Toyota Prius: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

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#5 of 711 Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles by maxvok Jun 02, 2004 (7:42 am)
Since getting my car 2 months ago, I have been driving mostly 20-40 miles stretches twice a week in daytime and once 200 miles on one day. Last Friday, after 3 days in my garage, I could not open the locked doors and to use the manual key. Indoor light was very dim and starting was impossible. Talking to my dealer's mechanic he could not explain the reason and suggested to call Toyota's emergency service in the Netherlands. Mechanic mentioned that while my car was 2 weeks in their showroom prior to delivery, they had connected the battery to a charger to avoid that it would be drained while being inspected by the many customers. Anyhow even if it had not been fully charged, I would expect it to be OK after 800 miles driving. He also said that the capacity of this battery was very limited (does anybody know how many kW, cannot find it in the specs) and that leaving the lights on for 10 minutes could cause it. But this did not apply to my case as I did not notice anything abnormal 3 days earlier driving without lights and power is completely shut off, including interior light, when I lock the doors. PROBLEM HAS BEEN SOLVED BY DEALER WHO WILL REPLACE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY - MOST LIKELY CAUSE: BATTERY WAS TOO DEEP DEPLETED IN SHOWROOM TO HAVE IT EFFECTIVELY RE CHARGED Replies to this message: gagrice (Jun 14, 2004 6:32 am) john1701a (Jun 14, 2004 9:09 am) shado4 (Jun 14, 2004 9:15 am) and 1 more... marcin1 (Mar 29, 2005 7:08 am) stevedebi (Mar 29, 2005 4:44 pm) and 1 more... quasar4 (Jun 15, 2004 11:03 pm)
#6 of 711 Re: Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles [maxvok #5] by gagrice Jun 14, 2004 (6:32 am)
Replying to: maxvok (Jun 02, 2004 7:42 am) It does not sound like Toyota has addressed one of the original problems with the Prius. My understanding is you cannot go off and leave your car for two weeks and expect to jump in and take off. I have read complaints of owners where the dealer told them letting the batteries discharge just by non-use could void the warranty. This is unacceptable in my opinion. Most people take vacations and leave the car parked in the garage for a couple weeks or more. Replies to this message: john1701a (Jun 14, 2004 9:09 am) shado4 (Jun 14, 2004 9:15 am) gagrice (Jun 14, 2004 10:24 am) marcin1 (Mar 29, 2005 7:08 am) stevedebi (Mar 29, 2005 4:44 pm) stevewa (Mar 29, 2005 10:41 pm)
#7 of 711 Storing the Prius by eheading Jun 14, 2004 (8:51 am)
We have a 2003 Prius, that we leave in our garage for as much as 3-4 months without touching it. At the advice of our Toyota dealer, when we leave we disconnect the 12V battery in the trunk from the car wiring (I actually added a little knife switch to do this). Then I keep the 12V battery on a small trickle charger. I do nothing with the nickel-metal-hydride batteries. When I come back home, I reconnect the 12V battery and take the car out for about a 30-45 minute drive per the dealer instructions. I have never seen any effect of the storage however. The car starts right up after it's hibernation, and I see no effect on the fuel economy indicating that the batteries are depleted. It works just fine this way. Ed Headington
#8 of 711 Re: Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles [gagrice #6] by john1701a Jun 14, 2004 (9:09 am)
Replying to: gagrice (Jun 14, 2004 6:32 am) It has been interesting watching this "Urban Myth" grow. There is no issue with the auxilliary battery. Non-use for several weeks isn't a problem, it won't void the warranty either. Like any car with a security system, there is a constant drain. But Prius now provides an off button, so pushing that before leaving for vacation prevents a drain. And the 2004 auxilliary battery is bigger, so you can go even longer than in the past anyway. JOHN Replies to this message: shado4 (Jun 14, 2004 9:15 am) gagrice (Jun 14, 2004 10:24 am)
#9 of 711 Re: Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles [john1701a #8] by shado4 Jun 14, 2004 (9:15 am)
Replying to: john1701a (Jun 14, 2004 9:09 am) > Like any car with a security system, there is a constant drain. But Prius provides an off button, so pushing that before leaving for vacation prevents a drain. Huh? Sounds like if you press the off button, the security system will be disabled. Is this true? (If not, your statement is really vague!) I'm not sure I would like to leave a new Prius in an airport parking lot with a disabled security system! Replies to this message: gagrice (Jun 14, 2004 10:24 am)
#10 of 711 Re: Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles [shado4 #9] by gagrice Jun 14, 2004 (10:24 am)
Replying to: shado4 (Jun 14, 2004 9:15 am) Sounds like they have addressed the problem. Actually the locked parking lot I leave my vehicle in requires you to disable the alarm system. So that would not be a problem for me.
