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Dead Battery

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by stevejamie, May 26, 2008.

  1. stevejamie

    stevejamie New Member

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    Every time I wash my car and after it sits for a few hours, the car does not start, it is dead. Thes last time my computer screen did not come on so I had to place my battery charger on the car. After a few minutes the computer screen came on and the car started. I only experience this after I washed my car. Has anyone else experienced this? I have not taken it to the dealer yet because I'm not sure what to tell them.
     
    #1 stevejamie, May 26, 2008
  2. seasalsa

    seasalsa Active Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!

    Do you leave the car in ACC or IG-ON mode?

    There have been reports of draining the 12v battery if you do not press the brake while pressing the power button.
     
    #2 seasalsa, May 26, 2008
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    What seasalsa wrote. Turn the car OFF while you wash it. Locking the car will tell you whether it is actually OFF: if it is not, or if you left a light on or a door or the hatch open, it will give a long warning beep.
     
    #3 richard schumacher, May 27, 2008
  4. ZC1

    ZC1 Junior Prius Owner

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    I didn't know that. Thanks Richard.

    ZC1
     
    #4 ZC1, May 27, 2008
  5. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    You're welcome. I *always* lock it, including when parking in the garage at home; this has saved my battery twice. Killing the battery would be annoying no matter where it happens.
     
    #5 richard schumacher, May 27, 2008
  6. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I do the same, and I live in an area where no one locks cars. It's a simple test to make sure the doors are shut.

    Tom
     
    #6 qbee42, May 27, 2008
  7. stevejamie

    stevejamie New Member

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    Thanks for the information. I only had my car a few weeks and still getting use to the "no key" thing. The next time I wash my car I will lock it to make sure everything is off and see what happens.
     
    #7 stevejamie, May 30, 2008
  8. racerbob

    racerbob Member

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    If that problem persists, get your dealer to load test the 12v battery. Poor maintenance during storage by the dealer has caused many discharged batteries. A battery that has been discharged often will not fully recover.
     
    #8 racerbob, May 30, 2008
  9. taxachusetts

    taxachusetts Junior Member

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    Does anyone know what the ampere-hour rating is of the 12V battery? It sounds like it has the power of two rechargeable AA batteries.
     
    #9 taxachusetts, May 30, 2008
  10. Chuck41

    Chuck41 New Member

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    I read a post that the 12 volt battery was 20 AH
     
    #10 Chuck41, May 30, 2008
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    If you have a Classic, or a 2G without Smart Entry/Smart Start, then the AH rating of the battery is 28. If you have a 2G with SE/SS then the AH rating is somewhere in the low 30s.
     
    #11 Patrick Wong, May 31, 2008
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