Storing '06 Prius for 4 months

[pgoldberg]

I am an RVer and we travel in the RV and tow our RAV 4 for January thru April each winter. With past cars I have hung a battery minder on them and not worried too much about starting them up on my return.

I have located the "jump start" connection under the hood of my '06 and wonder if turning off the Smart Key and connecting my battery minder to the post under the hood (and a good ground of course) will be sufficient.

Is there anything else that any of you gurus would recommend?

xctraveler

[efusco]

I'd probably put the battery minder directly onto the battery...the connections under the hood can be a bit tenuous. Other than that nothing to recommend. The HV battery should be fine.

I would, indeed, turn off the SKS as well.

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(xctraveler @ Oct 13 2006, 10:26 AM) [snapback]332224[/snapback]</div>

I am an RVer and we travel in the RV and tow our RAV 4 for January thru April each winter. With past cars I have hung a battery minder on them and not worried too much about starting them up on my return.

I have located the "jump start" connection under the hood of my '06 and wonder if turning off the Smart Key and connecting my battery minder to the post under the hood (and a good ground of course) will be sufficient.

Is there anything else that any of you gurus would recommend?

xctraveler
[/b]

You'll be ok with the aux battery with the battery minder, but make certain that your main battery State of Charge (SOC) is high and put some Gasoline Stabilizer in the tank before going RVing.

JeffD

[Tom_06]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jdenenberg @ Oct 13 2006, 10:45 AM) [snapback]332236[/snapback]</div>

You'll be ok with the aux battery with the battery minder, but make certain that your main battery State of Charge (SOC) is high and put some Gasoline Stabilizer in the tank before going RVing.

JeffD
[/b]

If you look in the files section of the Yahoo! Prius-2G group there is a TSB called "PG007-03 Maintenance for HV and Auxilliary Batteries". Mostly covers stuff for cars sitting on dealer's lots for a long time (hasn't been a problem in the USA).

I think the battery minder recommendations will cover the aux battery, but the TSB does say to put the hybrid system in READY and PARK for 30 minutes every two months to keep the main battery happy. Might be worth while to find a friend to do that for you at the two month mark while you are gone.

- Tom

[Pinto Girl]

Also,try to make sure the tires aren't exposed to sunlight during storage, as you would if you store your RV outside.

[David Beale]

I always chuckle at these posts. I store my RX-7 every winter for 6 months. You don't need gas stabalizer unless it's for a year or more. Unless it's a tiny tank such as a lawnmower - and I prefer to drain those as it ensures I have a clean tank next spring. Just fill the tank - this ensures you don't leave lots of room for condensation/tank "breathing" due to temp changes.

The battery would probably be fine for 4 months as well, but if you have a battery tender, go ahead and connect it to the 12V battery in the right rear of the car. The traction battery will be fine. It will be completely disconnected from the car - as long as you are sure to shut off the car.

Also be sure all doors are shut firmly and the interior lights are out. If you're worried about the SKS system, put the remotes in a metal box or can in the house. That way they can't possibly trigger any "happenings" with the car.

Finally, be sure to fill the tires with air before you store it, as they -may- loose some over that time period. Perhaps fill to the 42/40 often mentioned on these forums, even if you don't use those pressures. Then when you return you just let a little air out to get to the pressures you do use.

Be aware rodents may decide your car looks like a good home. You may want to take precautions such as traps in the storage area.

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Oct 14 2006, 12:57 PM) [snapback]332751[/snapback]</div>

I always chuckle at these posts. I store my RX-7 every winter for 6 months. You don't need gas stabalizer unless it's for a year or more. Unless it's a tiny tank such as a lawnmower - and I prefer to drain those as it ensures I have a clean tank next spring. Just fill the tank - this ensures you don't leave lots of room for condensation/tank "breathing" due to temp changes.[/b]

The Prius has a bladder in the tank (US Model). This eliminates the condensation problem (but causes others as Prius owners soon find out). Stabil may not be required for 6 month storage, but it can't hurt.

The battery would probably be fine for 4 months as well, but if you have a battery tender, go ahead and connect it to the 12V battery in the right rear of the car. The traction battery will be fine. It will be completely disconnected from the car - as long as you are sure to shut off the car. [/b]

The Prius auxilliary battery is a toy battery with very little capacity (it doesn't start the engine; themain battery does). Minor current loads present in any car will drain it in a couple of months. That's why disconnecting it or using a 'battery Minder' is a good idea. The main battery is a NiMh rechargable and it does lose charge slowly when in storage. If it has a high SOC when you leave, it should still have some charge left after 3 or 4 months. If you put your Prius in storage with a low SOC for 3 or 4 months, expect to need a tow to the dealer when you return (jumping just gets the electronics turned on, the engine won't start unless the main battery has sufficient power).

