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

No start, battery dead?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Marye, Feb 16, 2021.

  1. Marye

    Marye New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2020
    14
    1
    0
    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Got an '09 Prius which is giving me a little difficulty. I was driving last week, and got the red triangle of death, then no start. After checking these forums, I checked and my battery is at around 11.4 volts while in accessory mode, so I'm assuming it needs a jump. Problem is, I have no cables and am having difficulty finding someone to help, working on that as we speak...I'm going to try jumping it in the morning, am I correct to understand that, if I can get it jumped ok, it needs to either be trickle charged, or kept in Ready for a full 8 hours? After this mess I'm definitely going to buy a portable jump starter and a trickle charger, I'm learning more about this Prius every day. It's also had the problem with the water leaking down into the battery well too, but I *think* I've got that solved. The battery has already been replaced once and is maybe a year old, but I didn't know how fickle these cars can be when it comes to the 12v battery, so I haven't been paying attention to the SoC. I do love my Prius though. Any recommendations on a trickle charger and a portable jump starter to buy, preferably cheap, but still reliable? Hoping I can get away with driving it a couple weeks and then buy a new battery to replace when I can afford it.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,463
    8,377
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    If the 12v battery is reading 11.4volts, it should still be able to start the car. Although it's low and need charging, that may not be the reason for the Red Triangle. You should check your oil level first and then maybe read any codes the car has recorded
     
    SFO likes this.
  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Best to not jump the vehicle (it may not need it), unless doing it properly. If someone messes up the jump, it could cost $$$$.
    If the 12v was replaced in the last year or so, it should be covered under warranty. The shop will likely test it before replacement.
    1. How many miles are on the vehicle?
    2. How many miles per week are you driving?
    3. When was the inverter coolant pump last replaced?
    4. Have you already checked all of the fuses? (dome light, AM2, etc)
    Since there are OBD2 codes (DTCs) to work with, can you please tell us more about the RToD incident and the 'no start' condition.

    FYI : you're moderated until you reach five (5) postings
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That checking mode has 2 ways to check. The accessory and the ignition. Whats it read in the ignition mode?

    it died because your not driving it much anymore. be more concerned about killing the $$$$$ hybrid battery that's next. The prius G2 must be driven fairly often or it will not do well.

    Scariest thing you can do to a g2 is jump start it. Do not ever connect the jump cables directly to the battery. use the front jump point inside the fuse box. Its under the red plastic cover. RED IS POSITIVE LEAD! Ground is the chassis bolt right above that box. You reverse polarity the jump and it will cause alot of damage.

    Jump point has a vertical METAL tang bolted to it to attach your jump clamp. Look at it closely.
     
  5. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    She should be even more concerned about getting BAD advice on a forum like this.
    What all of a sudden triggered your recent campaign of spreading mis-information about non-use killing hybrid batteries ?

    There is NO evidence that non-use for any reasonable period of time (months) will have any really bad impact on an otherwise healthy HV battery. NONE.

    Please stop.

    What you need is a battery TENDER, not a trickle charger. Two different things.
    Available for about $30.

    Not good to leave the car in READY mode and unattended. Too easy to steal a "running" car.
     
    #5 sam spade 2, Feb 17, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2021
  6. Marye

    Marye New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2020
    14
    1
    0
    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Well, whoops. I did try jumping it from the port under the hood and had no luck. Stat button still red. I did make 100% sure that it was connected correctly...
    1. I can check the actual mileage and report back,it's between 185k and 190k.
    2. Very little, hence me thinking I'm not allowing it enough time to charge. Lately due to snowstorms and me not working, I was probably average maybe 10 - 20 miles / week.
    3. Never, that I know of, I've read about this issue and really hoping it wasn't my root cause...
    4. Fuses were one of my next ideas to check. Can report back on those as well.

    Is it really not the battery, do you think? Lights come on, doesn't seem like anything is dim. I'm a newb when it comes to these things but trying to learn. Did buy a jump starter box and a trickle charger but I guess I should try looking at the fuses first and go from there. Could water leaking down into the battery well cause these kinds of issues? Was also going to try to locate this leak and seal it, I bought some generic silicone stuff for that. Guess I've got more work to do in the morning.

    Also I don't have an obd reader, should probably buy one tomorrow too. With the RTodD, I drove it as I normally do, a short distance maybe 10 miles round trip to the gas station and back home, light came on right as I was about to pull it into the parking spot. I hesitated for a moment, turned the car off, tried turning back on: no start. I suspected the 12v battery was the culprit, and did manage to get a friend to help me take it out, there was a bunch of water under it which happened once before and replacing the 12v fixed the issue but of course, I never sealed the damn leak. Looked for it a few times and gave up without really dedicating much effort, that clearly was a stupid mistake. There was a few days inn between me having the battery out and getting it back in, it started but I didn't let it run for a while, just started it and powered off, and now no start again. Hope to god I didn't manage to screw up somehow but was very careful throughout the process and don't think I did. Guess more digging is in order.

