I saw the responses about storing a Prius for 4 weeks. This summer we're off sailing for 2.5 months and I could swear I saw something... somewhere... about special things to do to take care of the HV battery when the car isn't being used for a long time. If there's any self-discharge, after some period the charge will go to zero, which is a real no-no for the battery. Does anyone know what Toyota recommends for extended storage? Thanks much! Jack, 2005 green Prius
Jack, If you read the posts, you know about the fuse and de-activating the SKS (Smart Key System). The only thing I can think of for storing a Prius for that long is to contact a reliable and finacnailly trusted friend. Ask that person to drive the car around the near-vicinity once a week for no less than 15 minutes. I'm sure others will have better suggestions, but offhand, that's the only thing I can think of for such a long period.
There's nothing you can do to help the HV battery being left unattended too long. The battery is already completely cut off from any drains when not in READY mode via 3 relays in the battery case. The only other connection to the batteries is voltage monitoring of the individual packs by the HV Battery ECU. I am sure that is deactivated when the car is not at least in IG-On.
Right you are DanMan - when the car is off, so is the HV system - the best advice is to have a friend drive the car frequently - or take the car on the yacht with you and drive it around the aft deck - I know the boat is that big. No really, I lieu of the friend, I recommend disconnecting the auxliary 12v battery for a 2.5 month sit. I know you will lose memory stuff, but the 12v battery is gonna die over that period of time anyway - AND lose all the memory stuff. Might as well come home to a charged 12v battery and no memory in radio, clock, ecm etc... than a dead 12v battery AND all of the above to boot ... er boat? Remove the package tray from the rear and you will find the 12v battery in the right rear corner - disconnect the negative terminal first and only. Push it off to one side so it can't get back up near the battery terminal. Second - when you are on a beautiful beam reach, say "this one's for you Don!" - enjoy!!
And don't forget to tell them Don about leaving the hatch open too. If not, with the auxiliary battery disconnected,you will have to crawl thru the back seat to get to the emergency release to open the hatch. :lol: Also besides the radio presets and clock, you will also have to re iniatalize the drivers window auto function. I have a customer coming in tommorrow that is going away for 2 months and wants to go over some items about her Prius and storing it. This is the lady that was asking questions and got me looking and found Priuschat. . I am having her disconnect her battery. Was going to see if she wanted to see how long it would last,but don't think she would go for it. Checking a non SKS and a SKS with the switch off,I have found only about 12-15 ma draw. Very little for a highly technical car. :roll:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rick57\";p=\"74786)</div> There is an alternative to crawling around. Open the car with key, unlatch hood an use the "jump start" procedure to power up. As my dad and his father said " you have two choices in life, you can use your back or you can use your head. Make your choice" My knee has been operated on three times and that crawling around stuff hurts, a lot) 8) <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rick57\";p=\"74786)</div> There is an alternative to crawling around. Open the car with key, unlatch hood an use the "jump start" procedure to power up. As my dad and his father said " you have two choices in life, you can use your back or you can use your head. Make your choice" My knee has been operated on three times and that crawling around stuff hurts, a lot)
Good point hdrygas, as long as you have a jump box or cables and another vehicle handy ( would be hard if in the garage tho). :roll:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DanMan32\";p=\"74951)</div> I had thought of that for my customer that is going away. But after looking over their website, I noticed that they suggect you check on it at least once a week. I guess anything can go wrong with any product. You know Murphys Law? And if you are gone, how can you keep tabs on it? :roll:
I thought there was a battery disconnect under the hood, at the jumpstart terminal? This sure sounds preferable to disconnecting at the battery. Robert Mitchell
Is there any problem with leaving the car at an airport for two or two and a half weeks. I do many trips like this a year. Will I keep coming back to a dead battery? Chucka
i recently was away for 10 days and turned the sks off. when the prius was garaged she was one bar away from full, when i returned she was at 2 bars, that was the first time i saw pink bars, glad i wasn't away longer.
