What every newb should know

Indeed, blessed are they that are well prepared!

 

I posted in this thread that one day (in the first few days after buying the car), I left the car with the engine running and returned after four hours to discover what had happened. I left it running in a public parking lot (yes, someone could have stolen my car).

Apparently people could die of CO2 poisoning if they leave it running in their own garage . So, newbies make sure you get used to the keyless entry system; it could be a matter of life and death.

 

Theoretically, yes - however, they might need to be very patient before succumbing to CO or CO2 toxicity. I don't think many of us sit in our garages with an ICE running without first considering the potential outcome. Warning: this is not something I would ever recommend!!!!!

 

It is not about staying in garages. These folks who died obviously did not sit around in the garage. But, they went inside their houses. But, with garage door being shut, the CO2 must have gotten into their houses.

Your second sentence seems to imply that they were aware that their car was running. The problem is that they did it unintentionally and therefore there is no question of considering the potential outcome.

Anyway, it is easy for us to laugh as we are now sure that we will not do that kind of stupid mistake. But, for an elderly person who is not used to keyless entry cars, it is a serious issue especially if the fatality strikes on their first time doing this stupid thing (before they got an opportunity to learn).

 

Hey, that's me! Have read that this is a problem in some parts of the developed world, mainly New York. Not sure what conclusion to draw from that.

 

I bought a 2018 Prius Two about 2 plus months ago and have recently realized that I cannot recharge my new Samsung Galaxy S9 in any of the ports supplied for audio connections.

Samsung sent me, for free, their 12 volt car charger but it doesn't seem to charge, and becomes misaligned enough that it loses its connection.

The way I interpret the manual, these connections are just to plug your device into the audio system. I am considering buying a backup battery to keep in the car when I go on a long drives and need to use the Waze app.

Can anyone make any other or better suggestions? Thanks

 

Hello and welcome to Prius Chat. Some iPhone users claim to get sufficient charge from the USB sockets, but I believe it's only ~1amp and that's not enough to drive the phone with a demanding app alive on screen. I use a twin USB output plug fitting into the 12v power socket. My Huawei P9 running Waze on the 3 hour journey yesterday lost about 3% SOC overall while plugged in and charging at the same time. I got mine from Amazon UK, so your Amazon would be just as good. I'd suggest the cheapest might not be the best/most reliable but you never know. Perhaps somebody else will get back with a recommendation for you. Anyway, it won't cost more than about $20.

 

Thank you for your quick input. I'll research Amazon to learn more.

By the way, when I first realized that my new phone was not charging in the car, I called my salesman at the dealership who assured me that the provided ports would accomplish the charging. In frustration, I called the main U.S. Toyota help line which was even less helpful! Amazing that a car dedicated to recharging a battery that can power an automobile is incapable of recharging a cell phone!

I wonder if you have an older generation Prius with a different set up? In my car, the cap that covers the 12V socket, when opened, leans against the plug and seems to put just enough pressure on it to push it out of alignment, thereby losing the connection and any power that might be generated. ( Also, the new Galaxy S9 has a different USB power line than the earlier models, the result of which is that I have to be especially mindful of compatibility issues.) Is your twin plug more secure in the socket than the average 12v plug?

 

RCO, I'm also just learning about this site.... After I sent a reply to your helpful reply, I tapped on your photo of your car and brief bio. I see it's also a Generation 4. Is it also a Two?

 

Yes it's a Gen 4, but I'm in UK, so mine is somewhat different. It's a Business Edition, 15"wheels, NiCad battery, HUD, full radar cruise, RCT, BSM, blah, blah blah. Sits somewhere between your 3 and 3 Touring!

When I joined the forum there was no option for any of the UK model names and the closest fit was what I put in.

 

Is there any way I can have my user name changed?

 

I think @Tideland Prius had been asked this before and said it wasn't possible. If that is the case, perhaps you could just cease posting on your existing name and re-register with the new name you would prefer to use. Perhaps our Moderator of the North could veto or approve, as it's his prerogative.

 

Excess CO2 will distress you, and make you really feel you need to do more breathing, or get the heck out.

The real "silent killer" of concern is CO (carbon MONoxide), because it won't bother you very much before you lose consciousness, and then you're done.

CO detector alarms are common and easy to buy, though.

-Chap

 

Hi All,

Me and my husband are looking into buying a 2009 Prius (in UK).
We tried to read as much as possible through this forums and I found out a lot of great information.

For now I have one question that I didn't found an answer for yet.
I know that when you are looking into buying a used care it would be preferred to have low mileage. However, if we are looking into a hybrid car from 2009 very low mileage is not ok either for the battery.
What would be the best mileage/year for a toyota prius? considering that every year was driven the same amount.

Thank you in advance for any answers.

 

Hello, and welcome to Prius Chat.
A low mileage may not be the only critical factor as the are many potential future risks to be evaluated. Don't be disheartened though, if you find one that you like - get as many details about it as you can and post them on here and we'll give you our collective opinion. Unfortunately, without any specific details it would be impossible to advise you and put unfair load on your limited knowledge.

Good luck and best wishes. Keep us informed please.

 

Thank you RCO for your reply.

We are still thinking if a Prius would be the right choice. We have max. £6000 to spend and with this money we cannot really find a Prius later than 2009 and with less than 70.000 miles.
We are thinking between Prius, Toyota Auris and Honda Civic. Withing this amount of money we can find an Aurius or Civic from 2011/ 2012 with 40.000 miles.
Not knowing from experience about the longevity of a Prius and reading good and bad stories around, it's difficult to make a choice.
I am thinking that a newer car with less mileage could be a safer choice.

 

Hmm! Sometimes it's all down to luck of the draw, but I wish you best of luck anyway.

 

I know good cars are out there. If Toyota had introduced a next generation Prius v, for example, I’d have bought it and sold my current one...a 2012 v with 29,500 miles in perfect condition. I might have been able to get top dollar for a 2012 car, but not nearly what it’s actually worth.

 

I have the same issue. I have a Samsung Note 8. The charger tip is bit different now..I *think* it takes more to charge it. But it will-- much of the time--not always-- activate the "I'm charging" electric bolt indicator. You had to be sure that little tiny button to the right was pressed, to activate the charge feature. However, it didn't increase my charge at all...., even during the times the electric bolt on my phone showed 'charging' status. One day, my phone died completely and faded to black. I gave up and tossed it in the autonatic, wireless charging shallow cubby. To my amazement, in a short time, i checked my phone and it had charged impressively high in ashort period of time. So if you can get it to connect.. and you're desperate enough to get a charge to turn it off, try that, in the meantime. ( I did try to get a nice, short-cord, fast charging cable to plug into the voltage part--- and that worked even crappier. (However, I didn't try turning it off, in a jam.)(My phone has died several times, because of this). I suppose a back up will be in order. Will the back up charge in the volt plug in? I've never had one.