Dead battery

The only concern with the battery is that it'll now be "easier" to kill it. due to the way the chemicals interact inside the battery, it holds less total charge after being completely drained, which means that leaving an overhead light on will kill it in a shorter time frame than if it had never been completely drained.

Replacing it or not is completely up to you. Odds are, if you take normal precautions like those mentioned in this thread, the current battery will do just fine for a number of years. of course, the risk of it dying are greater now, and you have to weigh the cost of a new battery versus the increased risk.

There's isn't anything special you need to do to the car for the winter, just drive it! That being said, many people here in northern climates find an engine block heater to be useful. it's essentially a little device you install on the ICE (internal combustion engine, or gas guzzling engine) that plugs into the wall. It acts to heat the engine at night (put it on a timer so it doesn't work all night), allowing for a quicker warm up time in the morning. It's not needed, but leads to increased winter mileage. you'll have to decide if the cost of the heater (in the 50$ range), the hassle of the install (it can be a pain), and the cost of the electricity to run it is cheeper in the long run than the additional gas you'd be spending to warm the engine up. I'm not sure if anyone's done a strick break-even analysis or not on it yet... i'm going to start this winter without it, and see what the mileage hit is, then decide if it'll be worth it or not.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Aug 22 2006, 09:11 PM) [snapback]307992[/snapback]</div>

G

You must lead a lucky life! The first month I had my Prius I drove out to the hobby farm in a torrential downpour. I parked it in my detached shop/garage and raced back and forth between the shop and house with groceries, cat, and clothing: all got soaking wet in the process

In the mad dash I left the rear passenger door open, and it stayed that way until next morning. I assumed the car was "smart" enough to power down - oh wait, the Auto headlights were also on, and I learned if you open a non-driver door the auto headlights don't cancel.

I skimmed the manual, popped the hood, hooked up a battery charger for several hours at 2 AH setting to the underhood jump point, and it powered up fine.

j

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Aug 23 2006, 09:03 AM) [snapback]308190[/snapback]</div>

Evan

Especially after I left the passenger door open all night, I got a 700 amp booster box at Canadian Tire. It was on sale for $68 and I figured I'd sooner fry that thing then risk damage to my Prius.

I've already used the box several times to assist other motorists: a full size pickup, a minivan, and an ancient Dodge K car. It works fine and I don't have to worry about risking my Prius, or being an donkey and refusing to help a stranded motorist.

Maintenance is quite minimal: there is a two-blade adaptor in the back of the unit, and Canadian Tire recommends plugging it in for 2 hours once a month, or until the unit indicates Charged. Also, recharge immediately after use.

I'm leaving tomorrow for another 2 weeks, and will leave my VDC Battery Minder plugged in the entire time. I hooked up the VDC harness directly to the 12 v battery, it has a 3A inline fuse. My condo association allows me to plug the VDC box directly into a receptacle directly above the car.

I'll still disable SKS and turn the Auto headlights to Off, just to be safe. I've found that leaving the battery to constantly desulphate for +1 week seems to make it stronger.


jay

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Aug 23 2006, 10:23 AM) [snapback]308232[/snapback]</div>

That’s a good point. When a lead acid battery is chronically undercharged, or severely discharged, the lead and sulfuric acid react to form lead sulfate (PbSO4).

I use an automatic battery conditioner from VDC to ensure the battery stays in good shape. I’m not sure if they’re worth the MSRP, I got mine at an auction for 1/3 the MSRP.

http://www.vdcelectronics.com/batteryminder_12117.htm

Before I used the VDC Battery Minder the Auto headlights would really dim in the underground parking as the car cycled the coolant pump and brake boost pump. Now the auto lights barely flicker.

Driving in winter: at the very least the block heater allows you to get heat much faster from the heater. As I have posted since I purchased my car new, in temps of -30 C and especially near -40, you really freeze in a Prius. The ICE will also run all the time

I have underground heated parking at my condo, and can only imagine how long it takes to get heat if you park outside. I did that once at my hobby farm as a test, and although the ICE started ok at -38 C, the 4.5 km drive at 50 km/h to the highway I still had no heat.

I cured the heat problem by making a winter front to cover the outside of the grille. Even at -35 C, I quickly get heat and the ICE will – briefly – shutdown at red lights

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jayman @ Aug 23 2006, 08:26 PM) [snapback]308574[/snapback]</div>

mind posting pictures of this? i'm kinda curios what it entails, both monetarily and effort wise to get that type of response.

 

I thought I saw a post that mentioned starting a prius with 6 D-type batteries, the big round ones that are used in flashlights. Dont hold me to it, I could be wrong, so, anyone in the know, please post your opinion.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Aug 22 2006, 09:11 PM) [snapback]307992[/snapback]</div>

i've done that too. left it on for three days without noticing, when i tried to start it i had no problems.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CrazyRussian @ Aug 24 2006, 02:51 PM) [snapback]308952[/snapback]</div>

not sure about d cells, but it's possible to start it with two 6 volt lantern batteries in a series. someone should see just how small of batteries you can start it with.

i can see someone using a homemade hand crank (copper wire coil and some magnets) to start it up

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CrazyRussian @ Aug 24 2006, 02:51 PM) [snapback]308952[/snapback]</div>

That would only be 9 volts. Putting 8 together would make 12 volts, though, and has the potential to work (pun quite intended ), but I wouldn't recommend it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(msnancy61 @ Aug 23 2006, 08:26 AM) [snapback]308175[/snapback]</div>

Maybe it sjust luck but I ahve left my car for much longer than that with no problem starting it up agian. It has sat as long as 4 weeks while I was on vacation and started right up everytime - until last night but that had nothing to do with being left for a long time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eagle33199 @ Aug 23 2006, 08:55 AM) [snapback]308183[/snapback]</div>

I was unable to jump start my battery using another cars battery - but a tow truck was. The driver said he sees this all the time with Priuses (we are in the DC area, plenty of them around) that it takes a large battery to jump start it... is there nay reason why that should be so?