I will be storing my 2010 Prius for 5 months each year. What precautions do I need to take? There will not be anyone available to tend to the car. Dealer said put a battery maintainer on the 12 volt battery and secure the "key" so it can not search for a signal and wear down its battery. Anything else? Does keeping a charge on the 12 volt keep all the batteries charged? Having experience with storing my boats I am aware of the E10 issues and plan on using a marine E10 additive in the fuel.
I'm pretty sure a maintenance charger will only be for the 12 volt. You should look into a relatively low amp charger that is intelligent, ie: it can be left on indefinitely. The "elephant in the room" then is the big battery: does it mind being idle for 5 months? I'd be inclined to start it up and go for a decent drive at least once monthly, if that's possible. What the heck does the dealer mean by "secure" the key? Keep it a good distance away from the car? Some thoughts: * Put some sort of spacer under the wiper arms so the rubber blades are off the glass, or just flip them right up, if they're not going to get bumped. * Put the whole car up on jackstands, just high enough that the wheel's are off the floor, or barely touching, to avoid flat spots. * Leave a window slightly cracked, for air circulation in the cabin.
Car is going to be in our garage, under the house, in PA over the summer, so it will be fairly cool. Good thought on the jack stands and wipers, thanks. The dealer said that the electronic key will continually try to link with any radio source and eventually discharge the battery. The unit will not hold the codes for a long period after the battery is dead. I was thinking that I would put it in our safe - steel and concrete. When I contacted the dealer about this they had to contact Toyota who provided the battery maintainer and key suggestions. The Gen IIs had a service sheet on the HV battery maintenance but they did not do one for the Gen IIIs - curious - should I be concerned?
I don't know how a battery maintainer works. What happens to the battery maintainer and 12v battery in the event of a power outage? If FOB batteries are designed to be replaced, why can't the FOB battery be removed for 5 months? I can't believe that would screw up the code. Sorry, I have questions not answers.
Get yourself a "battery tender" for the 12V system. You can find them at battery shops and on-line. They come with the leads you need to connect them. The traction battery is fine for 6 months according to Toyota. When the car is shut off, the traction battery is completely disconnected from it. So it won't charge or discharge other than self discharge, again, ok for up to six months. As far as the fuel, I've stored vehicles for 6 months with no fuel problems. With E10 fuel you don't need fuel stabilizer when it's in a metal tank. Fibreglass probably. -I- wouldn't worry about the wipers when it's stored out of the sun. I used to put my stored vehicles on jackstands, but only so I could sweep under them. Modern tires won't flat spot. If you keep the FOB at least 5 metres away from the car it won't sense the car. Or you could put it in a metal box or wrap it in aluminum foil. Change the oil, fill the fuel tank, and store the vehicle. I've done this for many years with performance cars and have never had any problems.
I suggest you force charge the high voltage battery by putting the car in ready and drive, then holding the foot brake firmly down, floor the the gas peddle until the battery is fully charged.
Here's the Gen III Long Term Storage Guidelines... View attachment 29788 ...and the HV Battery Maintenance... View attachment 29789
Might be easier to stick a hose in the exhaust pipe and run it outside then leave the car in park with it on/ready so it charges the HV battery when it needs to Has anyone stored their car all winter for 7 months and what did you do for battery maintinance besides the normal battery maintainer on the 12v battery. The HV cells are metal hydride cells so they will not get a memory effect from sitting. May or June 2012 is when I will be buying my Prius. It will be my summer only car so it will sit for 7 months out of the year in my garage and be needing the battery maintenance. Mike
I'll second the previous suggestion that wrapping the fob in aluminum foil will prevent it from communicating with anything, even if it's right next to or in the car.
OK, went to test the hook up of the battery maintainer to the battery. First question, do you hook up the battery maintainer (BatteryMINDer Model # 12248) thru the jump plate in the fuse box and a ground under the hood, or do you need to hook it up directly to the axillary battery in the trunk?
The dealer told me/showed me to pull the grey fuse if I don't want any auxilary drains. I'll lose my radio presets, but not a big deal. I'm wondering if this is also an acceptable, cheaper method compared to a maintainer. ?
So let me get this clear, to store a Prius you have to use the factory battery maintainer to keep the HV battery charged? Does Toyota expect every owner that does not drive their Prius in the winter to buy this charger? If you don't use this maintainer, will the HV battery be dead come spring? In Minnesota we have to store our summer cars for at least 5 months and many times 6 months during the winter. Thanks, MIke
You can connect to the 12V battery under the hood. It will be fine. For J5A, no, a lead acid battery won't like being left for five months. It may be ok, but it may also end up with shortened life, even if disconnected. Especially if it isn't new. Use of a Battery Minder or Battery Tender is the best thing to do. The traction battery will be ok for six months, according to the last document I read from Toyota.
Ah good news then I was worried the traction battery would require that special battery maintainer or else it would die after sitting 6 months during the winter. I have a few 14v battery maintainers so no problem on the small battery. Thanks much for the info Mike
I understand from Toyota that you can only maintain the auxiliary battery not the HV batteries. But, I am not sure I got my answer - do I have to hook the battery maintainer - tender directly to the battery in the trunk or under the hood to the jump plate in the fuse panel and a ground lug?
If that Jump Plate is designed for jump starting the car, it for sure will be fine for connecting a battery charger or maintainer as it would be wired to the battery with heavy gauge wire. I have jump starter terminals under the hood of my Saturn Ion which has the battery in the trunk from the factory. No problem with that car using those terminals rather than direct to the battery in the back Mike
Sorry, I wasn't clear. You can connect the battery maintainer under the hood. In fact., if you're careful, you can remove the nut that holds the boost plate and put the ring terminal over the bolt (the "Battery Tender", for example, comes with a pigtail lead with ring terminals on it). There is a 150 Amp fuse between that boost terminal and the battery. If you blow that with a battery maintainer there is something VERY wrong.
