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2014 Prius new 12v batt won’t hold charge.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by rmparker, Jan 25, 2021.

  1. rmparker

    rmparker New Member

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    We bought new 12v batt for 2014 Prius started it up and everything worked fine. Immediately after I had some medical issues and the car was not turned on or driven for 5 months. Now when we have to jump it every single time to turn it on. Absolutely no lights turn on until the vehicle is jumped. Is the 12v dead from non use or is it a deeper electrical problem?
     
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Don't know without some testing. Could be a loose or corroded main 12 V cable too.

    Mainly, charge the battery "manually" with an external charger and then see what the voltage looks like after it sits 12-24 hours.

    The battery may still be under warranty.
    You aren't necessarily required to tell them the whole story.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not driving your car does not void the warranty
     
  5. Terrell

    Terrell Old-Timer

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    bisco likes this.
  6. Terrell

    Terrell Old-Timer

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    There was a hiccup somewhere -- This posted three times! Moderator, please get rid of this extra. Thanks!
     
    #6 Terrell, Jan 25, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2021
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    True (hopefully), but @rmparker: the world’s BEST battery, left sitting in a car for 5 months (with the small-but-relentless drain any modern car imposes), will be dead-as-doornail.

    Read up about how to keep batteries healthy, and proceed accordingly. Your current expectations are unrealistic; you might get a new battery under warranty, but with a similar scenario as before it'll be dead just as fast, and maybe next time the dealership will refuse your business.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jan 26, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2021
  8. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    NO, please don't.

    What you are talking about is NOT a "trickle charger".
    It is an automatic smart battery tender/maintainer.
    BIG difference.

    Tender = good.
    Trickle charger = BAD.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    here we go again...
     
  10. Siward

    Siward Active Member

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    I would first check if any of your battery terminals are loose.

    All car batteries usually come with some sort of replacement warranty that is usually greater than one year. I would simply bring it back and have it exchanged depending on your purchase policy especially if you are still under warranty. Hopefully you still have your purchase receipt. Of course, some retailers would test the battery before taking it back in which case you will find out if the battery is dead.
     
  11. Christian Natale

    Christian Natale Junior Member

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    I thought the only chargers you could use on those agm batteries were “intelligent trickle chargers”. They have a maintainer mode. They switch to maintaining when the battery is charged. Think motomaster makes one.
     
  12. Terrell

    Terrell Old-Timer

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    Thanks, I meant a smart battery tender/maintainer. (Us old guys still call them the wrong name, because these new-fangled things hadn't been invented yet.)
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.