I just brought home a 2008 Prius and I am sure this has been asked before, but not sure how to find it. I have learned that if you don't use the car for several days the battery loses it charge and the car won't start. I will be taking a vacation in which the car will be sitting in a parking lot for 5 full days. Will the car start after sitting for 5 days unused? Will turning off the SmartKey prevent the problem? Thanks for any help.
I haven't had any issues with the battery dieing on my Prius and I've left it for 2 weeks in the Arizona summer (my tires were just a little low when I returned). I wonder if you have a light or something else on thats draining the battery while the car sits. I hope you can track down whatever the problem is. Also, just an FYI, there's a 'search' button on the top of the screen that is great for looking through the forums for information. I've found it very usefull.
I have left my car for 2 weeks (13 or 14 days) and had no problem. If you are going to leave it for an extended time (like several months) then you should try to arrange for someone to put the car in "Ready" for about 30 min or so every week or two. Disabling the SKS by pushing the button under the steering column will help by minimizing the drain on the 12V battery. But for 5 days, you shouldn't have a problem even if you leave the SKS on.
I have left my car parked for a month at a time (while on vacation) and it has always started up just fine. Once, I even forgot to shut off the SKS and it still started up just fine. Anything two weeks or less, don't worry about it. If more than two weeks, shut off the SKS by pressing IN the little button below the steering wheel, sort of near your knee. Also turn the headlights to the OFF position (rather than just relying on the car to shut them off when you open the door). The 12-volt battery is really too small, and can be discharged easily, as for example, if you leave a door open so the light stays on. So be careful always to shut all the doors completely. Locking the car is a good habit, since it will beep at you if you try to lock it with SKS (the black button on the door handle) when a door is ajar or the car is on. If you are leaving the car at home for more than a month (I was parked at the airport) some folks recommend putting a trickle charger on the 12-volt battery. You never need to worry about the big 201-volt traction battery unless you drive the car without gas, or leave it in Ready mode so long it runs out of gas. Either of those, and you can be in very big trouble. Hope this helps. Most of the "warnings" non-Prius people tell you about the Prius are nonsense.
How have you learned this? Did you hear a rumor, or did the previous owner tell you that this one will die after sitting a few days?
So -- should I get a trickle charger o plug into the lighter? Mine will be at the airport for weeks also
