1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Question about care of unused car

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jaw444, Jul 10, 2011.

  1. jaw444

    jaw444 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2008
    281
    27
    1
    Location:
    San Fernando Valley CA Sherman Oaks area
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My Prius's CA carpool lane stickers just expired and i needed to get an NGV car with white stickers so i can keep using 'the lanes.' I got a 2008 Civic CNG car with white stickers. I will mostly be using that car until i retire from my driving-intensive job in 15 months or so and then expect to sell the Civic and return to full time use of the Prius.

    I would like to find out the minimum amount of driving i need to do while i'm primarily using the Civic, to keep the Prius in good health and not let the battery die. How much driving would that be? once a week?
     
    #1 jaw444, Jul 10, 2011
  2. M8s

    M8s Retired and Lovin' It

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2008
    614
    113
    33
    Location:
    Colorado and Arizona
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    Limited
    Driving it for 30 minutes a month should be plenty. I'd turn off the smart key system to prevent parasitic battery drain and/or hook up a battery tender to the 12 volt.

    For long-term storage, the owner's manual recommends running the engine for 30 minutes every 3 months. We put one of ours in storage for 6 months at a time with no issues but we (a) have a neighbor run it for 5 - 10 minutes per month, and (b) have an Optimate batery tender hooked up to the 12 volt terminals under the hood. We use an Optimate 3+ in CO and an Optimate 4 in AZ.
     
    #2 M8s, Jul 10, 2011
  3. Southern Dad

    Southern Dad Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2011
    350
    212
    58
    Location:
    Monroe, GA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    jaw444, I'm glad you asked this question. After reading some threads on this forum, I being a new Prius owner was concerned about finding my Prius dead from not driving it daily.

    M8s, your answer helps me feel better about my Prius. I drive a 2000 Honda Insight MT on my daily commute, my Prius won't be used most weekdays. My Lincoln Navigator can sit months without being started and is fine. My Insight can sit weeks without being started and is fine... I was really concerned about the Prius because it does not have the 12 volt starter as the Insight does.

    jaw444, is using the HOV lanes in California so important to your commute that you have to purchase a new car for it? Here in Atlanta, hybrid vehicles don't qualify for the ALT Fuel license plates thus no HOV lane access but even when I do use the HOV lanes (second person in vehicle) I haven't found that much of a time savings for me.
     
    #3 Southern Dad, Jul 10, 2011
  4. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2008
    667
    78
    0
    Location:
    Kingston Ontario
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Of course you could keep using the Prius in the car pool lanes by, you know, car pooling. Then you'd be using the Prius half as much or less but not so infrequently to be an issue.
     
    #4 BAllanJ, Jul 10, 2011
  5. jpadc

    jpadc Type before I think too often

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2008
    343
    34
    0
    Location:
    Indianapolis and Northern Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The OP is from California where where “conservation†is about show.
     
    #5 jpadc, Jul 12, 2011
  6. LIPriusFreak

    LIPriusFreak Can I haz JDM?

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2011
    449
    34
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    since when did clean air decals expire??? (I know our NY ones don't)

    and I know the Cali clean air pass program is gone...but the existing decals?
     
    #6 LIPriusFreak, Jul 12, 2011
  7. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    What government can give, government can also take away.

    If you are interested in details about the CA clean air sticker program, see this website: Clean Air Stickers High Occupancy Vehicle HOV Lane Usage

    It should not be a surprise to CA Prius owners that the carpool lane access program was coming to an end. An expiration date was established at the outset of the program. That date was subsequently delayed until July 1 of this year.

    Regarding the OP's question about Prius storage, if he makes the vehicle READY for 30 minutes each month (not necessary to actually drive the car) that should be enough to keep the traction battery in good shape. However, that may not be sufficient run time to keep the 12V battery charged up, depending upon its current state of charge and whether it is already in marginal condition or not. It would be better to hook up the 12V battery to a battery charger overnight periodically (like 2x per month), or disconnect it when the car is not in use.
     
    #7 Patrick Wong, Jul 12, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)