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Long term 4 months parking and battery

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Sid786, May 1, 2021.

  1. Sid786

    Sid786 Active Member

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    My car is sitting for 2 months and I will be returning back in another 2 months. I left the car charged, so if I start the cooling function remotely, then will this recharge the battery? Mainly trying to avoid a discharged battery upon my return.
     
  2. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    The traction battery should not be left fully charged for long periods of time! Much better to leave the battery charged to around 40%ish for long spans of time (BU-702: How to Store Batteries – Battery University).

    Generally, if and when you want to charge up to full, you should do so right before you hop in and drive.

    What “cooling function” are you referring to?
     
    #2 mr88cet, May 1, 2021
    Last edited: May 1, 2021
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can you clarify?

    do not leave the car plugged in, that will kill the 12 volt battery.

    drive the car in ev until the engine comes on. after the engine shuts off, park the car and put a maintainer on the 12 volt battery so it will start when you return. remote a/c will not help in any way, shape or form.
     
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  4. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Oh my. Let us know what happens when you get back. Looks like you will have a totally dead 12V and the traction battery will have lost some measurable but unpredictable months of it's useful life. Can you call someone who can get in to drive off that full charge on the traction battery and then put the 12V on a battery maintainer?
     
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  5. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Other than, possibly, providing a way to remotely reduce the way-too-high charge in the traction battery. That might kill the 12V battery first though…
     
  6. mr88cet

    mr88cet Senior Member

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    Other than, possibly, providing a way to remotely reduce the way-too-high charge in the traction battery. That might kill the 12V battery first though…
     
  7. RovinRon

    RovinRon Junior Member

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    Hope this isn't that far off topic. Any recommendations for a 12V charger to use when leaving our PP and V for 4-5 months at a time? As I was going through several different threads I only found one that was mentioned - Noco Genius Gen 5xl. Any other ones? Thanks
     
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Any smart charger/maintainer would be fine. PP's 12v battery is a regular lead-acid battery. It has a very small CCA, so you don't need a very big charger. 5Amp is all your need for charging, but for a maintainer, you probably don't even need that much. Noco you mentioned will work. Many people like CTEK - 40-206 MXS 5.0 or some variation of the model. Battery Tender is another brand that is highly rated. I have Victron IP65 12V Blue Smart Battery Chargers with Bluetooth. It works great during very cold months and the nice thing is I can monitor the charge session via BlueTooth App on the phone, so I don't have to walk out to the car in cold.
     
  9. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Any automatic battery maintainer from about 0.8 amps and up will work fine. They're all more alike than different. "Battery Tender" has become the generic term for all of them, and also one of the good brands, but not the only one. Any will work very well. I have a Noco and a Battery Minder. There's no advantage in paying for more than you need.

    And...call your insurance agent to suspend all coverage except comprehensive. Tell them that the car is in storage. Comprehensive will cover theft, fire, whatever can happen during the storage period. Shortly in advance of putting the car back on the road call again and reactivate the liability, collision, and the rest of your coverages.
     
    #8 PT Guy, Jul 13, 2021
    Last edited: Jul 13, 2021
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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Like my CTEK 4.3. They've got oddly expensive of late though, maybe COVID price-gouging? Or just what the market is doing in general, who knows. It comes with a quick connect, which makes it more convenient, and more secure than the alligator clip option (has those too).

    We're lucky to do 4K kms per year, and the 12 volts on the charger pretty much continuously. 5.5 years old, and according to electronic load test, like new.
     
  11. Sid786

    Sid786 Active Member

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    Jerry, you were spot on. I have a drained 12V battery, it seems. It was parked in Feb and now it is July, so almost 5 months. My friend put the Li-Ion recharger tool on the battery for few minutes and said that the dashboard lights up, but no words were displayed. When he pushed the START, nothing happens.

    My friend has an SUV and jumper cable, will that be a better option to charge. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated..
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A jumper cable is not going to charge the car. I’d research automatic chargers, which can be left on indefinitely (if practical in your parking situation). 3~4 amp range is suitable.
     
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  13. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What @mendel said. And if that does not work, you will need a new 12v battery.
     
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  14. farmecologist

    farmecologist Senior Member

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    Could also buy one of those battery powered jump starters. I got one and was skeptical at first...but they work great!
     
  15. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I think that is what his friend used to try starting the car. He is calling it a "Li-Ion recharger", but it is probably a Li-ion jump starter pack.
    If the 12v is completely drained, then jump-starting may not work? Even if it can get started, I doubt the car can recharge a completely drained 12v battery. A smart charger sometimes can not charge a completely drained battery for there is no initial current reading when the cycle starts. Some smart charger does have the option to bypass this checking and "force" charge a dead battery, but he may have to use a "dumb" charger to force the initial charging. Either way, there is a good chance the 12v battery is dead beyond the rechargeable level. If that is the case, the only solution would be to replace it with a new 12v battery.
     
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  16. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    For most people, it is best to simply replace a battery that has reached the point of needing to be forced charged. If they do get the old one charged again, its life will be greatly shortened.
     
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  17. Sid786

    Sid786 Active Member

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    Thank you Salmander_king and farmecologist...

    You are right, I am calling it a Li-ion recharger, and it is a Li-ion jump starter pack.

    I will ask my friend to give it one last chance with a jump start cable and if that doesn't work then I am calling AAA to replace the battery.

    If all it needs a 12V newer battery, then it is not a bad deal as my battery was already 3 years old.

    I am hoping 12V replacement will resolve this issue. I will keep you guys posted.
     
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  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Just a caution. Although PP and all Gen4 Prius use a regular flooded lead-acid 12v battery, it is a very tiny special size battery. AAA may not carry a group size (LN1, H4) that can be replaced without some mod on the tray. Also, even if they can find a compatible replacement battery, they may charge you way more than you would pay for it if you pick it up at a local Toyota dealer (or at a local auto parts shop for aftermarket battery). It cost $120-$180 depends on where you source it.

    Here are links to more discussions on the Gen4 (including PP) 12v battery size.

    12V battery group size | Page 2 | PriusChat
    12 Volt for 16 Prius 2 | Page 2 | PriusChat
     
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  19. Sid786

    Sid786 Active Member

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    I was just doing the search for battery on the AAA mobile app, where you select the car model and it will give you an instant quote and found that for Prius Prime, AAA don't have the battery. I came back to the forum to find that you have already alerted me about this.

    Would it be just better to get it towed by AAA to Toyota dealership and have them replace the battery. I am sure it will cost more, but it will give me a peace of mind that if replacing the battery didnt solve the issue, then Toyota may fix other issues and I will have a running car when I return.
     
  20. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would:

    1. phone dealerships, verify they have appropriate battery, see who’s got best price.

    2. Jump start your car again and drive to that dealership.

    3. either DIY the swap yourself on their lot, or have their service dept do it.
     
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  21. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Lifting the battery is the most difficult part of swapping one. Disconnecting and reconnecting is just simple wrench work on the cables and clamp that holds the battery in place. The drive in to return the old battery should let you see if there is any other issues.
     
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