    That is to say , I cleared all the water out of the battery well, and reinstalled the 12v and no start again, after several days in between with the battery just sitting out to make sure it was dry before putting back in. It's been extremely cold, single digits here, could that possibly have an effect? I'm supposed to be starting a new job Tuesday, in a town about 30 mins drive from my hometown, hoping I can get her running by then
     
    #6 Marye, Feb 20, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 20, 2021
  7. Marye

    Marye New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2020
    14
    1
    0
    Location:
    Lexington, KY
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Do they not do the same thing, theoretically? Something to maintain the charge of it .... What i ordered is a battery minder 1.5 volt charger. Hope that doesn't mean I need to return it, crap. These battery tenders are sold at the Lowes near my house, if it makes a difference I can go get one of those too.
     
  8. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,447
    3,750
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    No, not even theoretically.

    A trickle charger is designed to charge a nearly fully charged battery back up to full. While they will eventually charge a discharged battery they will take twice, if not three times, as long as 3 to 5 Amp charger and a 3 to 5 Amp charger can take 15 - 20 hours to charge a fully discharged battery.

    You put a maintainer on a fully charged battery and it will keep it full.

    What you want is a fully automatic multi-stage 3 - 5 Amp with an AGM setting. Once the battery is fully charged, these chargers become a maintainer. You attach this type of charger to the car whenever you are not driving it for 3 or more days.

    These types of charges might be available from Lowes but are definitely available from Harbor Freight. Good brand names are Schumaker and CTEK.

    I would return the trickle charger (1.5 Amp not 1.5 Volt I hope!) you bought and exchange it for a smart charger.

    As far as the leaks go, this has been discussed a lot in these forums, most recently here: Common source of leak for water in 12v battery well? | Post #2
     
    Marye likes this.
  9. chronon

    chronon Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2007
    601
    105
    3
    Location:
    here and there aint be in frozen wasteland no mo..
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
     
  10. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    A Gen2 Prius 12v battery should last at LEAST two weeks w/o being drawn down from normal vehicle parking. However, if there have been additions to modifications to the electrical system (aftermarket radio, alarm, GPS etc), these non-Toyota loads can deplete the 12v much more quickly.

    Maintainers should NEVER EVER be used, especially in a building. There are tons of documented reports of them causing fires, as most are unfused. They are also not designed to charge a battery, but work well for keeping your trolling motor battery healthy over the winter.

    If you need to CHARGE a battery, get something designed to do so. I do not like the "automatic" electronic ones because if you have a really low battery, they won't even turn on :( Decent quality manual 12v battery chargers can be had from major retailers for about $30, well worth having.

    The Hybrid Inverter charges the 12v battery, well more correctly supplies power to the 12v system in the car. If the 12v battery is low, it can take a L O N G time (miles/hours) for it to be recharged by the car due to the modest power available to do so. Again, a 12v battery charger is a good thing here.
     
    Marye likes this.
  11. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Not all that important, just gives an idea of what to look for at certain mileages.
    10-20 miles a week may not be enough to maintain a 12v battery, especially if you use the SKS feature.
    185k would be quite a ride for an inverter coolant pump, most last around 100k before needing replacement. If you don't already know the dealer maintenance/recall history, run the VIN at : Track Your Service Records with Your Toyota Owners Account
    Focus on the Dome fuse, and then the AM2 fuse which may blow when the above pump fails. Then go from there.
    It may be the battery is low. When using a voltmeter, what is measured voltage at the jump points under the hood?
    Don't buy a random OBD2 scanner, most aren't hybrid compatible. If you do purchase one, make sure the return policy is there.
    If the measured voltage is low at the jump points under the hood, recheck all of the connections at the 12v battery. Some of the plugs may not be fully clipped in, and check the 12v negative ground strap where it bolts/attaches to the body for rust/corrosion.

    Have you ever had an issue with with the dash going black? (failing combination meter)

    tldr : If the 12v battery is measuring around 12v, and when using a voltmeter you can see a similar voltage under hood at the jump points, and the fuses are good, it should be starting.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  12. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    NO, not the same.
    A trickle charger has a more or less fixed charge rate and it continues to stuff that small amount of charging current into the battery whether it needs it or not. This can lead to overcharging and loss of fluid and battery damage over long periods......like weeks or months.
    A "tender" type charger automatically cuts down the charge as the battery fills up.
    Read the instructions for the one you got.
    It probably is OK.

    What a bunch of crap.
    NOT TRUE at all.
    That is exactly what they are designed for.
    Literally tens of thousands of them get plugged in every winter and stay connected until spring.

    Your totally wrong information is not helping anyone.
     
