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battery Care when storing Prius in cold weather for two months

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by joeyd29676, Jan 24, 2013.

  1. joeyd29676

    joeyd29676 Junior Member

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    I am planning on storing my 2010 Prius in the cold weather of maine for two months and I am concerned with the effects on my 12Volt battery as well as my hybrid battery. Can anybody tell me how I should prepare the batteries for storage? I have been told that all that is necessary is to disconnect the 12v battery but nothing is required for the Hybrid battery.
     
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Battery tender for 12v , let the car idle in park until ice stops every month
     
  3. camry25

    camry25 Junior Member

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    What if you don't battery tender 12v? Can you jump start it later?
     
  4. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    Maybe, maybe not. It all depends on the condition of the battery when you try to jump start. Sometimes the jump start does not work. Seems if the battery has a bad or weak cell, there is too much resistance for the jump start to work. Use a good battery tender or disconnect the 12 volt and then fully recharge it before you reconnect it.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Sure you can jump start it, but that in no way gets you out of the woods. It basically allows you to get going, and with a good drive will give it a bit of charge, but not enough to bring it back to what it was.
     
  6. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Why ? Will it be inside or outside.....IE temps above 0F or below ?

    Not good. Battery tender, yes. Run the engine, no not necessary and will cause a LOT of moisture to accumulate in the exhaust system maybe.

    No real need to disconnect anything for just 2 months.