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How do I disable 2016 Prius 12V Battery?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by janie, May 9, 2019.

  1. janie

    janie 2016 Prius 3 Touring

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    The last few times I was away and not using my prius, the battery died and after the 3rd time of this happening, my battery was replaced -

    Tonight I attempted to disable my 12V battery, and tried to follow the instructions that the dealer service person told me, but it didn't seem to want to cooperate, he said something about unscrewing this thing and then pulling out the part and putting it in a baggie so it didn't leak out.

    Finally I saw someone who knew a little about cars, and he looked at what I had done and said I had already disabled the battery - he said it was impossible to pull out the little part that the dealer service person told me to pull out . . .

    If anyone can post me instructions with some photos that would be greatly appreciated. I tried to do a YouTube search and there were no video clips to explain how to do this . . .

    Thank you very much-
     
  2. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Do you mean that you just want to disconnect the battery? Just do the same as if charging the battery (as per the Owner's Manual):

    upload_2019-5-9_17-21-41.png

    But I'm intrigued by this:

    upload_2019-5-9_17-20-33.png Amazing MPG for a PRIUS.
     
  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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  4. janie

    janie 2016 Prius 3 Touring

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    Hmm I don't see a black wire on the top in the photo= I didn't see any wires . . . but I did unscrew the bolts and took off that part that is toward the front of the photo / the car . . . it's confusing. When I return I will go and ask a service department at a different toyota to see if they are more helpful to help me to understand how to disable my battery when I will not be using my car for an extended time. Where I park there is no direct sunlight and no plug outlets . . .
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If this is something you'll need to do semi-regularly, there are switches that can be installed, so that you just turn something 90 degrees, and the negative cable is disconnected from the battery. Google "battery disconnect switch". Here's one of the first hits I found:

    Battery Disconnect Switches | Battery Cutoff Switches
     
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  6. janie

    janie 2016 Prius 3 Touring

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    thanks i will investigate this for next time see if i can pay someone to install it
     
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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you tried disabling sks on your key fob?
     
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  8. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    Bottom wire, nearest one in the picture (and nearest to the front of the car), has a red cover over it (cover is open in the picture), leave that one alone, the top battery wire (connected to the other battery post) is exposed, that is the one to disconnect.
     
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  9. Leo

    Leo Leo

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    If you disconnect the battery, what is the result when you reconnect it? What settings are lost?
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For sure:

    1. Radio presets
    2. Trip meters

    Possible:

    1. Auto up of one or more windows. You may need to "retrain" them: run them down while holding the switch, then all the way up while holding the switch, and continue to hold the switch, when it's up, for at least a couple of seconds more. That should fix it.

    Sneaky:

    1. I've noticed, for the next few start ups, an odd rev-up of the engine, for a few seconds. Seems like something is getting recalibrated.

    That's all the specifics I can think of for third gen; fourth gen maybe has more?
     
  11. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    When I had my battery changed out the only thing I lost is the time of day on the clock. Radio pre-sets, and trip meters were intact.
     
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  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    So the one thing I forgot, is the one thing that actually gets lost? :oops:
     
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  13. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    upload_2019-5-16_13-52-32.png
    upload_2019-5-16_13-59-11.png
     
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  14. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    How long is the car unattended? Are the temps very low? My Prius is a 2012, still on original 12V battery, and I’ve left it a week or more without difficulty. I’m wondering if a fault is draining your battery excessively. Yes, SKS consumes power, but probably not enough to drain a AAA battery in a month. You’ve got a far larger battery than that.
     
  15. jb in NE

    jb in NE Senior Member

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    The simplest solution is not to disconnect the battery (and lose radio presets, etc), since even when disconnected a lead-acid battery will self-discharge. Get a Battery Tender charger and clip that on to the battery terminals when you are away. This charger will keep a small trickle charge on the battery and won't overcharge it. About $25- $45 depending on the model (even the Junior will meet your needs) online. I have one that I use for my convertible from November to April, and have replaced the battery on that car once in 13 years.
     
  16. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

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    See post #3
     
  17. janie

    janie 2016 Prius 3 Touring

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    Thanks for the various suggestions - my car is parked in an underground parking garage of an apartment complex, and there are no power outlets in any part of the garage.
    When I returned from my trip, I had a very difficult time trying to get my battery back together, as every time I tried to put the red part cover back on, it would start honking very loudly . . . Ended up I had to call AAA to help me get it back together -

    but on a good note, the battery didn't die out like in previous trips (anywhere from 1 to 3 + weeks).

    I have an email sent to an automotive body shop that has helped me with other things in the past, to see if they could assist me with putting on a battery disconnect switch -
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Typically you disconnect the negative (black) cable.
     
  19. janie

    janie 2016 Prius 3 Touring

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    the problem is I don't see a cable black or any other color . . .
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if you look closely with a flashlight, you will see + on one battery post, and - on the other.

    and, the negative post/cable goes to a nut on the fender body.
     
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