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Battery Level question! Someone explain this more in depth for me!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by mk516, Jun 1, 2010.

  1. mk516

    mk516 New Member

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    Hi everyone!
    I bought my 2008 Toyota Prius last October & it had 27K miles on it. I've it for about 8 months now, and it's at 35,500 miles.

    The car did fine all winter, but I've noticed lately that my battery level on my energy monitor is getting incredibly low (even to the last two purple notches) when the car is idle. Example, when I am sitting in a drive-thru, or waiting in a parking lot for someone to pick up a pizza.

    The level of the battery has never dropped that low before. I'm assuming it's dropping more quickly because I am using my air conditioning now, but I am just wondering how low is normal. The battery charges fine while I am driving the car, just is dropping lower than ever before if I am idle with my air conditioning on. It's making me terrified my car is going to stall out if I get stuck in traffic or something.

    Can someone please explain to me in newbie terms if I should be concerned about what my Prius is doing, how long the battery lasts, how the AC effects it, how it charges, etc. I don't own an owner's manual for the car, and I really wish someone could just walk me through this a little more so I know if I should be concerned about my car.

    Thanks in advance for the help!
     
    #1 mk516, Jun 1, 2010
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    If the drive thru is slow enough, I get to one purple bar in my 2009, and the ICE comes on to recharge it back to 2 purple bars. Once I am back on the road, it recharges back to blue bars. The computers will always protect the battery when they are on.
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Jun 1, 2010
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    What you are experiencing is normal. When the car is not moving & "on" everything that draws electrical power is drawing it from the traction battery. When you get to the purple bars the engine will run enough to add 1 bar then the cycle repeats. It can be very annoying in stop & go traffic. My advice: If you are going to sit more than 10-15 minutes turn the car off.

    You can download an owner's manual.

    Welcome aboard.
     
    #3 JimN, Jun 1, 2010
  4. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    Yep. I just made another post on another thread about this (it must be traction pack repeat question day :p). Your Prius can even display NO colors in the battery display. The traction pack is still not empty (nor full, when the display is full of green color) when it looks empty.
    .
     
    #4 hill, Jun 1, 2010
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    With the Gen 2, I've noticed it'll last about 8 mins with the A/C on (6 blue bars to 2 purple bars) assuming a reasonable set temperature. If you're going to be sitting for that long, I usually turn the A/C off and wind the windows down. Or just turn the car off.
     
    #5 Tideland Prius, Jun 1, 2010
  6. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    All of the accessories (audio, air conditioner, lights, and the 12V battery used to boot the car computers) are powered by the high-voltage battery. The engine keeps the high-voltage battery charged. If you want to use the audio or air conditioner then leave the car ON ("Ready"), in Park, and the parking brake set. That way the engine will start, run, and stop again as needed to keep all the batteries properly charged. Two purple bars is completely normal in that situation. After a couple of days it would run out of gas but that's usually not a problem... :_>

    Do *not* leave the car in Neutral! The engine may run but it will not recharge the batteries. Do not use any accessories for more than a couple of minutes unless the car is "Ready"; the engine will never run and the batteries can be drained.

    The high voltage battery will probably last much more than 10 years and a couple of hundred thousand miles. The 12V battery will probably not last much more than five years, and a lot less if it ever gets drained.

    You really should buy the correct year Owner's Manual, either from a dealer or online. It's full of stuff that you need to know. And I'll bet you don't have the Scheduled Maintenance Guide? That one's easy; just look here for everything that the car normally needs:
    Toyota Parts and Service
     
    #6 richard schumacher, Jun 1, 2010
  7. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Concur, it's all normal and with all the advice given. I've gotten my 06, when much newer down to purple bars when stuck in a parking structure.

    Having the AC on will really drain the HV battery much quicker, as evidenced by the draw (BTA) observed on my ScanGauge while stopped w/AC compressor running vs. AC off.
     
    #7 cwerdna, Jun 2, 2010
    WilDavis likes this.
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