would validate the morons who claim the Prius will break their owners with battery replacement issues. ;)
     
    #5 David Beale, Jul 29, 2009
  6. terkar

    terkar New Member

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    Thanks to all - Guess I will take this off my things to worry about list.:):)
     
    #6 terkar, Jul 30, 2009
  7. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Always lock the car. If it's not OFF it will give a long warning beep.
     
    #7 richard schumacher, Jul 30, 2009
    lunalux and chinarut like this.
  8. terkar

    terkar New Member

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    Sounds good for some models but my 2004 (the first one in the Hendersonville, NC area) requires the engine to be off before removing the fob to lock the car.
     
    #8 terkar, Jul 31, 2009
  9. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    ...and your MPG makes you eligible for a "clunker rebate" ;)
     
    #9 snead_c, Jul 31, 2009
  10. m2b

    m2b New Member

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    This was helpful...our new acquisition of prius 2014 which my HS son will now use...the motor was running yesterday afternoon and all night:confused:...only found that out this morning when I opened the garage door and heard the car outside. I was very confused, we were all inside and the car was running that's a first:eek:...still figuring out everything hybrid...Guess I will have to walk to the car before turning in from now:cautious:
     
    #10 m2b, Sep 20, 2020
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