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2006 Prius 12V Battery Problems

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by kingkong5, Sep 4, 2012.

  1. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    I let the Prius sit for 3 days over the long weekend, and on Monday it would not start. Got a big red triangle exclamation mark on the dash. Figured it was the 12V battery going, so I replaced it with the Optima Yellowtop. Took it all apart, put it back together. Charged the yellowtop using a Schumacher automatic battery charger made for AGM batteries. Run fine around the block, so I figured it was good.

    My wife took the car to work this morning. Said the ride in was just fine. Locked it and went into work. When she came out at break, it wouldn't open. Completely dead. I walked her through using the metal key to open the door, and she says it is all dark, nothing happens when she pushes the start button. We have the SKS, of course.

    So what could it be? Is there something that recharges the battery as you drive (the DC to DC converter) and could that be broken? Or loose, or ... ? Going to drive over there to take a look, but wanted to know what else I should look for, and if I should get it towed to a mechanic?
     
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    1. Loose battery cable
    2. Infant mortality on the new battery
    3. If the DC/DC converter in the inverter was bad you would expect to see some warning lights on as the skid control ECU and hybrid vehicle ECU should log DTC
     
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  3. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    Yup. Loose ground cable. Grrrr.
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    :LOL: patrick strikes again!
     
  5. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    But now I'm at wife's work with no tools. How to mcguyver a 10mm socket?
     
  6. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    If you have jumper leads connect one end to battery terminal the other to any clean ground bolt and drive home. If not move the loose cable till the car can be made ready.
     
  7. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    Does the air conditioner run off the 12v or the hybrid power?
     
  8. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    Thanks for the help! AAA had already been called and arrived shortly after I figured out the problem. They tightened down the bolt and ran a battery check for me, the battery tested out fine. However, he said that the terminal was loose.

    I figured as much. I had ordered the Optima Yellowtop from Advanced Auto back when they had it for a good deal. I kept it on the shelf for when the OEM battery died. However, it was damaged in shipping, the terminal was bent. I was about to send it back to them for a refund, when this weekend my OEM battery died, so I used it in a pinch.

    I guess I will have to find another yellowtop locally, and see if I can ship the damaged one back to Advanced Auto for a refund, or see if there is a way to swap it out under the Optima warranty? Can I get the warranty service at a store, not from where I bought it? I'm in SoCal and there are no Advanced Autos here.
     
  9. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Well - depending upon how long ago you had purchased the battery, you may not be able to successfully assert shipping damage. Typically that is a claim you would make immediately upon receiving the shipment.

    If some time has passed, how does the vendor know whether your car was in an accident impacting the right rear fender which caused the battery damage, or you dropped something heavy on the battery, or ...
     
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  10. kingkong5

    kingkong5 Junior Member

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    Long story - I made the claim right after it arrived damaged. It was about a month and a half ago? Maybe 2 months ago. They took a while to research the claim, etc. and then they said they would send me a prepaid shipping label to send it back for a refund. I didn't get a chance to ship it back, but the claim of the damage is still there, and they did send me a shipping label to ship it back. I just wasn't able to do it yet. Yeah, I'm a slacker.
     
  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    OK, then if you have a shipping label and RMA, you would need to follow their process to get a replacement. I doubt that another retailer would be helpful, but you can call around and see.
     
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