It's about -10F. I insert the key fob in the car and push start, but nothing happens, except the green light on the park button blinks. The airbag display indicator on the dash is lit up, and the parking lights light when I turn them on, but nothing else on the dashboard or the display. What's going on? Any chance this will get better if tomorrow morning's temperature is a bit warmer?
I would push extra hard on the brake pedal and try again. There might be other problems, low voltage or "frozen" 12V battery. Not sure why you are inserting the fob in the dashboard. I think you only need to do that if the fob batteries are dead.
I always have to insert the fob, it's been broken, but that's a side problem at the moment. If the 12V is frozen, is there any chance it will work when the temperature warms up? Update: tried it again and now the parking lights won't even come on.
Sounds like a 12V problem. I have removed and "thawed out" a frozen SLI battery before and got it to work. Not sure how these AGM batteries stand up under the cold. There is less electrolyte to deal with I think. That could mean less chance of internal structural damage to the battery if it froze. So how to thaw out a frozen Prius 12V battery. Hmm. Pull panels down to the battery mounting location and run a hair dryer in there for a couple hours? Go through the hassle of removing the battery and put it in a nice, warm bathtub?
Sounds like the 12 volt battery is discharged. With the cold weather, lots of folks experiencing that due to old aged batteries. If you have a digital voltmeter, check the voltage at the jump post. Here is a chart that explains voltage measurement and charge ratio. If the battery is low, try charging it with a smart charger set on AGM. If it won't take a charge, or won't hold a charge a new battery may be what you need.
You can get a yellow top there. Make sure you fully charge what ever you get BEFORE you put it in. Just because it is new does not mean it is fully charged. Optima Battery/Battery (46B24R) | 2008 Toyota Prius 4 Cylinders B 1.5L Gas/Elec DOHC | AutoZone.com _ Also, if your car is a base model (non sks) the battery tray should be changed otherwise the hold down clamp will not work properly. It can be modified if you are mechanically inclined and have pliers and what have you. Attached is a pdf file that covers how to change the battery. FWIW, I personally recommend the battery that Toyota sells. Everyone has their own preferences. If you can, do the job yourself. You will find the battery is expensive and the labor is high too if you ask the dealer to do the job for you. Most folks can do the job in about an hour. There is a link in my signature (second link) that discusses this project. Look at post #8 in the string for more details. Best of luck to you.
Wolf Cola, Take a few minutes to read the following string. It discusses a member who just went through the process of changing her battery. Lots of tips there that may help you. Won't Turn Off -- Master Warning Light on (Red Triangle) | PriusChat Best of luck to you and I hope all of this helps you.
Nah, just trying to help others. This board has helped me in many ways, I am trying to return the favor.
In colder climates there are standard protocols for taking care of batteries: 1. Battery heater (an electric blanket) 2. Garage the vehicle 3. Fresh new battery at start of cold season
An update, just in case anyone else encounters the same problem: Got a 12V portable jumpstart battery and hooked it up. Taking the cover off the battery box was tricky, but I got it off eventually and jumpstarting it worked. Drove for ~30min to get to work. While at work, checked battery with a voltmeter, got 12.3V, drove back home. So far, everything seems back to normal. I'm going to chalk it up to an old battery and very cold temperatures. If it acts up again, I'll replace the 12V battery.
Hmmm, hate to be "negative" -- get it -- negative! But, as the people here let me know, your battery should have read a higher than 12.3V after "charging while driving. I would not go anywhere where you could not afford to be "stuck," because odds are, you need a new battery, although yours may struggle on for a bit (Listen to me, the expert, after only very limited experience here. Also, if you jumped started as described in the manual, it is really not that tough. Just pull the cover off the fuse box in the engine compartment, etal. If a new battery is in your future, it really is not very tough to put it in. Read the thread referred to a few posts earlier here. It will tell you more than you need to know about my experience.
FYI, if you are not aware there is a jump post under the hood. Look in the fuse panel on the drivers side close to the firewall. There is a latch on the front of the panel cover. Press in on the latch, then pivot the front of the cover up and remove it. Look for a red cover. Pivot that cover. Underneath the cover is a post. Attach the positive terminal there, and attach the negative the strut screw behind the fuse panel on the body frame. Confirm polarity and then if everything looks good, turn on the jump start battery. Be careful when jumping a Prius. If you get the polarity backwards, you can fry some delicate electronics and possibly end up with a expensive four digit repair bill. If you can afford one, invest in a good smart charger/maintainer. That will help you until you replace the old battery. Generally, once you start jumping a Prius it is only a matter of time before you replace the battery. Don't forget that jump starting a Prius does have it's risks. There are many post's here on Prius Chat about folks jump starting a Prius and having major problems afterwards. 12.3 could be good, or it could be bad. Sort of borderline. Depends on amount of surface charge. Best reading would be after car had set over night. A fully charged AGM type battery should measure at least 12.8 volts Best of luck to you.
