Idled car

Peter1st · 09-04-2004, 10:07 AM

I plan to idle my 2004 Prius in my garage for a period of five months.Would appreciate suggestions as to how to prepare the car for disuse. Trickle charger?, battery disconnect? etc. etc.

Thanks!
PETER

**efusco** · 09-04-2004, 10:14 AM

By idle I assume you mean it will be parked, and unused for that 5 month period.

In theory the HV battery should be fine for b/w 6 months to 1 year without use or charging. If it will not be possible for someone to at least put the car in "Ready" mode for 30 minutes every week or so, or even at least once during the vacation period then you should still be ok on that front. If it is possible to have someone start it up and maybe drive it a little bit that would add a little extra assurance of a good charge.

The 12v battery either needs to be disconnected or placed on a tender/trickle charger. For that duration my preference would be to disconnect. You'll have to reset all your presets on the radio and NAV and such. But I think that's a fairly small price to pay considering the life of the battery.

Peter1st · 09-04-2004, 10:23 AM

Thanks for your comment! Any suggestions on the tender/charger? ie. brand name charging rate, with or without timer?

Peter

Cris Lombardi · 09-04-2004, 10:55 AM

I'm interested in this topic too, because my work can sometimes take me out of town for as long as 2 months, and my Prius would sit in the garage for all that time (hasn't happened yet- just got the car 2 weeks ago). Previous posters have said that the 12v battery is the only cause for concern, but my owner's manual says on page 8:
"If you do not use the vehicle for a long time (2 weeks or more), the hybrid vehicle battery and auxilliary battery will discharge and their condition is liable to decline."
Has anyone actually mothballed their Prius for a "long time" and if so, how did the hybrid battery hold up?

Frank Hudon · 09-04-2004, 11:17 AM

after 4 months in the body shop they had to charge and "equalize" the HV battery. According to the work order. The 12volt battery was changed. I don't know if they charged the HV when they had it out of the car or not, I didn't ask the BS manager. By the way the car was repaired perfectly.

**efusco** · 09-04-2004, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frank Hudon
after 4 months in the body shop they had to charge and \"equalize\" the HV battery. According to the work order. The 12volt battery was changed. I don't know if they charged the HV when they had it out of the car or not, I didn't ask the BS manager. By the way the car was repaired perfectly.

AFAIK there is no way to charge the HV battery outside of the vehicle. To charge it in the vehicle requires a very special charger that connects to one of the ECUs and the battery simultaneously and then charges VERY slowly.

The "Charge and Equalize" statement is very interesting...was that a Toyota body shop or a 3rd party? I can't imagine any third party body shop has the technical expertise to deal with the HV battery/hybrid system.

MarinJohn · 09-04-2004, 11:47 AM

I have been told by my toyota prius maechnic to pull the dome light fuse for extended periods of unuse. I am assuming that is to preserve the 12v battery.

DaveinOlyWA · 09-04-2004, 12:59 PM

MarinJohn....

find another mechanic before its too late.

the 12 v battery will not run down because of the dome light if the dome light is not on. simply switching the light off will fix any normally working car.

the 12 v battery is used to sense the readiness of the car and your fob amongst other things. these are things that cannot be disabled by you.

when entering the car before inserting the fob, you will notice the "fob" light flashing on your dashboard. (this occurs all the time even without SS/SE.) that is one of many things that uses the 12 v battery when the car is not running.

paprius4030 · 09-04-2004, 01:35 PM

I read in another post that you ARE supposed to pull the dome light fuse. It is pulled when the car is shipped. It must disconnect something else in addition to the dome light. Does anybody knpow for sure what pulling the dome light fuse will do?

**efusco** · 09-04-2004, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DaveinOlyWA
MarinJohn....

find another mechanic before its too late.

the 12 v battery will not run down because of the dome light if the dome light is not on. simply switching the light off will fix any normally working car.

the 12 v battery is used to sense the readiness of the car and your fob amongst other things. these are things that cannot be disabled by you.

when entering the car before inserting the fob, you will notice the \"fob\" light flashing on your dashboard. (this occurs all the time even without SS/SE.) that is one of many things that uses the 12 v battery when the car is not running.

