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

Storing my 2011 Prius THREE for 5 months

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by stevengolfs, Oct 2, 2011.

  1. stevengolfs

    stevengolfs Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2011
    6
    6
    0
    Location:
    Northern Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    My wife and I will be in Florida this winter and are leaving our 2011 Prius Three ( not III as Roman numerals were used for model year 2010 ) in the garage for 5 months. Unfortunately, we have nobody that we can ask to drive the car periodically, so it will just sit in the garage. I've read some of the older posts on storage recommendations, but I'm wondering if things have changed with the new models? I'm planning to connect a battery tender to the small 12 volt battery...leaving the negative terminal on the battery so that all the memory features i.e. clock, radio presets, auto window, etc. won't have to be reprogrammed. I'll turn the smart key system off, fill the gas tank and add Stabil to the fuel. If this doesn't sound like the recommended way to store the car, please let me know. Also...please offer any other suggestions for things that I should do in preparation for storage. Thank you!
     
  2. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,122
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Unfortunately, I don't know if anything changed or if there's a newer version of the TSB cited at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-dead-after-17-days-parking-2.html#post955609.

    There was no major change to the Prius between the 2010-2011 model years, esp. not the HV battery pack. It's unclear (to me) if procedures/advisories changed.

    Based on the TSB, I suggest not leaving the car unattended for that long. Personally, I wouldn't keep an extra car if it were going to be idle for 5 months of the year. I'd either drive it to Florida or get someone to run it periodically per the TSB.
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you may want to pump up the tires to avoid flat spots.
     
    2 people like this.
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,465
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    ^ The above's good, basically what Toyota does when shipping vehicles. Even better if you can: lift the car and settle it onto jackstands at all four corners, high enough so the wheels are slightly off the floor.

    Also, leave at least one window open an inch or so.

    Also, lift the wipers off the glass and keep them off with rags stuffed under the arms.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,596
    3,770
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    I would NOT do this. That's an open invitation for mice, roaches, and other organisms to move right in for the winter. :eek: Lots of motorcyclists store their rides for the winter and it's not uncommon to find a mouse nest in the airbox come spring time. So you might want to plug the entrance and leave a note on the steering wheel as a reminder to remove it.

    Another tip is to "fog" the cylinders via the spark plug holes with a light lubricant such as wd-40 to keep the piston rings from rusting/sticking. Personally, I would only do this step for super long storage.
     
    1 person likes this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,465
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    ^ You're likely right. Come to think of it, the car's likely not air tight, with the Heat/Vent intakes etc.
     
  7. jbgggg

    jbgggg New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2009
    10
    9
    0
    Location:
    Missouri
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I go to Florida for four months every winter. My 2010 Prius stays in the garage. I stabilize the fuel and make sure the traction battery is full. After that I disconnect the negative battery cable and put a gardening glove over the hatch latch so it can't lock. The 12V battery is an AGM battery and they do not lose much charge when there is no drain. When I return I reconnect the negative cable and the car starts up with no problem. The only thing I have to reenter are my radio station buttons and the clock. Everything else seems to hold their programs. Hope this helps.
     
    4 people like this.
  8. web1b

    web1b Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2007
    817
    52
    0
    That sounds really unsafe.
     
  9. LuvMiPrius

    LuvMiPrius New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2014
    1
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    2 Yrs I STORED MY PRIUS 2012 to 2014- I went to Okinawa for work and left the car on an open lot with a cover. I was genuinely concerned that when I returned I would have to fork out bucks to restore the car to use it again (thanks to concerned internet advice). I did everything that people say to do, changed the oil, filled the tank, disconnection the starter battery and removed the orange fuse block to the lithium battery pack. Fast forward two years, air loss in tires minimal, batteries are fine, car cover destroyed by elements, had trouble with the orange fuse block for li battery (I didnt do it right), starter battery fine, nothing replaced. The cv boots did dry out and cracked. Otherwise nothing to worry about. I am hypermiling the car now with 60mpg avg. The dealer didnt like the idea of storing it for two years but they still washed it for me free of charge. I didnt do anything else for the car, they wouldnt let me put stands underneath, and I didnt WD40 things, or remove the wipers, I did remove the antenna because it interfered with the cover. I closed the vents and put a box of fabric softner in it. Also tank additive when I stored the car and when I picked up I added octane boost....Thats it, dont worry, be happy.
     
    #9 LuvMiPrius, Nov 15, 2014
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2014
  10. Susann

    Susann New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2014
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Somerville MA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    We live in Somerville MA and are going to Singapore for 5 months. I have a 2010 Prius and am looking at a closed garage with no useable outlet to rent. Aside from filling the tank and inflating the tires, what else should I do to match Luvmiprius's experience?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    remove the 12 volt and take it somewhere where you can leave it on a smart charger. you may want to add a gas stabilizer and drive it around for awhile.
     
  12. neez

    neez Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2014
    194
    37
    3
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    For only 5 months, i don't think you need to keep the battery on a tender. Just drive it around a bunch to make sure the battery is full, then disconnect the negative cable from the 12v battery. This will keep it from draining and depleting. There are millions of people that store their motorcycles in garages and sheds for the winter, that's all i've ever done to store it. Starts right up every time once i reconnect the battery.

    At the very worst, your battery will be slightly depleted and you'll need a jump. But considering the prius doesn't require much amperage from the 12v battery to turn on, and starts charging the 12v battery right away from the traction battery. That situation is highly unlikely, you'd need a completely dead 12v for that to happen. I wouldn't worry too much about your garage not having an outlet, at the very very worst, which is unlikely to happen, you'll need to buy a new 12v battery which is $100-$150, which you can just pickup at any auto parts store and plop it in the prius.