    #12 sam spade 2, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2021
    Marye likes this.
  13. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2009
    1,130
    505
    0
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Sorry, don’t even read what he has written, not even going to spend time refuting his statements.
     
  14. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2009
    1,130
    505
    0
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Buy at least a 7-10 amp selectable smart charger, does both maintain and charge. Some chargers have option to regulate output for AGM batteries, such as the Prius 12v.

    Trickle charger is older technology if you could call it that, quite sure none are sold anymore.

    Get this charger from Lowes. And the Obdii reader online to use with phone app, yours iPhone or Android?




    AB4BCF75-4140-4338-B4C2-A3D0AE2CCDEE.png
     

    Attached Files:

    #14 alftoy, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
  15. chronon

    chronon Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2007
    601
    105
    3
    Location:
    here and there aint be in frozen wasteland no mo..
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    battery nerdiness alert .. : a LA bat should be charged about 1/20 of capacity safely .. ie battery has 100 ah rating ...
    bat charger should be no more than 5 amp rating .. because 5*20 is 100 ...

    so if the tiny aux battery is only 30 ah rating .. then u wont be wanting to shove more than about 1.5 amp juice to it .. maybe 3 if an AGM can take it faster than an SLA LA .
    Somebody can chime in on charge rate for AGM chemistry ?
     
  16. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    SLOWER is ALWAYS better. There are those that claim higher amps does some kind of sulfate reversal, there is little supporting evidence that the theory works (chemistries of Pb batteries differ, therefore results as well). However, too much V or A will KILL most Pb types.
     
    chronon likes this.
  17. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2009
    1,130
    505
    0
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Did you read the specs for the Battery Tender charger? SELECTABLE

    10 Amp, 6 Amp and 2 Amp Selectable Charges and Chemistry Maintains Charges Most 12V Battery Types

    POWERING UP: When you first plug the charger into a power outlet, all of the LED’s and battery level lights will illuminate for about two (2) seconds. The charger is set to default to standard chemistry and 2 Amp mode.

    BATTERY CHEMISTRY/POWER SUPPLY SELECT: To change the battery chemistry or select the power supply, a press the Chemistry PWR Supply button to scroll through the selections. This must be done before you connect to a battery. Once connected to a battery you cannot change the battery chemistry. To change the battery chemistry simply disconnect one (1) of the alligator clips.

    Manual for Prius Optima YELLOWTOP Type: DS46B24R and Prius service manual for AGM battery

    From the service manual

    In most vehicle charging systems, the alternator limits the charging rate by limiting the output voltage (about 14.4V). For example, an AGM battery may be observed charging at 60A and 13.5V. As the battery recharges, the charging voltage will increase from 13.5V to approximately 14.4V (voltage will vary based on temperature, control sophistication, etc.), and the current will decrease from 60A to about OA. The charging system voltage regulators prevent both AGM and flooded lead acid batteries from being overcharged and venting. By controlling the voltage, the charging rate (current) can be controlled.

    The discontinued Special Service Tool (SST) Automatic Trickle Charger (SST P/N 00002-YA122-01) maintained a manual charging limit of 10A to accomplish a safe recharge rate for AGM batteries. This low amp charge was low enough to prevent the AGM battery from overheating and venting since the charger had no way of monitoring battery temperature/condition.
     

    Attached Files:

    #17 alftoy, Feb 23, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2021
    chronon likes this.
  18. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    That is OK to get a charger that big IF it also has a lower automatic range of 4 amps or less.
    But for most people, spending the extra money really isn't a good investment.

    You are absolutely wrong about trickle chargers not being available.
    Just for instance, Harbor Freight has one for about $4.

    It is really not that much different.
    Not worth worrying about in a vehicle application.
     
    #18 sam spade 2, Feb 24, 2021
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 27, 2021
  19. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2016
    1,097
    563
    0
    Location:
    MSP
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    WTH? You sell these things or something??? I realize you may not have authored the above, but it is either deliberately wrong or ignorantly so. Let's review, shall we?

    That is so incredibly inaccurate, it is not even wrong. If you do not know why, me telling you will not help.

    As before, but deferentially, automotive charge systems are designed for FLOODED batteries and their specific charge rates. Installing Gel, Dry or Lithium based batteries, even those marketed as being "12v" CANNOT be charged correctly. And again, if you do not know why, me telling you will not help.
     
  20. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,780
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Actually HE is providing much more useful information than YOU are.......since you are really providing NONE.

    Any automotive battery that uses the same basic chemical structure as the original lead/acid design can safely and efficiently be charged by a system designed for a wet cell lead acid type. That includes AGM and Gel.
    It will not be "perfect" but more than good enough.

    The newer lithium or Iron or phosphorous designs might be somewhat different but my bet is that if they make them in a physical configuration that matches the original they will do just fine too.

    Note: You really could do a more efficient job of saying "I am just going to be obstinate and not provide any useful information."