Battery

[grubmans]

I just bought a 2007 Prius. I've noticed that when I don't use it for two days, the Energy Monitor indicates that the battery is down to 2 purple bars. I have 2 questions: (1) Is this normal? (2) I'm planning on leaving the car for a two week trip. Will the battery be dead when I return? I know to turn off the Smart Key. Thanks for your help.

[Tideland Prius]

that shouldn't happen unless you left it at 2 or 3 bars the last time you shut it off.

I'd be more concerned about the 12V battery. Turn off the SKS, headlight, dome light, cargo light and vanity light (i.e. move all of them to the OFF position).

[grubmans]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Apr 4 2007, 08:24 PM) [snapback]417889[/snapback]</div>

that shouldn't happen unless you left it at 2 or 3 bars the last time you shut it off.

I'd be more concerned about the 12V battery. Turn off the SKS, headlight, dome light, cargo light and vanity light (i.e. move all of them to the OFF position).
[/b]

Hi Tideland: Thanks for the reply. I asked two questions. Which question were you answering? (1) Is it normal for the battery to discharge down to two purple bars after two days of nonuse? (BTW, the battery was at 6 purple bars when I turned off the car). Or (2) Will the battery be dead if I leave the car for two weeks? Thanks for the advice about turning off the inside lights.

[San_Carlos_Jeff]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 05:41 PM) [snapback]417898[/snapback]</div>

Hi Tideland: Thanks for the reply. I asked two questions. Which question were you answering? (1) Is it normal for the battery to discharge down to two purple bars after two days of nonuse? (BTW, the battery was at 6 purple bars when I turned off the car). Or (2) Will the battery be dead if I leave the car for two weeks? Thanks for the advice about turning off the inside lights. [/b]

Losing 4 bars in two days is definitely not normal. I doubt you should lose any in two days. Are you sure you're turning the car off completely?

I've left my car for two weeks and when firing it back up didn't notice any change in the battery (although it could have dropped a bar or two).

[grubmans]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(San_Carlos_Jeff @ Apr 4 2007, 08:50 PM) [snapback]417902[/snapback]</div>

Losing 4 bars in two days is definitely not normal. I doubt you should lose any in two days. Are you sure you're turning the car off completely?

I've left my car for two weeks and when firing it back up didn't notice any change in the battery (although it could have dropped a bar or two).
[/b]

I turn the car off by pressing the "P" to put the car in Park and then I press the "Power" button. I hate to sound stupid but (maybe I am!!!) do I need to do anything else to turn the car off completely? Do I have to separately turn off the radio or the bluetooth?

[JimN]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 07:54 PM) [snapback]417905[/snapback]</div>

I turn the car off by pressing the "P" to put the car in Park and then I press the "Power" button. I hate to sound stupid but (maybe I am!!!) do I need to do anything else to turn the car off completely? Do I have to separately turn off the radio or the bluetooth?
[/b]

Turning everything off before powering down is a good habit to get into. From your description I don't believe you are doing anything that should be draining the battery. Sounding stupid is one thing. Being stupid is another. You were smart enough to buy this car. Sooner or later everyone is going to make a bonehead mistake that is either going to cost a little money or inconvenience. There is no such thing as a stupid question. If something bothers you, ask. This car has many unique characteristics and there are many helpful experts here. Welcome to the site. (For the record, I don't believe for a second Sheana is stupid.)

Does the condition persist when the radio & bluetooth are turned off?

[Bill Merchant]

Hi Sheana, welcome to PriusChat! I agree with Jim that the only stupid questions are the ones a person is too pig-headed to ask.

When you hit the Power button and the little car with the key starts blinking on the dash lights, the High Voltage battery is completely disconnected from the car, only the little 12 volt battery is powering things. Your HV battery level should be the same as when you turned it off after only two days, unless the weather gets very cold. A cold battery won't put out as much power as a room-temperature one, nor will a hot battery, so use your AC down there in Florida, for your battery's sake...

I'd suggest taking it to the dealer and ask them to test the HV battery. While highly unlikely, it's possible you got a defective one; there have been a few reports. If you need a new HV battery, it is covered by warranty.

Since the 12V battery is small, eliminating as many power drains as possible is a good idea when you leave the car for over two weeks. One particular problem has been the cargo light. It can be left on by mistake and the tonneau cover pulled so you don't see it and it can suck the 12V battery right down.

All that said, I've left my 2005 at the airport for 10 days without turning anything off (I never use the cargo light though) and it started right up, just as I had left it.

[snowdog650]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 4 2007, 10:02 PM) [snapback]418030[/snapback]</div>

Sounding stupid is one thing. Being stupid is another.[/b]

Jim ... this is one of your better quotes. I think I'll use this in my conference call tomorrow.

[grubmans]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(snowdog650 @ Apr 5 2007, 02:47 AM) [snapback]418088[/snapback]</div>

Jim ... this is one of your better quotes. I think I'll use this in my conference call tomorrow.
[/b]

Hi All-
Thanks for the great replies!!!

[Walker1]

[quote=sheana @ Apr 4 2007, 07:55 PM) [snapback]417871[/snapback]</div>

I just bought a 2007 Prius. I've noticed that when I don't use it for two days, the Energy Monitor indicates that the battery is down to 2 purple bars. I have 2 questions: (1) Is this normal? (2) I'm planning on leaving the car for a two week trip. Will the battery be dead when I return? I know to turn off the Smart Key. Thanks for your help.
[/b]

I bought 2 battery tenders for 2 of my vehicles. They keep a battery] 12 volts or so and only put a trickle charge in when the voltage drops to around 10 volts. I used to get dead batteries in my motorcycle and yard tractor, but not since I put battery tenders on both. They are well worth the $40 I paid for each one. No more dead or low batteries.