Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week

Dilbert · 12-29-2007, 10:16 PM

My wife returned home from vacation after a week and our Prius was dead (we thing a door was left open). She hooked up the battery charger at the low setting, which restores the interior power, but only gets the clicking of a relay whe she tried to start the car. The car will not "start" and there was a warning that the transmission has malfunctioned. I assume this car needs go be towed. Will the main battery really go dead if a door is left open? Anyone recover from this state on their own before?

richard schumacher · 12-29-2007, 11:17 PM

Sounds like the car was not shut OFF. If so then a tow to a dealer is in your near future. Bummer.

After this is resolved, get in the habit of always locking the car no matter where you park it. If it is not OFF or if something is ajar it will warn you with a long beep.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 12-29-2007, 11:38 PM

Make sure you let the trickle charge work over night before you attempt another start.

When you say that there is a warning that the transmission has malfunctioned, is the warning on the MFD? If so, did you have the door open when you saw this warning because when you have the door open while the car is on you get some arcane warning that could be interpreted as a transmission problem.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

Dilbert · 12-29-2007, 11:52 PM

I really don't think the car was left on. We left for vacation in our other car and this one was already in the garage from the previous night. I am not actally at home yet, and my wife knows little about cars, so it sounds like a tow. We decided not to leave on the trickle charge because here was a relay constantly tripping on and off when the charger was on and she could not get the car to "power down" either. The door could have been open. If I were home I would attempt to charge it, but I don't want her to take any chances. Thank goodness I got the extended warranty. We have had this 2004 for 3.5 years and it has 30,000 miles.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 12-30-2007, 12:29 AM

Don't worry too much, Dilbert. I somehow managed to drain my 12v battery a couple years ago. After a jump start from AAA, all was well. In fact, I'm still running on that same battery even though some have told me to replace it. I just never got around to it.

In short, this isn't a big deal. The hybrid battery is just fine. If your wife can't start the car (in my case, I had a heck of a time turning it off) than it's the little 12v and not the hybrid battery. After all, it's the 12v that actually starts the car.

**efusco** · 12-30-2007, 09:05 AM

You need to do what you feel you need to do, but this doesn't sound like a towing situation.

I think you need a jump start.
The only other thought I had is that your battery may be dead. I don't know what year/how old your Prius is, but you joined in '04 so it may be as much as almost 4 years old and the 12v could be nearing the end of it's useful life and not holding a charge well.

Doc Willie · 12-30-2007, 01:40 PM

Where are you attaching the trickle charger? If you are going through the cigarette lighter/power ports, it won't work.

And a trickle charger may actually have enough juice to start the Prius if you follow the friendly owner's manual.

jayman · 12-30-2007, 09:05 PM

A very low or dead 12 vdc battery will cause very odd system behavior.

You can hook the charger to either the underhood jump point, or directly to the 12 vdc battery. The underhood jump point is easiest.

I have posted in previous threads the TSB regarding how to properly charge the Prius 12 vdc battery. Toyota does recommend an automatic battery charger - one with their own brand of course! - at the 10 amp setting.

A 12 vdc battery that has been in a dead state for a few days or longer, will need a lot more than 2-3 amps before accepting charge. For some truly dead batteries (Lights left on all day) I have had to use a 60 amp setting

bigj3347 · 12-31-2007, 09:11 PM

I was out of town for three weeks and forgot to turn off the sks. When I got back, the sks was turned off but my car was able to start fine, you might want to get the battery checked. just my 2 cents.

patsparks · 12-31-2007, 11:01 PM

Remove the negative battery lead from the battery terminal, leave the charger connected directly to the battery for a few hours, reconnect the battery and try again.
Good luck.

12-29-2007, 10:16 PM	#1
Dilbert Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 40 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week My wife returned home from vacation after a week and our Prius was dead (we thing a door was left open). She hooked up the battery charger at the low setting, which restores the interior power, but only gets the clicking of a relay whe she tried to start the car. The car will not "start" and there was a warning that the transmission has malfunctioned. I assume this car needs go be towed. Will the main battery really go dead if a door is left open? Anyone recover from this state on their own before?

