12 volt battery

[ChuckC]

The car was very low on gas. But the latest findings are even stranger. We have been told that the alcohol content was too high. It was somewhere between 10%-12%. The tech told my wife that an average car would run on that ok but not the Prius. Is there any info about fuel content in the Toyota literature?
Do they issue a test kit to check the gas before I fill up? I'm sure that would be a very big selling point.
I'm upset because we have been told this visit is not covered by our warranty , again the car is only seven weeks old.
Has anyone hear of this problem?
I don't even know if this is the spot to post this?

[justlurkin]

Frankly, the tech who told you the Prius can't take 10% ethanol is an idiot.

The Prius is designed to handle gasoline with up to 15% ethanol no problems-- It's in your owner's manual.

The Prius is designed that way because virtually ALL major cities in the U.S. have local laws that require gasoline sold in their jurisdictions to contain 10% ethanol as an oxygenate to cut down on smog emissions.

[JimN]

Originally Posted by ChuckC

The car was very low on gas. But the latest findings are even stranger. We have been told that the alcohol content was too high. It was somewhere between 10%-12%. The tech told my wife that an average car would run on that ok but not the Prius. Is there any info about fuel content in the Toyota literature?
Do they issue a test kit to check the gas before I fill up? I'm sure that would be a very big selling point.
I'm upset because we have been told this visit is not covered by our warranty , again the car is only seven weeks old.
Has anyone hear of this problem?
I don't even know if this is the spot to post this?

The dealer is full of it. I believe you would have a very hard time finding gas without 10% alcohol in the US. Check the fuel specs in the owners manual. If you can't speak with someone in authority at the dealer it's time to talk to Toyota. Try calling from the dealership in front of prospective buyers.

[kn6vv]

Today my 2006 Prius is 2 years old. The odometer is just over 25000 miles and I have never had any issues with the 12V battery or traction battery for that matter since day 1.

I routinely park at the airport for many days at a time and leave the car home on vacation for up to 3 weeks without running. I have never turned off the SKS smart key system since I bought the car although many say you should when leaving the car un-run for so long but I have never had any kind of battery failure!

It is my opinion that a properly charged 12V battery going dead after a few days is a sign of a pending battery failure, abnormal current drain like a light left on, or improper connection like corrision.

note: 2 year fuel average is 51.8 mpg! Most of my driving is on a highway at 65mph. Winter avg is approx 49mpg and summer 53.8. Tires at 42/40 psi.

[grannyg@twinvalley.net]

cmankat probably has it right. The "smart start" will discharge the battery after about two days of idle. I use my 2007 infrequently and keep it turned off and sometimes don't drive it for over a week. With it on, about two days max.

[thorn]

I just picked up a 12v battery today, $154. I have a VHF/UHF ham radio attached to it and when I turn the radio on it shows a volt meter for a few seconds.For some reason I always turn the radio on first and it has always been around 12.6v. Over the weekend it dropped to 9v and when I pushed the start button the radio shut down, too low a voltage, car startedfine. I knew it was time for a new battery.

They should have some sort of warning when it gets low instead of people getting stuck with a dead 12v battery.

[andyprius]

Originally Posted by thorn

I just picked up a 12v battery today, $154. I have a VHF/UHF ham radio attached to it and when I turn the radio on it shows a volt meter for a few seconds.For some reason I always turn the radio on first and it has always been around 12.6v. Over the weekend it dropped to 9v and when I pushed the start button the radio shut down, too low a voltage, car startedfine. I knew it was time for a new battery.

They should have some sort of warning when it gets low instead of people getting stuck with a dead 12v battery.

There is a Diagnostic check on the car. Put car in ready, Hold info down, turn headlights on and off three times, go to menu-display- vehicle signal. One of the six items that show up is Acc Battery voltage. Mine is practically always 13.9 V. When sitting in the car listening to the radio, ham or otherwise, enjoying the AC, ALWAYS put car in the ready mode so the engine can charge the HV Bat and the HV Battery can charge the Accesory (12VDC) That small amount of gas you use is worth it. Also, if I think the cars going to be non-operational for a few days I force - charge the HV by putting it in drive and stepping in the accelerator until the HV is Green. Keep foot on Brake and apply footbrake. It takes about a minute. This really works!

[andyprius]

Originally Posted by andyprius

There is a Diagnostic check on the car. Put car in ready, Hold info down, turn headlights on and off three times, go to menu-display- vehicle signal. One of the six items that show up is Acc Battery voltage. Mine is practically always 13.9 V. When sitting in the car listening to the radio, ham or otherwise, enjoying the AC, ALWAYS put car in the ready mode so the engine can charge the HV Bat and the HV Battery can charge the Accesory (12VDC) That small amount of gas you use is worth it. Also, if I think the cars going to be non-operational for a few days I force - charge the HV by putting it in drive and stepping in the accelerator until the HV is Green. Keep foot on Brake and apply footbrake. It takes about a minute. This really works!

TO OUR FINE MODERATOR: PATRICK WONG: Hi Pat, we may as well wear this subject out, my question is: when the vehicle is quiescient (Totally shut down, Parked) is there an automatic transfer of voltage from the HV to the 12V OR does this only occur in a power-up mode. ty andy

[diamondlarry]

There is no transfer from the HV battery to the 12-volt when the car is shut down because the HV is physically disconnected. In fact, if you have the radio off when you push the start button, you will here some clicks coming from the back of the car which are the relays connecting the HV battery.

[andyprius]

Thanks for the reply Larry. To continue this thread rather than start a new one, I'll make a comment that there is probably Extreme variances in the SOC and general condition of each and every 12VDC ( boot-up ) battery. Because of owner use or abuse, understanding of batteries ( especially this one ) Neglect at the docks and ignorance by the dealerships to bring the batteries up to thier ideal state....( before Sale! ). Including a definite lack of ability or desire to insure a known good battery. Including of course owners not being aware of its sensitivities. Because of all these factors it is impossible to lump this battery and its assorted problems into any ONE category. I would say at this point in time that Toyota has had plenty of time and knowledge to correct this very well known problem. Instead they allow the owner to find a problem and perhaps solve or not solve the problem at less than they would pay if they faced the problem squarely. Toyota, you make a great and revolutionary car, and I Thank-you, but you failed miserably with this puny boot-up battery.