I think he's ok with his current mechanic...the DOME fuse, apparently, does a lot more than just act as a fuse for the DOME light. All cars are shipped with the DOME fuse out to preserve the battery and it's the first thing the dealers are supposed to put in when the car arrives. It seems to be an easy way to 'disconnect' the entire battery circuit.

09-04-2004, 10:07 AM	#1
Peter1st Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Idled car I plan to idle my 2004 Prius in my garage for a period of five months.Would appreciate suggestions as to how to prepare the car for disuse. Trickle charger?, battery disconnect? etc. etc. Thanks! PETER

09-04-2004, 10:14 AM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 12,824 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 20	By idle I assume you mean it will be parked, and unused for that 5 month period. In theory the HV battery should be fine for b/w 6 months to 1 year without use or charging. If it will not be possible for someone to at least put the car in "Ready" mode for 30 minutes every week or so, or even at least once during the vacation period then you should still be ok on that front. If it is possible to have someone start it up and maybe drive it a little bit that would add a little extra assurance of a good charge. The 12v battery either needs to be disconnected or placed on a tender/trickle charger. For that duration my preference would be to disconnect. You'll have to reset all your presets on the radio and NAV and such. But I think that's a fairly small price to pay considering the life of the battery. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

09-04-2004, 12:59 PM	#8
DaveinOlyWA Opps !! I Did it Again!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 9,239 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 4	MarinJohn.... find another mechanic before its too late. the 12 v battery will not run down because of the dome light if the dome light is not on. simply switching the light off will fix any normally working car. the 12 v battery is used to sense the readiness of the car and your fob amongst other things. these are things that cannot be disabled by you. when entering the car before inserting the fob, you will notice the "fob" light flashing on your dashboard. (this occurs all the time even without SS/SE.) that is one of many things that uses the 12 v battery when the car is not running. __________________ My 2006: Last tank 457.6 miles @54.2 pump (54.3 computer) 7.12 cpm winter mpg 50.78 summer mpg 55.25 lifetime: 30,151.4 miles 53.13 mpg pump (54.37 mpg computer) 5.70 cpm My 2007 Zenn Driven 4474 miles, 2.08 cpm/ 178 mpg (at $3.71/gal), 3.75 miles/ Kwh Savings over my Prius $244.71 The Corolla...447.12 The REAL SAVINGS from not driving Corolla 544.07 +Prius=788.78 (excludes maintenance costs...would be unfair to ICE vehicles) My Plate: DUALPWR (Dual Power)

09-04-2004, 01:35 PM	#9
paprius4030 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pocono's, Pa. Posts: 955 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #2 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dome Light Fuse I read in another post that you ARE supposed to pull the dome light fuse. It is pulled when the car is shipped. It must disconnect something else in addition to the dome light. Does anybody knpow for sure what pulling the dome light fuse will do?

09-04-2004, 10:23 AM	#3
Peter1st Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 9 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks for your comment! Any suggestions on the tender/charger? ie. brand name charging rate, with or without timer? Peter

09-04-2004, 10:55 AM	#4
Cris Lombardi Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 30 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm interested in this topic too, because my work can sometimes take me out of town for as long as 2 months, and my Prius would sit in the garage for all that time (hasn't happened yet- just got the car 2 weeks ago). Previous posters have said that the 12v battery is the only cause for concern, but my owner's manual says on page 8: "If you do not use the vehicle for a long time (2 weeks or more), the hybrid vehicle battery and auxilliary battery will discharge and their condition is liable to decline." Has anyone actually mothballed their Prius for a "long time" and if so, how did the hybrid battery hold up?

09-04-2004, 11:17 AM	#5
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	after 4 months in the body shop they had to charge and "equalize" the HV battery. According to the work order. The 12volt battery was changed. I don't know if they charged the HV when they had it out of the car or not, I didn't ask the BS manager. By the way the car was repaired perfectly.

09-04-2004, 11:47 AM	#7
MarinJohn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 1,929 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I have been told by my toyota prius maechnic to pull the dome light fuse for extended periods of unuse. I am assuming that is to preserve the 12v battery.