worried about leaving car at airport (battery drain?)

mayathystle · 08-14-2007, 10:18 PM

I'm leaving on vacation shortly and have to leave the Prius at the airport. I am concerned about draining the battery and having to be towed home. I will be gone for 18 days. Will this be a problem, or am I over-reacting?

Rae Vynn · 08-14-2007, 10:27 PM

If you have the smartkey, turn it OFF under the steering wheel.
Make sure that you've turned off the little light in the hatch.
In fact, I'd turn off all the light switches, so they won't come on when you open doors.

I think 18 days should be fine, as long as everything is turned off.

powphilprius · 08-14-2007, 10:39 PM

Owners manual page 33; deactivate the smart function if you do not intend to drive your vehicle for a long time, push the cancel switch in to deactivate (below the steering wheel, the leftmost of the 3). Use the mechanical key to open the car when you return, insert the smart key into the key slot to start, activate the smart function by pushing the cancel button so it is out not in. and there you have it!

Speedracer · 08-14-2007, 11:40 PM

I left my car unattended for more than 3 weeks and my car turn on with out problems
Like everyone says if your Prius equipped with Smart Key system just turn off main switch.

oly_57mpg · 08-14-2007, 11:47 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Speedracer @ Aug 14 2007, 11:40 PM) [snapback]495890[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I left my car unattended for more than 3 weeks and my car turn on with out problems
Like everyone says if your Prius equipped with Smart Key system just turn off main switch.
[/b]

Do as stated above.

I've parked my car at Seatac for a week and a half and forgot to disable SKS... I did not have any issues... Your results may vary.

tedmarshall · 08-15-2007, 05:15 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mayathystle @ Aug 14 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]495809[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm leaving on vacation shortly and have to leave the Prius at the airport. I am concerned about draining the battery and having to be towed home. I will be gone for 18 days. Will this be a problem, or am I over-reacting?
[/b]

My dealer gave me a 30-odd page laser-printed guide in addition to the standard Toyota manuals. In there, they recommend pulling the "dome" fuse (sorry, don't remember the number) if storing the Prius for more than two weeks. This disables the smart-key system, audio, nav and a few other things. The car is still drivable but this reduces the power drain with the ignition off.

I was recently away for three weeks and did this. Had no trouble starting the car upon my return. (Not that I can say that I'd have trouble if I hadn't done this.)

ny biker · 08-15-2007, 05:19 PM

If you ever did leave the car long enough to drain the battery, you don't need to tow it anywhere -- just need to jumpstart it, which can be done under the hood (no need to reach the battery in back, which is virtually impossible since you can't open the hatch without battery power).

priusenvy · 08-15-2007, 05:42 PM

I've left my Prius sitting for 18 days straight with the SKS system still on and had no trouble starting it when I returned home.

mayathystle · 08-15-2007, 06:17 PM

It sounds like I shouldn't have any trouble leaving it for this period of time. If I do have to jumpstart it, can't that be dangerous? That may be a Prius myth that I heard somewhere. Does anyone know?

oly_57mpg · 08-15-2007, 06:42 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mayathystle @ Aug 15 2007, 06:17 PM) [snapback]496434[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

It sounds like I shouldn't have any trouble leaving it for this period of time. If I do have to jumpstart it, can't that be dangerous? That may be a Prius myth that I heard somewhere. Does anyone know?
[/b]

RTFM. There's a section in the manual about completing a [normal 12V] jump start. However, you shouldn't have any problems.

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08-14-2007, 10:18 PM	#1
mayathystle Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 34 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm leaving on vacation shortly and have to leave the Prius at the airport. I am concerned about draining the battery and having to be towed home. I will be gone for 18 days. Will this be a problem, or am I over-reacting?

08-14-2007, 10:27 PM	#2
Rae Vynn Tree-hugging Vegan Witch Join Date: May 2007 Location: Grays Harbor, WA, USA Posts: 4,155 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 258 Thanked 61 Times in 51 Posts Friends: 66	If you have the smartkey, turn it OFF under the steering wheel. Make sure that you've turned off the little light in the hatch. In fact, I'd turn off all the light switches, so they won't come on when you open doors. I think 18 days should be fine, as long as everything is turned off.

08-14-2007, 10:39 PM	#3
powphilprius Elshawno~ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 69 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Owners manual page 33; deactivate the smart function if you do not intend to drive your vehicle for a long time, push the cancel switch in to deactivate (below the steering wheel, the leftmost of the 3). Use the mechanical key to open the car when you return, insert the smart key into the key slot to start, activate the smart function by pushing the cancel button so it is out not in. and there you have it!

08-14-2007, 11:40 PM	#4
Speedracer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nagoya, Shanghai Posts: 332 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: G Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I left my car unattended for more than 3 weeks and my car turn on with out problems Like everyone says if your Prius equipped with Smart Key system just turn off main switch.

08-15-2007, 05:19 PM	#7
ny biker Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 441 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	If you ever did leave the car long enough to drain the battery, you don't need to tow it anywhere -- just need to jumpstart it, which can be done under the hood (no need to reach the battery in back, which is virtually impossible since you can't open the hatch without battery power).

08-15-2007, 05:42 PM	#8
priusenvy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, CA Posts: 1,758 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I've left my Prius sitting for 18 days straight with the SKS system still on and had no trouble starting it when I returned home.

08-15-2007, 06:17 PM	#9
mayathystle Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 34 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	It sounds like I shouldn't have any trouble leaving it for this period of time. If I do have to jumpstart it, can't that be dangerous? That may be a Prius myth that I heard somewhere. Does anyone know?