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Battery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by grubmans, Apr 4, 2007.

  1. grubmans

    grubmans New Member

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    I just bought a 2007 Prius. I've noticed that when I don't use it for two days, the Energy Monitor indicates that the battery is down to 2 purple bars. I have 2 questions: (1) Is this normal? (2) I'm planning on leaving the car for a two week trip. Will the battery be dead when I return? I know to turn off the Smart Key. Thanks for your help.
     
    #1 grubmans, Apr 4, 2007
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    that shouldn't happen unless you left it at 2 or 3 bars the last time you shut it off.

    I'd be more concerned about the 12V battery. Turn off the SKS, headlight, dome light, cargo light and vanity light (i.e. move all of them to the OFF position).
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Apr 4, 2007
  3. grubmans

    grubmans New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 4 2007, 08:24 PM) [snapback]417889[/snapback]</div>
    Hi Tideland: Thanks for the reply. I asked two questions. Which question were you answering? (1) Is it normal for the battery to discharge down to two purple bars after two days of nonuse? (BTW, the battery was at 6 purple bars when I turned off the car). Or (2) Will the battery be dead if I leave the car for two weeks? Thanks for the advice about turning off the inside lights.
     
    #3 grubmans, Apr 4, 2007
  4. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 05:41 PM) [snapback]417898[/snapback]</div>
    Losing 4 bars in two days is definitely not normal. I doubt you should lose any in two days. Are you sure you're turning the car off completely?

    I've left my car for two weeks and when firing it back up didn't notice any change in the battery (although it could have dropped a bar or two).
     
    #4 San_Carlos_Jeff, Apr 4, 2007
  5. grubmans

    grubmans New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Apr 4 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]417902[/snapback]</div>

    I turn the car off by pressing the "P" to put the car in Park and then I press the "Power" button. I hate to sound stupid but (maybe I am!!!) do I need to do anything else to turn the car off completely? Do I have to separately turn off the radio or the bluetooth?
     
    #5 grubmans, Apr 4, 2007
  6. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 07:54 PM) [snapback]417905[/snapback]</div>
    Turning everything off before powering down is a good habit to get into. From your description I don't believe you are doing anything that should be draining the battery. Sounding stupid is one thing. Being stupid is another. You were smart enough to buy this car. Sooner or later everyone is going to make a bonehead mistake that is either going to cost a little money or inconvenience. There is no such thing as a stupid question. If something bothers you, ask. This car has many unique characteristics and there are many helpful experts here. Welcome to the site. (For the record, I don't believe for a second Sheana is stupid.)

    Does the condition persist when the radio & bluetooth are turned off?
     
    #6 JimN, Apr 5, 2007
  7. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Hi Sheana, welcome to PriusChat! I agree with Jim that the only stupid questions are the ones a person is too pig-headed to ask.

    When you hit the Power button and the little car with the key starts blinking on the dash lights, the High Voltage battery is completely disconnected from the car, only the little 12 volt battery is powering things. Your HV battery level should be the same as when you turned it off after only two days, unless the weather gets very cold. A cold battery won't put out as much power as a room-temperature one, nor will a hot battery, so use your AC down there in Florida, for your battery's sake... :)

    I'd suggest taking it to the dealer and ask them to test the HV battery. While highly unlikely, it's possible you got a defective one; there have been a few reports. If you need a new HV battery, it is covered by warranty.

    Since the 12V battery is small, eliminating as many power drains as possible is a good idea when you leave the car for over two weeks. One particular problem has been the cargo light. It can be left on by mistake and the tonneau cover pulled so you don't see it and it can suck the 12V battery right down.

    All that said, I've left my 2005 at the airport for 10 days without turning anything off (I never use the cargo light though) and it started right up, just as I had left it.
     
    #7 Bill Merchant, Apr 5, 2007
  8. snowdog650

    snowdog650 Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 4 2007, 10:02 PM) [snapback]418030[/snapback]</div>
    Jim ... this is one of your better quotes. I think I'll use this in my conference call tomorrow. :lol:
     
    #8 snowdog650, Apr 5, 2007
  9. grubmans

    grubmans New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowdog650 @ Apr 5 2007, 02:47 AM) [snapback]418088[/snapback]</div>

    Hi All-
    Thanks for the great replies!!!
     
    #9 grubmans, Apr 5, 2007
  10. Walker1

    Walker1 Empire

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    #10 Walker1, Apr 5, 2007
  11. grubmans

    grubmans New Member

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    #11 grubmans, Apr 5, 2007
  12. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    You can put it right in the battery compartment with the 12V battery - it's tiny. You will have to run a 120VAC cord from there to an accessible place so you can plug it in. It's a very nice addition to a Prius. No worries about the 12V battery. Of course, you have to park where you can plug it in. Not a problem here in the "great white north" as most parking places have plugins for block heaters.
     
    #12 David Beale, Apr 5, 2007
  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Apr 5 2007, 02:07 PM) [snapback]418418[/snapback]</div>
    Not in the Lower Mainland lol :lol:

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 05:41 PM) [snapback]417898[/snapback]</div>
    The answers were in order. The first one was referring to (1) and the second sentence to (2).

    It is not normal for it to lose 4 bars in 2 days.
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Apr 5, 2007
  14. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Yet!
    When we take over the world with our hybrid vehicles, demand for block heater plug-ins will force their installation.

    We MUST maximize our mileage. ;)
     
    #14 David Beale, Apr 5, 2007
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