1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Jump-Starting the Prius C

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by SuperABM, Jan 11, 2013.

  1. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I put a jump start pack in each car, so I can help without risking $4000 in damage.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  2. jimnjo

    jimnjo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2005
    117
    11
    0
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    bisco likes this.
  3. MichaelJai

    MichaelJai Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2017
    10
    6
    0
    Location:
    toronto
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Touring
    Not sure what is wrong with jump starting another car with your Prius. Simply hook up the dead battery first and black to inverter metal casing and red to the terminal in your fuse box. Make sure 2 cables will not come in contact of each other.
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    The Prius 12 volt battery is tiny compared to 'real' car batteries. The 'real' battery may demand far more than your Prius is able to supply. You want to ruin something far cheaper than your Prius. (Done wrong, it can be a $1000 repair for a new inverter DC to DC converter. And towing.)
     
    #24 JimboPalmer, Dec 1, 2017
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2017
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,674
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah, you might be ok. Or not. Especially if the other vehicle is pretty sizable. I always carry a jump pack too, would not volunteer to jumpstart, let someone with a larger vehicle or truck step in.
     
  6. Castanea

    Castanea Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2017
    39
    27
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I've just moved all of my stuff from my old car to my new-to-me Prius C. The jumper cables... I have always carried them, and used them from time to time mostly to jumpstart other people's cars. This thread is making me think I might do well to give the jumper cables to Goodwill to remove temptation.

    I had an object lesson about a month ago with my old car; I jump-started someone, carefully connecting the cables as one should. His car started. Without giving me a chance to stop him (I was still in my driver's seat), he removed both cables from his battery and ground, and accidentally touched them, making a nice big spark. There goes a lot of money if it had been my Prius. Even if I know what to do, how can one stop others who are not so careful from screwing things up?

    So... are there any reasons that I should keep carrying the jumper cables? Or am I prudent to ditch them?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,133
    50,050
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    what if you need a jump? does the '13 c have jump points under the hood?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,674
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Maybe get yourself a jump pack, then you're ready to help others or yourself. Does the c have an under-the-hatch-floor tray? Handy location to store it.
     
    bisco likes this.
  9. Castanea

    Castanea Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2017
    39
    27
    0
    Location:
    Iowa
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for these suggestions. I think that I will get a jump pack, maybe the little one that jimnjo mentioned above. With the Prius C, I am finding that "small is beautiful" in terms of stuff that one is going to routinely carry around in the vehicle.
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,674
    39,222
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Whatever you do, don't google JNC660...
     
  11. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2013
    3,339
    1,150
    40
    Location:
    Cumming, Georgia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Depends on the '13. Jan/Feb didn't. March was a crap shoot for the 13.
     
    bisco likes this.