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

Jumping 2013 prius from 2013 camry hybrid - burning smell

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by NWDiedrich, Feb 18, 2022.

  1. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Jumped 2013 Prius from 201 Camry hybrid from the trunk Camry battery to dedicated positive charge point under hood of Prius. I connected the cables per Prius manual. Turned on Camry and very very gently revved engine for 5 minutes, again per Prius manual. Turned off Camry, disconnected cables in reverse order. Prius started right up. When I got back in the Camry, I smelled an electrical burning smell in the cabin. Camry now seems fine and smell is gone. Any idea what might cause the burning smell in the Camry? Cause to get the Camry checked out? Thank you.
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    As long as the proper procedure/order of connections were made, everything should be fine.

    I don't see where it was possible to get any sparking or arcing when connecting to the Camry battery, which might cause that ozone smell, because the last electrical connection completing the circuit between the two cars would've been to the Prius chassis ground.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  3. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    3,295
    1,005
    0
    Location:
    Arcadia, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Five
    How high did you rev the engine? Could be heat build up from the revving....

    REVVL V+ 5G ?
     
  4. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thank you for the thoughts. I was very careful with the cable connections so I do not believe there was any error there.
     
  5. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    VERRRYYYY slight revving. Just barely above idle.
     
  6. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    However, i did continue the revving for the full 5 minutes per the manual. I did not follow the manual regarding revving the jumper car gently while starting the jumpee car with the cables still connected. I disconnected the cables before starting the prius.
     
  7. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2012
    7,842
    3,099
    0
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Everything sounds like it was done properly. Perhaps you are just smelling some vented gas from the Camry battery.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Now that it looks like there's no damage, I'm wondering why the manual said to raise the Camry engine RPMs for jump starting since the 12V charging system doesn't require the engine to run in a hybrid. Wait, now I see it. It was the Prius manual that said that and the writer assumed the donor car would be a gasser and need the engine to charge the battery.

    So, long story short, when jumping from a hybrid, there's no point in revving the engine since the DC/DC converter in the inverter will put out the necessary charging current whether the engine is running or not.

    But the best way to do it is to get one of those lithium jump packs so you don't risk damaging the charging system in either car. Cheap insurance. I've used mine four times in the couple years I've had it; all on other people's cars.
     
    Georgina Rudkus likes this.
  9. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Could be, thank you for the response.
     
  10. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Sage advice. I am looking at the NOCO GB40 as an option.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,471
    4,373
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Buy it and keep it accessible in the passenger compartment as the hatch is unlikely to open when you need it. Then place a recurring reminder on your calendar once a year to pull it out and charge it. The $100 is chump change if you accidently reverse polarity a normal jump cable for even one second.
     
    jerrymildred likes this.
  12. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Very good, thank you for the tips.
     
  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's the one I have.
     
    NWDiedrich likes this.
  14. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2007
    10,096
    4,795
    0
    Location:
    Clearwater, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That battery you jumped is probably toast.

    Measure it sitting at the front jump point. Should be 12.6 volts. One good battery drain to zero volts with a interior light bulb and that will usually damage the battery. Don't make 'em like they used to.
     
    NWDiedrich likes this.
  15. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I will get it tested. This isn't the first time. I read here about some people getting greatly reduced mpg with a weak 12v battery. Will have to see if that holds for me.
     
    edthefox5 likes this.
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,467
    38,102
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Not related to your question, but you disconnected the jump start cables and then started the Prius? Or am I mis-reading?
     
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,471
    4,373
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    12v batteries do age and normal parasitic draws will reduce a batteries voltage overnight. If it is 12.2 or better in the morning I would not worry about it. AGM batteries are designed for an occasional deep discharge. That is why they cost more.

    It is rare that a bad 12v battery causes bad mpg. It has to have a serious internal failure that causes a continuous 50-100 amp charging current from the inverter. That kind of current is easily detected by a constant 14.7 or higher charge voltage while in Ready which can be monitored from your head unit while you drive. Search google for "Display Audio Service Menu w Battery Check". Normally the charging voltage will start high but should drop into the 13's within 10 or 15 minutes.

    A weak hv battery will reduce mpg.

    Your original question about an electrical burning smell in the Camry is more concerning in my book. Electrical component overheating is very distinctive and is rarely confused with anything else. Even dust and debris burning off the electrical heating module does not smell like electrical. Time will tell on that issue.
     
    #17 rjparker, Feb 19, 2022
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2022
    jerrymildred likes this.
  18. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That is correct. I revved camry engine very gently for 5 minutes. Disconnected cables, per something I read elsewhere. Prius started right up.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  19. NWDiedrich

    NWDiedrich Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2015
    30
    5
    0
    Location:
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thank you for all the good advice. The smell was what I associate with electrical "burning". It was not overwhelming but certainly present and quickly disappeared. I hope no "serious" damage was done. I cant imagine the cause if I did everything correctly, which I am fairly certain I did.
     
  20. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2016
    11,490
    14,095
    0
    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's a good practice if you have to crank a cold V8 with a little 12 volt motor. But all the Prius 12V has to is close a couple relays and boot some tiny computers.
     
    Mendel Leisk and NWDiedrich like this.