Learned How to Jumpstart My Prius Last Night

I don't have experience to add, but your post made me wonder if the Prius could jump-start itself. I mean, if the 12v battery dies, you still have the HV battery sitting there with a charge, right? I guess you might be at more risk of killing your car, but it would be funny to use one battery to jump the other.

 

you can just let it sit in ready for a half hour, you don't even need to use the engine

 

Heh, he was up at Laconia? I was up there last year helping some
friends with a band gig, whence comes this picture that I used as
an example of the type of enthusiasm and dedication I hoped to see
among hybrid owners one of these days. It was funny -- there I was
mixin' it up with the Hogs in my prius on the approach roads into
Weirs Beach ... figuring that they could make all the noise for me.
.
_H*

 

Sounds stupid - but quick question....

I filled up my washer fluid, and since I was in there, I looked for the terminals in order to jump start the Prius if I ever needed to... Where are they?

I know the batteries are in the back, but I would have sworn there are jumper points (for lack of better words) under the hood...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rxmxsh @ Jun 21 2007, 08:47 AM) [snapback]465760[/snapback]</div>

I'm 90% sure that the manual says NOT to use it to jump other cars. From what I understand:

1. The 12 volt battery needs to not be dead for the car to start -- this is because the magic computer needs to have power for the car to start.

2. The starting of the car is by the BIG batteries, not the 12 volt battery.

3. As such, very little 12 volt power is really needed to run the electronics to start the car.

4. The Big Battery meter isn't reading 0% to 100% -- it's reading something like 40% to 70% (someone will no doubt correct me on this). So when all the bars go away, the battery isn't dead, it just isn't going to let you use any more of the battery.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Rxmxsh @ Jun 21 2007, 08:47 AM) [snapback]465760[/snapback]</div>

The positive terminal is in the fuse box on the left side of the engine compartment. Any chasis gound point is used as the negative terminal. The fuse box cover can be difficult to remove; there is a catch on the fwd end that can be released by applying finger pressure about an inch below the box top. The top will then lift up and off.

CAUTION: The manual is very specific about what order to connect and remove jumper cables. Read it. See jumpstart in the manual index.
-----
Harry
2005 super white

 

Thanks, Harry - that answered my question.

 

From the car's point of view yes. But when standing in front of the car looking for the jump point, it is on your right. In US cars, you can also say it's on the drivers side.

(I just didn't want anyone standing in front of their car for half an hour looking to their left of the engine for jump points).

-Ken

 

Anyone know how to get the red cover over the positive battery post in the hatch off?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hschuck @ Jun 21 2007, 12:07 PM) [snapback]465814[/snapback]</div>

Harry,
What is a "chassis ground point?" Is that any metal part of the body?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zoozoo3 @ Jun 28 2007, 07:39 AM) [snapback]469372[/snapback]</div>

A solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic point; like a bolt head for instance.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zoozoo3 @ Jun 28 2007, 09:39 AM) [snapback]469372[/snapback]</div>

Oh, that one is a bear to wrestle off. You have to squeeze the plastic tabs *just* right, then it suddenly pops off.

Here is a photo I took a few months ago of my VDC Battery Minder charge harness routing. I have plastic conduit covering the charge harness, but removed it for the photo

 

Thanks, guys. You're the best!

 

I know nothing about jumping a Prius, and from what I read, neither do most people.


If I went by the dealer, would they show me how? I think this is something every Prius owner needs to know.


Should I use my $10.00 Pep Boys coupon to buy a AAA jumper cable package for $19.00 (9.00)??


ARe some jumper cables better than others?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(scoot @ Jun 21 2007, 12:10 PM) [snapback]465774[/snapback]</div>

That being so, would a trickle charger provide enough current to start the Prius (one with clamps, not the cigarette lighter type)? A battery powered one would be smaller and lighter than the ones that need to provider starter moter current.

 

I popped the cover off the fuse box in my '01 (the older style), but I don't see anything that looks like the positive battery terminals I'm used to... Can anyone help? What does the positive battery terminal look like, or is it in a different place in the older model?

 

Classic Prius does not have or need the dedicated positive jumpstart terminal that 2G has. To jumpstart Classic, you just need to open the trunk and remove the cover on the left side of the trunk trim to expose the 12V auxiliary battery.

The reason that 2G needs the terminal at the main relay/fuse box is because the hatch has an electric release. If there's no 12V power, then the hatch will not open - unless you can crawl into the hatch area, remove the folding floor cover, and find the manual release hidden by the black plastic tray over the spare tire.

 

And removing the folding floor and plastic tray (the 'basement' ) is not all that easy when you are leaning over them!

With regard to jumper cables. Standard cables with big clamp ends are HARD to connect to the positive terminal in the engine fuse box. Not much room in there. If you buy something, see if there are any with smaller connectors. You aren't pulling a lot of amps so you don't need heavy duty cables.