Dash beeps after shutdown, then needs jump

If you are still using the original 12-volt battery, replacement is overdue. Not being able to hold a charge after 6-7 years of use is typical for both hybrids and traditional vehicles.
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Probably so. Check the battery yourself (no tools required):
http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/73400-weird-stuff-happening-mpgs-dropping-test-battery.html

The dealer is full of beans about Parking and shutdown.

 

A dying fob battery will cause a beep at shutdown. It may be that the fob battery needs to be replaced. As John said, if your 12v battery is the original, then it should be replaced also.

 

Your dealer is wrong about shutting down before Park. It makes no difference.

Almost certainly you have a 12V battery issue. If you haven't replaced it, now is the time. Likewise check the battery wires for corrosion and loose connections.

Tom

 

The yellow top batteries are good, but whether they are worth the extra cost is debatable. If you do buy an Optima, make sure you get the installation kit, as it is required to make it work with the Prius.

The alternative is to buy an OEM battery from the dealer and install it yourself. Several threads on this site have detailed instructions.

Tom

 

The Optima Yellow Top from eLead really isn't materially more costly than the OEM. It is $165 including Free shipping.

(I realize that the OP did replace his with the OEM Toyota, but wanted to make the point that the Optima isn't much more).

 

I have a 2007 and almost always shut the car off in Park for 3 years and have never heard a beep. Its amazing the stuff you hear at dealers about this car.

The main reason people kill there batteries on this car is they do not lock the car every single time they leave it especially in the garage.
Never leave the car unlocked anywhere for any reason.
If any door or hatch is ajar it will not allow you to fob or door button lock the car. Door or hatch open and light is on killing the battery. The car will beep twice. It has saved me many many times.
Toyota gave us the tools but so many people do not use them.

And its easy to replace the FOB battery. The little slide lock button on the top of the FOB if pushed over releases the metal car key. Just pull the key out while holding the slide over. Then with key removed and your thumb on the back side of the remote the one with the Toyota emblem push the cover off towards the slide lock with your thumb while holding the slide lock over in release postion. The cover should slide right off. NO tools needed. Do not pry on it!

Once that cover is off you will need a tiny phillips screwdriver to get the 4 battery cover screws off and a CR2032 battery found at Home Depot.

Good Luck.

 

This is a little off topic...so I apologize upfront.

But I think Prius Chat is a fantastic resource for anyone who owns a Prius. Seriously, when I was making my last automotive choice...Prius Chat itself was one of the postives I listed in the "Buy a Prius" column.

But I'd also think after a year or so of lurking, participation and observation, that Thank God Prius Chat is an available resource...because Toyota seems to have a problem on a dealership service level.

Not just this case, where the dealer had no idea what was really causing the problem, but too many other threads where Toyota Dealership Service departments seem far too lacking in Hybrid Prius knowledge. (This was something I put in the negative column)

I mean how many threads where a Prius Owner has a problem...and the dealer gives a totally erroneous answer? IMO too many.

IMO there it's ridiculous how many times Prius owners have reported dealerships that have overfilled the Prius after an oil change. That's inexcusable.

Especially if Toyota is expanding Prius into a line of itself...and expanding Hybrids as a whole? They need to get their dealership service training up to speed. Toyota can say "The Prius Family" is growing...but they need to get their service infrastructure improved and growing with it...

Either that or Prius Chat should be getting a big fat paycheck from Toyota Motors...for providing what their dealerships all too often seem to fail to do, providing the Prius Owner with the correct information...