HELP! ASAP please.......

Gasolean5 · 01-15-2008, 09:25 PM

Hey everyone! I just came back from a vacation of just a little over 3 weeks and my Prius is not starting. I have had left the lights on before and had the battery go dead before. I usually just left it on for 20 or so minutes and it seemed to work after that. I'm currently leaving it on now but in addition to all the lights going off when I turn it on (and the car being sluggish) the gas lights are doing funny things too. Any thoughts? I have to drive back to NY tomorrow. I left the car at a family member that was SUPPOSED to drive it. But I think its obvious that they didn't.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 01-15-2008, 09:39 PM

It almost appears as though you were not successful in convincing your relatives that the car should be driven often. In the future, I would suggest that you remove the dome light fuse or find different relatives.

In the immediate future, you should be able to jump it.

Shieldsy · 01-15-2008, 09:40 PM

If it has "Smart Key" the 12v Battery sounds like it has depleted. Next time you go away for over a week, just disable the smart key (in the manual)system that polls continuously for your FOB.

As for now, just jumper the car (it's in the manual) and as soon as the "READY" light comes on, the main traction battery should charge the 12v battery and everything will be OK.

beboyle · 01-15-2008, 09:44 PM

Sounds like your 12v starter battery is too low to get the computers running. You can safely jump start the car using the two connections in the fuse box under the hood. They're designed to connect with normal jumper cables. It won't take much power to get you going. Check your owner's manual for specifics.

Gasolean5 · 01-15-2008, 10:11 PM

Thanks everyone for the prompt replies. I do not have Smart Key - I have a base price normal 2006 Prius. I bought it new. The first time this happened I did jump it and was told it wasn't necessary. I'm still hoping its not.

I find that a lot of non-prius people are afraid to drive it. I usually leave it with a friend when I leave for long periods of time and they do drive it but I have since moved from that side of the state and am closer to family so I decided to leave it with them.

I will try jumping it tomorrow. I hope it's okay. I love my car and I'm really mad that someone neglected it. Especially someone I trusted to make sure its driven every couple days

drees · 01-16-2008, 03:26 AM

Don't worry about it, a quick jump start and a 20 min drive and you'll be good to go.

You might want to get the 12v battery checked, though, I would have thought that it would survive 3-weeks without having the smart-key function on.

Gasolean5 · 01-16-2008, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drees

Don't worry about it, a quick jump start and a 20 min drive and you'll be good to go.

You might want to get the 12v battery checked, though, I would have thought that it would survive 3-weeks without having the smart-key function on.

I would think so too. I have friends that have the fancier models that do die out fairly quickly. But mine isn't. I was gone from Dec 29th (but the last time I drove it was the 28th) to Jan 15th. Not even three weeks. I did get it to run for a bit last night. I'm going to just go ahead and leave in a bit and hopefully I'll make it home to New YorK!

Gasolean5 · 01-16-2008, 08:40 AM

Update: Now it's COMPLETELY and utterly DEAD. Nothing is turning on or off. I can't get he other doors to unlock. Only the driver's side. I have called AAA and my family member's Prius dealer (we're a family of Prii) and we'll see what happens. Talk about a great way to end your vacation.

**efusco** · 01-16-2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasolean5

Update: Now it's COMPLETELY and utterly DEAD. Nothing is turning on or off. I can't get he other doors to unlock. Only the driver's side. I have called AAA and my family member's Prius dealer (we're a family of Prii) and we'll see what happens. Talk about a great way to end your vacation.

I'm confused...have you or have you not jump started it yet? Everything you've described is exactly consistant with a dead 12v and you should start right back up if you do a simple jump.

Betelgeuse · 01-16-2008, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efusco

I'm confused...have you or have you not jump started it yet? Everything you've described is exactly consistant with a dead 12v and you should start right back up if you do a simple jump.

Agreed. The only thing that this is consistent with is a totally dead (i.e. non-rechargeable) battery. If a simple jump doesn't fix it, you probably need to replace the 12V battery.

Assuming there weren't anything drawing power while you were gone, it should have *easily* lasted for three weeks without driving. There's a second indicator that you might need a new 12V battery.

Actually, did you leave your headlight switch on? I've been trying to figure out why some people have problems with dead batteries and others don't. It seems like a lot of people that come home to dead batteries left their headlight switch in the "On" position.

01-15-2008, 09:25 PM	#1
Gasolean5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NY Posts: 7 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	HELP! ASAP please....... Hey everyone! I just came back from a vacation of just a little over 3 weeks and my Prius is not starting. I have had left the lights on before and had the battery go dead before. I usually just left it on for 20 or so minutes and it seemed to work after that. I'm currently leaving it on now but in addition to all the lights going off when I turn it on (and the car being sluggish) the gas lights are doing funny things too. Any thoughts? I have to drive back to NY tomorrow. I left the car at a family member that was SUPPOSED to drive it. But I think its obvious that they didn't.

01-15-2008, 09:39 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,503 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... It almost appears as though you were not successful in convincing your relatives that the car should be driven often. In the future, I would suggest that you remove the dome light fuse or find different relatives. In the immediate future, you should be able to jump it.

01-15-2008, 09:40 PM	#3
Shieldsy Prius Fruitcake Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 32 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: I-Tech Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... If it has "Smart Key" the 12v Battery sounds like it has depleted. Next time you go away for over a week, just disable the smart key (in the manual)system that polls continuously for your FOB. As for now, just jumper the car (it's in the manual) and as soon as the "READY" light comes on, the main traction battery should charge the 12v battery and everything will be OK.

01-15-2008, 09:44 PM	#4
beboyle Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 34 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... Sounds like your 12v starter battery is too low to get the computers running. You can safely jump start the car using the two connections in the fuse box under the hood. They're designed to connect with normal jumper cables. It won't take much power to get you going. Check your owner's manual for specifics.

01-15-2008, 10:11 PM	#5
Gasolean5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NY Posts: 7 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... Thanks everyone for the prompt replies. I do not have Smart Key - I have a base price normal 2006 Prius. I bought it new. The first time this happened I did jump it and was told it wasn't necessary. I'm still hoping its not. I find that a lot of non-prius people are afraid to drive it. I usually leave it with a friend when I leave for long periods of time and they do drive it but I have since moved from that side of the state and am closer to family so I decided to leave it with them. I will try jumping it tomorrow. I hope it's okay. I love my car and I'm really mad that someone neglected it. Especially someone I trusted to make sure its driven every couple days

01-16-2008, 03:26 AM	#6
drees Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 780 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 120 Thanked 48 Times in 41 Posts Friends: 1	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... Don't worry about it, a quick jump start and a 20 min drive and you'll be good to go. You might want to get the 12v battery checked, though, I would have thought that it would survive 3-weeks without having the smart-key function on.

01-16-2008, 08:40 AM	#8
Gasolean5 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NY Posts: 7 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: HELP! ASAP please....... Update: Now it's COMPLETELY and utterly DEAD. Nothing is turning on or off. I can't get he other doors to unlock. Only the driver's side. I have called AAA and my family member's Prius dealer (we're a family of Prii) and we'll see what happens. Talk about a great way to end your vacation.