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Battery drops 2 bars of charge after sitting

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by BJ Arriens, May 19, 2013.

  1. BJ Arriens

    BJ Arriens Junior Member

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    Newbie question. Just got the car in March.
    Prius v five 2012.
    Car was in clearance section and the battery had to be jumped in order to allow us to test drive the car. Now when the car is left without starting for 2 days battery charge drops to 4 bars left. On occasion we have also had this happen after letting it sit for a couple hours. It always charges back up once driven.
    The concern here, is for vacation - letting it sit for 2 weeks and coming back to a car that won't start as the battery is dead.
    Help! convince me I am worrying about nothing and this is normal operation of the battery.
     
    #1 BJ Arriens, May 19, 2013
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Doesn't sound right to me if it actually drops to 4 bars left in 2 days. However based on your title I would assume it was 6 bars ("drops 2 bars") when you shut it off, therefore not topped off. I would take it in and have them check it.
     
    #2 rjparker, May 19, 2013
  3. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Anything unusual about your IOD (Ignition Off [Power] Draw)?
     
    #3 Air_Boss, May 19, 2013
  4. jhinsc

    jhinsc Senior Member

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    Please don't think this is a stupid question: Are you sure you're shutting off the car by pressing the Power button rather than the Park button? Other have made this mistake thinking the car was off, but wasn't.
     
    #4 jhinsc, May 19, 2013
  5. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    These two events are not related. The fact that the car had to be jump started means the 12v battery was dead, this powers up the on board systems and switches on the HV battery.
    The meter on the dash showing battery charge relates to the HV battery only not the 12v. The HV battery is disconnected when you power off the car so the SOC usually stays where it was when you left it (within a bar or two), unless you leave it for a long time (months) or there is a significant temperature drop, so if it drops by 4 bars then it sounds like there may be a problem with the HV battery or the relay that isolates it when you turn the car off.
     
    #5 kithmo, May 21, 2013
  6. css28

    css28 Senior Member

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    He's saying it drops *to* 4 bars, not *by* 4 bars. The SOC display is somewhat "creative" anyhow. I don't think this is something to worry about.

    As has been said, the 12V battery situation has nothing to do with this.
     
    #6 css28, May 21, 2013
  7. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Sorry, I read it wrong. :oops: As you say if it's only 2 bars, I wouldn't worry about it (y)
     
    #7 kithmo, May 21, 2013
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