Common 2G Problems, and What to Do About Them...

[zonie911]

Thanks to all of you for these reports.
You have compiled some really good info concerning matters involving gen ll into one short thread.

[orange4boy]

The following advice is for 12V flooded lead acid batteries. AGM or Gel batteries require a different charger or one with the correct settings but will suffer the same fate if chronically undercharged.

Problem: Recurring 12V battery early death
Diagnosis: Battery should have a float charge of 13+ volts when you come back from a trip . Resting voltage the next morning should be 12.6 minimum or 12.8+ is better. Voltage is a poor way to test SOC. Only way to be sure with a sealed battery is to charge with a good automatic charger.
Cause: Short trips don't fully charge the battery. Battery becomes sulfated from chronic undercharging and acid stratification. It needs about a full hour to float charge and to eliminate acid stratification.
Cure: Charge at home with a good automatic charger at least a couple of times a week. After every trip would be better. You may be able to install an automatic trickle charger under the hood, connect to battery wires there and have the plug come out thru a gap in the grille openings. The positive terminal is in the fuse box on the left side of the engine compartment. Any chassis gound point is used as the negative terminal.

Your battery theoretically should last 6-7 years since all they do is boot up the computer and don't have to start the engine. Undercharging is a common problem and not just a Prius issue. Most car batteries are undercharged on short trips.

[hschuck]

FOR THE RECORD---

Inverter coolant pump replaced on my 2005 with 70,000 miles

All costs covered by Platinum extended warranty.
Invoice costs were:
pump $116.09
coolant 17.30
labor 108.00

[Weinerneck]

Originally Posted by orange4boy

The following advice is for 12V flooded lead acid batteries. AGM or Gel batteries require a different charger or one with the correct settings but will suffer the same fate if chronically undercharged.

Problem: Recurring 12V battery early death
Diagnosis: Battery should have a float charge of 13+ volts when you come back from a trip . Resting voltage the next morning should be 12.6 minimum or 12.8+ is better. Voltage is a poor way to test SOC. Only way to be sure with a sealed battery is to charge with a good automatic charger.
Cause: Short trips don't fully charge the battery. Battery becomes sulfated from chronic undercharging and acid stratification. It needs about a full hour to float charge and to eliminate acid stratification.
Cure: Charge at home with a good automatic charger at least a couple of times a week. After every trip would be better. You may be able to install an automatic trickle charger under the hood, connect to battery wires there and have the plug come out thru a gap in the grille openings. The positive terminal is in the fuse box on the left side of the engine compartment. Any chassis gound point is used as the negative terminal.

Your battery theoretically should last 6-7 years since all they do is boot up the computer and don't have to start the engine. Undercharging is a common problem and not just a Prius issue. Most car batteries are undercharged on short trips.

If you are having a recurring 12V battery problems there is something wrong some place. Charging the battery with a charger a couple times a week is not a cure, nobody is going to do that.