Battery dead yet again...

The -20 might just be the kicker. If the nites only get down to the single #'s, even hi singles, one is slowly degrading the battery if the car is not being driven extensively each day to boot the battery into the 13+, or higher. range. Thus, the need for the battery minder (tender). As you told me, once the battery is in 11vdc, kiss the relays good bye. That's not much of a difference between the hi mark and 11vdc. A day or two in the garage, some really cold temps, and hello charger. Besides the Minder, a volt meter is the only way to stay on top of things if the temps go
below 0. Who wants to take the battery out for a charge. That's like taking out a blind date who is a prima donna.
I like the warming blanket for those really cold nites. It's the cold that bonks these batteries. Any suggestions out there for a recommendation on these blankets. and can you really get it into that cramp space?
The first paragraph above is my personal experience.

 

I am in the same cold zone (Montana) and had the same exact experience. Get that Battry Tender. I got mine at a Yamaha dealer, as their batteries have their sensitive side, too. If you get the Tender before they put the battery back in the car, ask if they will attach the leads to the battery for you. Then you just plug your Tender leads into that. Hope you have AC in your garage! Check the Jayman responses'.

 

I have no doubt that places like Helena and Bozeman can get just as cold as Winnipeg. A lot of regular cars will experience issues -30 F and colder, unless plugged in and with a battery heater

Around here it's possible to get a battery warmer meant for something like a garden tractor. Made by Philips Temro and usuall in stock at Canadian Tire. If I recall, they're around 40-50 watts, just enough to warm up the battery on bitter cold mornings

If the blanket is small enough, it should fit after a few skinned knuckles and some cursing. Plan B is a car interior warmer but those things take +1,000 watts.

I don't trust interior car warmers. They cause plenty of fires here in winter

 

Yikes I forgot to mention that. All the ATV dealers here - Honda, Polaris, Yamaha, etc - carry various battery tenders. They're designed to keep the batteries fully charged in seasonal equipment without overcharging. Harley Davidson probably has one too

 

My wonderful 68 chevy (1 ton crew cab 8' bed 8000+gw) started up on the first key twist after sitting for the last two months on the street on a 5 yr old battery!

Again, I think only single digit temps without long commutes every day will degrade this battery.

A little ex weight (larger battery) would be negible. Instead of negligent, as in motorcycle battery.

 

This is what I thought you have been saying all along, i.e., when you write constant charge that is exactly what you are saying - there is no ramping up to get that charge up quickly before you get home from a short trip. You are right, a better charging system would supercede that flimsy battery. When you first wrote that I couldn't believe what I was reading - I am still living in the past I guess.

 

I actually have a love for older vehicles. The only thing I don't like are picky Holley and Rochester 4 bbl carbs. I've converted older cars/trucks to Edelbrock 4 bbl and couldn't be happier with them

Hint: changing the metering rods takes <2 mins.

In the Edelbrocks I've put in for friends and co-workers, I've used hand chokes. Never did have much luck with divorced choke setting

 

I'm sure Toyota thought it was a good idea at the time. They have enough electronic/software wizardry in the Prius that a thermistor on the 12 vdc battery could be used to ramp the voltage as high as needed to properly charge the battery

Many high end battery chargers allow you to stick a thermister on the battery so the automatic circuit will rapidly charge the battery with no danger of overcharging

Did you ever get your Prius back?? Still at the dealership trickle charging at 0.2 amps??

 

Every one with battery problems should complain; perhaps then they will get the message.

 

Hand Chokes is the way to go, more reliable and hands on.

 

Something tells me we'd get along fine. You speak my language

 

I think he meant 2 amps. Can a Toyota charger trickle charge that slowly?
Anyhow, it has been complete. We'll see what happens. All for free so far because I called customer service and didn't let them talk me down. The battery according to my case worker said it is not a Toyota part, so, don't have anything to do with it. Then who designed it? Or integrated the design with the Prius?

 

The Toyota Battery Charger - made by Associated - can be set for either 2 amp or 10 amp. The PDI I sent you clearly states that Toyota recommends the 10 amp setting or the charge time could be very long

Interesting. The PDI also states that the 12 vdc battery is NOT covered under their "true start" replacement program. Yet they mention a Toyota part number of #28800-21050

 

I went to the service department and they tested the battery. It was at 75%. They fully charged it.

They said they don't charge the battery before delivery unless the car has been on the lot for more than 30 days. Mine was right off the truck.

No explanation as to why it happened, but from what I'm reading in this thread, the cold weather might have had something to do with it. I'm hoping that's the end of it, but they said if it happens again, don't jump it, but rather have it towed in.

 

I wondered if you were always so negative, so I looked at your past posts and I can see you are.

I live where it is pretty hot so I park my Prius in a garage like I did with my last car and the one before that to reduce sun damage to the car's paint and upholstery. If you live in the cold I expect there are steps you take to look after your car.
I don't see that fading paint in hot sun is a manufacturer issue. It is just something I need to cope with. Same with cold.

 

So the dealership is clearly NOT following the PDI, which states the 12 vdc battery MUST BE PROPERLY CHARGED BEFORE DELIVERY TO CUSTOMER

Well, I guess if Toyota has to foot the bill for enough tows and extra servicing, more power to them

 

Yes, he may be negative but in this situation I agree with him. Even in Winnipeg, a battery tender is a nice optional extra, not a mandatory piece of equipment

Remember that Fish Antlers lives in Sunny, Funny California. I rather doubt water even freezes where he lives, unless he puts it in the freezer at his house

I tend to go the extra mile with servicing and using tools and equipment that most drivers have never heard of. That buys me a lot of security to minimise any potential breakdown risk.

However, for the average driver even in Winnipeg, block heater plugged in and that is usually as far as it goes. Maybe a battery warmer too. It's unreasonable to expect the average Prius driver to know the detailed PDI.

It's also interesting how many dealers are skipping the picky and detailed PDI instructions. PDI is clearly built into the price of the car and itemized, up to $1,000 here in Manitoba. I would imagine a similar charge elsewhere

So, does that mean a lot of dealers are just giving the Prius a quick wash job and interior vacuum, and pocketing the $1,000? I think we already know the answer

Heavy duty equipment tends to get the block heater, oil pan heater, battery tender, etc. Fire/Rescue and ambulance tends to get a heated garage, plus special chargers that automatically eject the plug when the driver turns the key to On

That would be a neat item to have on a Prius. Jump in the car, press Start, and the plug shoots off the car.

 

I would suggest you look at all the other responses to battery problems. Yes, they are all negative but that is because they all have a negative (less than 11vdc) battery!
I take exceptional care of my vehicles, too. But it doesn't require anything special. I never had a block heater in a cold climate, all my vehicles instantly start, even at -20 F. (-30C). My truck (big engine) has a 5 yr battery (I better replace that!). Just to hook up a battery tender is a pain with that battery tucked into a hole and a fat positive terminal cover. Just try and take it out.