What do I do !! The battery warning light came on after installing an amplifier.

[Luis Ruiz]

Ok well this is a tricky question, hope someone can help. Thanks

So I really wanted to install a 10" subwoofer in the my 2001 prius but the day it was installed the exclamation surrounded by a triangle and the main battery warning light came on and I don't want to have to uninstall the amp.

Does anyone know what may have caused the problem. I know others have been able to install amplifiers in their prius. Do you think I would kill the battery if I continue to run it with the amp on? I don't want to take it to the dealership yet in case there is a serious problem with the battery because since the system is still installed the batteries warranty would not be applicable and I cannot afford a new one.

[morpheusx]

I am thinking that maybe they didn't tighten the terminal connections tightly at the 12v battery. Also how old is the 12v battery. If its more then 3 years old it may be that the battery is just weak and on its way out.

[Luis Ruiz]

well I'm not sure how old the battery is, I bought the car used. Do you have an amp installed in your prius?

[Luis Ruiz]

but it is the MAIN battery warning light that's on. thats why i'm worried.

[morpheusx]

Originally Posted by Luis Ruiz

well I'm not sure how old the battery is, I bought the car used. Do you have an amp installed in your prius?

I have a 600 W Profile Amp installed that I bridge to drive one 10" subwoofer. I installed my own. It could be something simple my Prius is a second generation but the only time I've seen the main Caution light is if a door is not closed all the way or the time I was an idiot and ran out of gas.

[morpheusx]

Where I would start, I would disconnect the amp power line at the 12v+ battery and see if the warning light goes away. And make sure both terminals are nice and tight.

[F8L]

Check your auxilary battery connections including the ground that connects to the body panel (if they do this on your model like the 04+).

If that does not change anything then remove the fuse on your power wire leading to your amplifier. There should be no need to remove the amplifier. Just disconnect the power and ground leading to the amplifier at their sources, not at the amplifier itself.

How did you obtain a source signal for the amplfier? Did you use an aftermarket head unit or did you use a line converter and get signal from stock speakers?

Yes, I do have a very large set of amplifiers in my car (1,900 watts RMS).

[Luis Ruiz]

I should have mentioned this. I did disconnect the amp at the big fuse the day this happened and haven't connected it again. The warning light is still on. Now the system worked when it was installed but I didn't what anything worse to happen so I disconnected it.

Another thing when I go to start the car I have to insert the key, take it out, insert it again, then crank it immediately for it to start.

I used an line converter, didn't want to get a after market head unit because I thought I would risk less but maybe I was wrong haha.

Thanks guys.

[F8L]

Have you tried disconnecting the Aux battery for 30min or so and see if the system resets? On our LS1 (Camaro/Firebird/Corvettes) cars we would sometimes get computer glitches and that would fix them although you will see a reduction in mpg while the system relearns. Maybe this works with the Prius?

Have you checked for codes?

[Luis Ruiz]

what codes?