Prius Idle

perryma · 04-15-2008, 07:45 AM

I will be sitting still a lot today in the car with the heat on. I know my charge tends to go low to the two pink bars pretty fast. Do I need to worry about the car battery just going dead or will it kick in and recharge itself even if I am not moving?

ForTheGlory · 04-15-2008, 07:46 AM

It will recharge itself as long as you're in "Ready" mode (ie engine capable of running).

qbee42 · 04-15-2008, 09:26 AM

Make sure to keep the transmission in Park or Drive. The battery will not charge in Neutral.

Tom

dogfriend · 04-15-2008, 10:43 AM

Yes, if you are just sitting in the car, keep it in Ready with transaxle in P. When the battery gets to two pink bars, the engine will come on to recharge the battery, then cycle on and off as needed. The car may move slightly when MG1 starts the engine; this frightened my GF when I left her in the car with the AC on. She thought the car was going to take off.

04-15-2008, 07:45 AM	#1
perryma Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,258 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	Prius Idle I will be sitting still a lot today in the car with the heat on. I know my charge tends to go low to the two pink bars pretty fast. Do I need to worry about the car battery just going dead or will it kick in and recharge itself even if I am not moving?

04-15-2008, 07:46 AM	#2
ForTheGlory Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 294 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Prius Idle It will recharge itself as long as you're in "Ready" mode (ie engine capable of running).

04-15-2008, 09:26 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 5,554 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 5	Re: Prius Idle Make sure to keep the transmission in Park or Drive. The battery will not charge in Neutral. Tom

04-15-2008, 10:43 AM	#4
dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 2,673 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 7	Re: Prius Idle Yes, if you are just sitting in the car, keep it in Ready with transaxle in P. When the battery gets to two pink bars, the engine will come on to recharge the battery, then cycle on and off as needed. The car may move slightly when MG1 starts the engine; this frightened my GF when I left her in the car with the AC on. She thought the car was going to take off.

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