#11 of 711 Auxilliary battery going dead by little_pogi Jun 14, 2004 (9:45 pm)
Last January, I went on a 3 week vacation with my Prius left in the garage. The alarm was set. I've read about the aux battery going low on charge when the car is not used for a while. I was worried this might happen when I return from my vacation. Upon my return, the car started with no problem at all. My next vacation may take a month. We'll find out then if the Prius will have some problem starting.
#12 of 711 2004 prius failure by stevem Jun 15, 2004 (3:31 pm)
In nov, 03, a few weeks after buying our new prius in Albuquerque nm, we drove it to Denver. Big snow storm Sat., drove fine through the snow; very cold that night, it would not start in the am...no battery at all. I call all the toyota emergency numbers, they finally send out a generic tow guy, we jump the prius, which does respond, but with all warning lights on. I am able to drive the car about three blocks at 5 mph, then nothing...my wife and daughter have to get back, they drive another car..I am assured by alb toyota that everything will be taken care of ( denver toyota and nat'l toyota are closed...)the car is towed/carried to the local dealer (I had suggested carrying it and me back to Alb); I fly home. Over the next few days I speak with several people, and when all is said and ( not much) done, I am told that the car was out of gas. I tell then there is no way the car could have been out of gas, please try to find the real problem ( it must be something to do with snow build-up underneath, melting /freezing) They insist all I needed was gas. I explain how and why this is not possible....I talk to alb. and nat'l toyota,...I fly up to denver to get the car...I demonstrate that the car had at least 5 gallons when it quit by filling it right there...I retrace my trip back south, filling up where I had filled up going north. Again, this shows I had at least 5 gallons when it quit...I wrote long detailed letters to denver, alb, and nat'l toyota asking for re-imbursement for my out of pocket costs( not even my meals or lost time)..no dice, even a nasty letter from the john elway toyota attorneys. When the first recall came out, I took it in, figuring that this was related to my problem...the mechanic said that the ecu had already been re-programmed...now I have received another notice... I am pissed..does anyone have an idea re what might have happened? who to talk to? Thanks for your patience, stevem
#13 of 711 Troubles with Prius by oldboy Jun 15, 2004 (6:38 pm)
I was considering buying a Prius, but not any more. Long waiting lists, dealers profiteering, and some really major mechanical problems as reported on this site. Not for me. My next car may well be a diesel, once we get decent fuel here in the USA. Replies to this message: propel2 (Sep 26, 2005 9:47 am) fndlyfmrflyr (Sep 26, 2005 11:07 pm) propel2 (Sep 27, 2005 5:32 am) and 2 more...
#14 of 711 Re: Dead auxilliary battery after 800 miles [maxvok #5] by quasar4 Jun 15, 2004 (11:03 pm)
Replying to: maxvok (Jun 02, 2004 7:42 am) --The following is a quote from Goss' Garage of Motorweek that I think you'll find on point... ...you still have to keep the battery fully charged, and heres where people make a huge mistake. They kill their batteries through overcharging by using a battery charger. No matter how small the battery charger, it can destroy the battery through overcharging. --Pat Goss, Motorweek ...for more helpful hints on battery care (including unhooking the battery) go to Goss' Garage. He's talking about vehicles like snowmobiles, boats, etc., that sit in storage for long periods of time (2-3 weeks does not qualify as a long storage time), but still it may be useful.