Leave your lights on?

coondognd · 03-14-2004, 04:56 PM

Hey everybody,
I don't have my Prius yet, but I'm curious about the battery system. Can I leave the accessories (radio, lights, etc) on in a Prius longer than in a "normal" car? Will the car pull electricity from all the batteries, or just the "standard" one?
I'm a fan of tailgating at football games, so basically I'd like to find out how long I can leave the radio on full blast before I can't start the car anymore.

Thanks,
Kevin

Dave · 03-14-2004, 05:00 PM

I'm afraid your tailgate parties will have to be short. The accessories run off of a relatively small battery. They are not connected to the big battery system.

coondognd · 03-14-2004, 05:05 PM

Dave,

Thanks for the info, and the quick reply. As a follow-up, do you know if the Prius will let the accessories drain to the point where the car won't start, or is it smart enough to cut them off? I also have a habit of leaving my lights on...

Thanks,
Kevin

Dave · 03-14-2004, 05:22 PM

No, the battery will drain. But the headlights will turn off if you turn the car off and open the driver's door and close it.

Astroprius · 03-14-2004, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by coondognd
Dave,

As a follow-up, do you know if the Prius will let the accessories drain to the point where the car won't start, or is it smart enough to cut them off? I also have a habit of leaving my lights on...

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin -

I actually "drained" the auxillary battery once already. I didn't fully read the manual and turned the car on in the "ig-on" to listen to the cd-player while I was out doing some yard work. After about an hour the music stopped and the dash display had the red triangle lit up. The car started o.k. and then I figured what I did wrong. I have since had the cd-player on with the car in "acc" mode with no problems.

So the answer to your question appears to be yes - the car is smart enough to keep enough reserve in the battery.

priusman88 · 03-14-2004, 05:57 PM

Well, I managed to leave my lights on while at work one day a couple of weeks ago. (Don't ask how. Please.) Ten hours. The car was dead, dead, dead when I was ready to leave, and I had to have it jumped.

I phoned the free Toyota service that comes with the car, and they were fairly helpful and prompt. Be aware, however, that the guy thought I'd have to get the car jumped directly to the small battery in the back of the car. I thought I recalled that the manual indicated that you could do this from under the hood, and I confirmed that while waiting for the tow truck to arrive. (Thank God!! With the battery dead, I couldn't unlock the hatchback to open it and wouldn't have been able to get to that battery anyway!!!)

It was difficult for the guy to attach the jumper cables to the appropriate spots on the engine -- the connections are kind of crowded in the locations the manual recommends, particular the positive connection -- but he managed. It may be worth finding some smaller clamps to use in the future. It started right up once he got everything connected, and I haven't had any problems since. But be aware that you CAN drain that battery enough to prevent you from starting the car.

Paul
'04 Tideland Pearl
Columbia, Missouri

eak354 · 03-14-2004, 06:07 PM

wow! isnt that kinda unusual that it discharged after only 10 hours? i've left it on a couple of times when i got home and it worked fine the next day, that was about 16 hrs. but good to know that there really is a risk of discharging the battery.

DaveG · 03-15-2004, 04:29 AM

I was listening to the CD player in mine while waxing it today - my solution was just to leave it fully powered-up. Since the engine shuts off when not needed, there wasn't really any difference, and no chance of running the battery down.

One other note that may be helpful - there's a manual release for the rear hatch, but it's under the removeable rear flooring section down where the spare tire is. It's a bit difficult to get to, but it may be a help incase you ever need to get the back hatch open without power.

Dave.

03-14-2004, 04:56 PM	#1
coondognd Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY Posts: 16 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Leave your lights on? Hey everybody, I don't have my Prius yet, but I'm curious about the battery system. Can I leave the accessories (radio, lights, etc) on in a Prius longer than in a "normal" car? Will the car pull electricity from all the batteries, or just the "standard" one? I'm a fan of tailgating at football games, so basically I'd like to find out how long I can leave the radio on full blast before I can't start the car anymore. Thanks, Kevin

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03-14-2004, 05:00 PM	#2
Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 331 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I'm afraid your tailgate parties will have to be short. The accessories run off of a relatively small battery. They are not connected to the big battery system.

03-14-2004, 05:05 PM	#3
coondognd Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sleepy Hollow, NY Posts: 16 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Dave, Thanks for the info, and the quick reply. As a follow-up, do you know if the Prius will let the accessories drain to the point where the car won't start, or is it smart enough to cut them off? I also have a habit of leaving my lights on... Thanks, Kevin

03-14-2004, 05:22 PM	#4
Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 331 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	No, the battery will drain. But the headlights will turn off if you turn the car off and open the driver's door and close it.

03-14-2004, 05:57 PM	#6
priusman88 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 18 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Well, I managed to leave my lights on while at work one day a couple of weeks ago. (Don't ask how. Please.) Ten hours. The car was dead, dead, dead when I was ready to leave, and I had to have it jumped. I phoned the free Toyota service that comes with the car, and they were fairly helpful and prompt. Be aware, however, that the guy thought I'd have to get the car jumped directly to the small battery in the back of the car. I thought I recalled that the manual indicated that you could do this from under the hood, and I confirmed that while waiting for the tow truck to arrive. (Thank God!! With the battery dead, I couldn't unlock the hatchback to open it and wouldn't have been able to get to that battery anyway!!!) It was difficult for the guy to attach the jumper cables to the appropriate spots on the engine -- the connections are kind of crowded in the locations the manual recommends, particular the positive connection -- but he managed. It may be worth finding some smaller clamps to use in the future. It started right up once he got everything connected, and I haven't had any problems since. But be aware that you CAN drain that battery enough to prevent you from starting the car. Paul '04 Tideland Pearl Columbia, Missouri

03-14-2004, 06:07 PM	#7
eak354 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 420 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	wow! isnt that kinda unusual that it discharged after only 10 hours? i've left it on a couple of times when i got home and it worked fine the next day, that was about 16 hrs. but good to know that there really is a risk of discharging the battery.

03-15-2004, 04:29 AM	#8
DaveG Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 807 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: C Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I was listening to the CD player in mine while waxing it today - my solution was just to leave it fully powered-up. Since the engine shuts off when not needed, there wasn't really any difference, and no chance of running the battery down. One other note that may be helpful - there's a manual release for the rear hatch, but it's under the removeable rear flooring section down where the spare tire is. It's a bit difficult to get to, but it may be a help incase you ever need to get the back hatch open without power. Dave.