Starter battery keeps dying because I don't drive much

Bring the battery to an auto parts store for a full charge... Or bring it into your place to do it. Once it's fully charge unbolt where the negative terminal cable bolts to the chassis and bolt it back on when you need to use the car. That way it won't lose its charge.

 

Sure you can. Check out solar chargers.

 

If your car has the SKS system, and the cars electrical system is in good condition, a new 12v battery will last 6-8 weeks before it discharges to an unusable condition from normal electrical loads when the car is sitting unused. You can extend this time by 2-3 weeks by disabling the SKS system using the "KEY" button located under the steering wheel. This disables the SKS system, so the driver door will not unlock when you touch the door handle, but the car will still respond to the remote buttons to unlock.

If your car does NOT have the SKS system, then the 12v battery installed in the trunk as OEM is a 34 amp-hour battery. You can install the 46 amp-hour battery used in the SKS cars merely by changing the mounting bracket to the model used for the larger battery. They're available from Toyota for like $25.

And like mentioned above, there are many solar powered charger/maintainers available now, varying from 2 watts to 20 watts, that will plug into an aux power outlet/cig lighter and maintain the battery (this works if the outlet has power available when the car is off), otherwise you would just need to wire in a small harness to allow you to plug the charger in when needed.

 

Or you could look into installing a higher capacity 12v battery.

 

In PA no the Prius isn't going to survive doing this for very long not even a generation 2. They can't take sitting You could get a solar charger on it but the question to ask yourself is why are you needing all this charging You should have the SRS key button pushed in or something. Is the alarm going off you could disconnect the 12 volt I guess and put a solar charger on it that should keep it up and then attach the positive when you need it but that can be problematic getting to the positive because you're parked on the street so I don't know just a weird setup.

 

You could possibly simply drive it once in awhile, or barring that, sell it. Just sayin’.

 

As said, the KEY toggle switch is for disabling the SKS. With the button in the "out" position, SKS is enabled. Press the button "in" position to disable the SKS. Press the button again so it is in the "out" position to reenable SKS.

SRS is the safety restrain system so, it has to do with the airbags, seatbelt tensioners, etc. SKS is the smart key system that has to do with keyless lock/unlock, remote start, etc.

Agreed. Nowadays you have the option of car-sharing services and Uber/Lyft-type services. It becomes less and less practical (and economical) to keep a car, which is a quickly depreciating asset, that you might use once in a while or to have around "just in case".

 

Yes I meant SKS system The thing that's always hunting for the red car and the alarm to be on and so on and so forth but in this situation your best bet you know if you rarely do anything get 150cc 16 in wheeled adult scooter like an Aprilia scarabeo. That thing can sit outside at the ready right outside your door practically I have one on my stoop and I ride it very regularly it'll go 70 miles an hour and I have a moped tag on it that requires no insurance and of course I don't drive it around at 70 mph when people are looking but in the evening coming home from the store or whatever it has full side bags on it I can carry four 2 l and groceries. And it has a windshield and a leg shield on it so in the rain as long as you're moving you barely even know it.

 

Go drive the car. At least a couple hours every week. On old Prius will not do well "just sitting around". It's been a very common theme during covid for hybrids to sit unused and find the HV battery has degraded, or the brake actuator failed, or critters moved in and chewed on wiring.

If not, then consider selling it and using a ride share service when needed, or get a normal car like a Corolla, Yaris, Civic, or Fit.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Due to parking situation?

 

I always turned off the SKS system off when letting the Gen2 sit unused.

 

Has to park on the street.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.