Leaving Prius unused for 6 weeks

slamdunc · 11-09-2007, 03:28 AM

Hi -

Tried to search for this topic with no luck, so forgive me if it's been asked and answered elsewhere (feel free to reply with a link to that!)

Going away for about 6 weeks and wondering what this will do to my Prius.
- Will it have an adverse effect on the batteries and other parts?
- Should I ask a friend to start it every couple of weeks?

I don't want anything to dry up, crack, die, etc. (nor do I want to inconvenience my friends too much) while I'm away, so any advice or experience on the topic is very much appreciated!!

KD6HDX · 11-09-2007, 04:41 AM

Get a FLOAT charger and clip the leads to your small aux battery in the trunk area. Harbor freight has these things all day for around $8 bucks on average.

good luck.

I currently have an extra battery in the garage that lives on a float charger 24 / 7.

torresr001 · 11-09-2007, 05:26 AM

For what it is worth, we just took our 2007 Prius for a drive and then parked it in the driveway for the six weeks we were on vacation. We got back and it started up without any problems

Bob

patsparks · 11-09-2007, 05:40 AM

It would most likely be safer to leave the prius untouched for 6 weeks than have a non Prius owner start it from time to time. If they leave it in neutral they can flatten the traction battery. The lead acid battery needs more attention than the traction battery.

judymcfarland · 11-09-2007, 08:08 AM

Turn off SKS sytem if you have it.

john1701a · 11-09-2007, 08:22 AM

Unplug the 12-volt battery.

That's a long time for any vehicle to sit unused. Even a minor drain will use up the finite electricity supply available after awhile. Why take the risk when it is so simple to avoid?

**efusco** · 11-09-2007, 09:18 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KD6HDX @ Nov 9 2007, 03:41 AM) [snapback]537167[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Get a FLOAT charger and clip the leads to your small aux battery in the trunk area. Harbor freight has these things all day for around $8 bucks on average.

good luck.

I currently have an extra battery in the garage that lives on a float charger 24 / 7. [/b]

My vote.
If you don't think this is something you'd ever use again and don't want to bother then my second choice would be to pull the dome fuse while you're away.

slamdunc · 11-09-2007, 09:29 AM

Thanks to all of you guys for all the prompt replies. I appreciate your time and post back here when I decide what I'll do in case it'll help anyone else.

We're going to be sad that we won't have our Prius for 6 weeks

My mom has a Civic hybrid but it's not quite the same...

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11-09-2007, 03:28 AM	#1
slamdunc Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi - Tried to search for this topic with no luck, so forgive me if it's been asked and answered elsewhere (feel free to reply with a link to that!) Going away for about 6 weeks and wondering what this will do to my Prius. - Will it have an adverse effect on the batteries and other parts? - Should I ask a friend to start it every couple of weeks? I don't want anything to dry up, crack, die, etc. (nor do I want to inconvenience my friends too much) while I'm away, so any advice or experience on the topic is very much appreciated!!

11-09-2007, 04:41 AM	#2
KD6HDX Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Chino Hills,CA Posts: 192 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Get a FLOAT charger and clip the leads to your small aux battery in the trunk area. Harbor freight has these things all day for around $8 bucks on average. good luck. I currently have an extra battery in the garage that lives on a float charger 24 / 7.

11-09-2007, 05:26 AM	#3
torresr001 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 11 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	For what it is worth, we just took our 2007 Prius for a drive and then parked it in the driveway for the six weeks we were on vacation. We got back and it started up without any problems Bob

11-09-2007, 05:40 AM	#4
patsparks Uneducated bird-brain Aussie Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 4,905 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	It would most likely be safer to leave the prius untouched for 6 weeks than have a non Prius owner start it from time to time. If they leave it in neutral they can flatten the traction battery. The lead acid battery needs more attention than the traction battery.

11-09-2007, 08:08 AM	#5
judymcfarland Queen of Moral Indignation Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Glendale, WI Posts: 388 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #3 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Turn off SKS sytem if you have it.

11-09-2007, 08:22 AM	#6
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,715 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Unplug the 12-volt battery. That's a long time for any vehicle to sit unused. Even a minor drain will use up the finite electricity supply available after awhile. Why take the risk when it is so simple to avoid?

11-09-2007, 09:29 AM	#8
slamdunc Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks to all of you guys for all the prompt replies. I appreciate your time and post back here when I decide what I'll do in case it'll help anyone else. We're going to be sad that we won't have our Prius for 6 weeks My mom has a Civic hybrid but it's not quite the same...