Also be sure all doors are shut firmly and the interior lights are out. If you're worried about the SKS system, put the remotes in a metal box or can in the house. That way they can't possibly trigger any "happenings" with the car.[/b]

The SKS system pulls some current when it periodically checks for nearby remotes. That's why it has been suggested to shut it off when leaving a Prius for a while (and as you said, make sure the doors and hatch are closed - look at the dashboard for the indicator).

Finally, be sure to fill the tires with air before you store it, as they -may- loose some over that time period. Perhaps fill to the 42/40 often mentioned on these forums, even if you don't use those pressures. Then when you return you just let a little air out to get to the pressures you do use.

Be aware rodents may decide your car looks like a good home. You may want to take precautions such as traps in the storage area.[/b]

Both reasonable suggestions (except I keep my tires at 42/40 normally).

JeffD

[fphinney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Oct 14 2006, 11:57 AM) [snapback]332751[/snapback]</div>

I always chuckle at these posts. I store my RX-7 every winter for 6 months. You don't need gas stabalizer unless it's for a year or more. Unless it's a tiny tank such as a lawnmower - and I prefer to drain those as it ensures I have a clean tank next spring. Just fill the tank - this ensures you don't leave lots of room for condensation/tank "breathing" due to temp changes.

The battery would probably be fine for 4 months as well, but if you have a battery tender, go ahead and connect it to the 12V battery in the right rear of the car. The traction battery will be fine. It will be completely disconnected from the car - as long as you are sure to shut off the car.

Also be sure all doors are shut firmly and the interior lights are out. If you're worried about the SKS system, put the remotes in a metal box or can in the house. That way they can't possibly trigger any "happenings" with the car.

Finally, be sure to fill the tires with air before you store it, as they -may- loose some over that time period. Perhaps fill to the 42/40 often mentioned on these forums, even if you don't use those pressures. Then when you return you just let a little air out to get to the pressures you do use.

Be aware rodents may decide your car looks like a good home. You may want to take precautions such as traps in the storage area. [/b]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

David Beale -

BOY! You sure hit two or three GOOD points! I too, believe that ordinarily a gas tank will do fine for up to a year & needs no further attention other than filling it to forestall condensation.

IF you use a battery tender, I wouldn't think it would be necessary to disable SKS or theft protection. I'm quite sure that most battery tenders can handle a small load like that. When I set up a car to use a battery tender, I rewire the tender with a cigar lighter plug & just plug it into the dash! However - - one must test the cigar lighter socket in the dash to make sure it isn't disabled when the ignition is switched off! If I find I have a vehicle like that, I just add a 2nd cigar lighter socket & wire it directly to the battery (with a fuse in-line).

And rodent traps might be wise. I've actually had mice build a nest in my A/C system!

Bon Voyage,

[David Beale]

Not to be rude or anything, but the thought that the Prius auxilliary battery is tiny is just not true. Yes, it's a lot smaller than those found in cars with "lumps" for engines. It's actually about the same size as the Civic battery (not the HCH). It's a 38 AHr capacity battery. Compare that to a size 24 battery that until recently, you would find in most cars. The size 24 has a capacity of 50 AHr. That's not a really large difference.

I think people feel it's small because some of them have drained it (and complained loudly) by leaving the interior light on. Remember, automotive lamps will draw between 1/2 and 1 amp. That's only a day or two to full discharge! Make sure your hatch and doors are closed! This applies to "normal" cars too. I've seen lots of cases of dead batteries from interior lights left on.

In the case of the Prius, the "dead battery syndrom" is accentuated by the fact nothing will work without it. You can't start the car because the "traction battery" will not be connected without a good auxilliary battery. There ought to be a "bypass switch", though I'm sure the engineering would be a nightmare, as all those computer systems need to be stable before any engine action is desirable.
Further, if the car has experienced sitting for a long time (long enough to drain the auxilliary battery), such as during shipping and sales, the 12V battery can loose capacity due to sulphation. My experience is gel cells are much more difficult to "recover" from this, so it may be some of those with "dead battery" problems have a damaged 12V battery.

Anyway, my thoughts on this, admittedly without personal experience re the Prius. Maybe soon!

[pagoda113]

I have left my 06 Prius stored in the garage for three months while on the opposite coast. It was not touched the entire time. Just changed the oil prior to storage and turned the SKS sensor off while I was gone. Got back and used the remote button to open and start... It started just fine like normal.

I think at least for several months this car works fine to store.

Now, I remember once starting a Mercedes 190SL after it had sat around for 20 yrs. The fuel tank had evaporated dry cause the car was in a dry and warm garage. Cleared out the varnish from the tank, filled it up, put a little oil in the plug holes, a new battery, primed the lines and put the key in -- and the beast started with the first crank. There is something to say for the dependability of a vehicle that has always been maintained well, no matter how ancient the technology. Who knows, but I believe the Prius would likely start right up too after 20+ yrs sitting, with just a little juice in the battery and fuel system maintenance. Of course, if it were an EV or plug-in car, we might need only find an extension cord and flip it on. But maybe electrical motors don't like sitting that long and I am mistaken about it all.