12-29-2007, 11:17 PM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,510 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week Sounds like the car was not shut OFF. If so then a tow to a dealer is in your near future. Bummer. After this is resolved, get in the habit of always locking the car no matter where you park it. If it is not OFF or if something is ajar it will warn you with a long beep.

12-29-2007, 11:38 PM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,499 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week Make sure you let the trickle charge work over night before you attempt another start. When you say that there is a warning that the transmission has malfunctioned, is the warning on the MFD? If so, did you have the door open when you saw this warning because when you have the door open while the car is on you get some arcane warning that could be interpreted as a transmission problem. Good luck. Keep us posted.

12-29-2007, 11:52 PM	#4
Dilbert Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 40 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week I really don't think the car was left on. We left for vacation in our other car and this one was already in the garage from the previous night. I am not actally at home yet, and my wife knows little about cars, so it sounds like a tow. We decided not to leave on the trickle charge because here was a relay constantly tripping on and off when the charger was on and she could not get the car to "power down" either. The door could have been open. If I were home I would attempt to charge it, but I don't want her to take any chances. Thank goodness I got the extended warranty. We have had this 2004 for 3.5 years and it has 30,000 miles.

12-30-2007, 12:29 AM	#5
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,499 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week Don't worry too much, Dilbert. I somehow managed to drain my 12v battery a couple years ago. After a jump start from AAA, all was well. In fact, I'm still running on that same battery even though some have told me to replace it. I just never got around to it. In short, this isn't a big deal. The hybrid battery is just fine. If your wife can't start the car (in my case, I had a heck of a time turning it off) than it's the little 12v and not the hybrid battery. After all, it's the 12v that actually starts the car. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness Current Mileage Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook Find me on faceBook

12-30-2007, 09:05 AM	#6
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,231 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 49 Thanked 249 Times in 148 Posts Friends: 37	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week You need to do what you feel you need to do, but this doesn't sound like a towing situation. I think you need a jump start. The only other thought I had is that your battery may be dead. I don't know what year/how old your Prius is, but you joined in '04 so it may be as much as almost 4 years old and the 12v could be nearing the end of it's useful life and not holding a charge well.

12-30-2007, 01:40 PM	#7
Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out there, somewhere Posts: 1,473 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts Friends: 11	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week Where are you attaching the trickle charger? If you are going through the cigarette lighter/power ports, it won't work. And a trickle charger may actually have enough juice to start the Prius if you follow the friendly owner's manual.

12-30-2007, 09:05 PM	#8
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,562 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 185 Times in 168 Posts Friends: 12	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week A very low or dead 12 vdc battery will cause very odd system behavior. You can hook the charger to either the underhood jump point, or directly to the 12 vdc battery. The underhood jump point is easiest. I have posted in previous threads the TSB regarding how to properly charge the Prius 12 vdc battery. Toyota does recommend an automatic battery charger - one with their own brand of course! - at the 10 amp setting. A 12 vdc battery that has been in a dead state for a few days or longer, will need a lot more than 2-3 amps before accepting charge. For some truly dead batteries (Lights left on all day) I have had to use a 60 amp setting __________________ 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C", Sun Fusion

12-31-2007, 09:11 PM	#9
bigj3347 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hacienda Heights, Ca Posts: 162 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week I was out of town for three weeks and forgot to turn off the sks. When I got back, the sks was turned off but my car was able to start fine, you might want to get the battery checked. just my 2 cents.

12-31-2007, 11:01 PM	#10
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 182 Times in 140 Posts Friends: 33	Re: Prius Dead After Sitting 1 week Remove the negative battery lead from the battery terminal, leave the charger connected directly to the battery for a few hours, reconnect the battery and try again. Good luck.