1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Parked outside for 8 months. Flying back in soon. Help!?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ivfx, Mar 18, 2019.

  1. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2014
    414
    222
    1
    Location:
    Netherlands
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    No. the car needs the hybrid battery to start the engine. The 12V battery is only there to start the electrical system.
    It also needs very little power to start, I've started my car with a flat 12V battery and a 2 amp power supply. That's sufficient.

    I would check for leaks under the car and if there are none then just try to start it. If it doesn't, use whatever cheap means you have to recharge the 12V battery.
     
  2. ivfx

    ivfx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2018
    36
    12
    0
    Location:
    Dhaka Bangladesh
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I would like to thank everyone who read/wrote this thread.
    UPDATE:

    I finally restarted the car after it spent 11 months sitting in outdoor parking. I called roadside assistance through my insurance. A guy rolls up in his mid 2000’s but well maintained Acura after making me wait way too long. He used a portable battery jump box, Noco GB40 to be precise. Engine started right up but made a weird (grinding?) noise while It started. I wish I could’ve used starter fluid in the spark plug chambers before trying on the engine but it would’ve been been too difficult for me to pull off the spark plugs due to also having to take off the wiper assembly and having no starting fluid in my travel bags.

    A few days go by and Im sitting a parking lot running the fans repeatedly with engine off. Guess what happened. Another motorist tries to jump me with his Nissan suv to no success. I didn’t want to use my insurance’s services again in so short a timespan. So, I decide to walk to AutoZone to buy aforementioned box when I saw and walked into a mechanic shop. The guy just loans me his Noco GB150 at no charge and not even checking my identification. I was flabbergasted. I was willing to have someone come with me and pay them $20 to jump start my car. Guy just says “pay it forward” and refuses payment. It’s called Broadway Garage in Bethpage, NY if you’re interested. Battery had gone down to 4.4V and the car’s electronic Parking had malfunctioned (probably due to battery). The car started up with the jump box connected and parking brake set and has been running since.

    Also, I learned later that Autozone charges batteries for free but one must also keep a decent set of wrenches / ratchet in the car.
     
    #22 ivfx, May 24, 2019
    Last edited: May 24, 2019
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,470
    38,103
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Time to replace that battery?
     
    Data Daedalus likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    is it original?
     
    Data Daedalus and Mendel Leisk like this.
  5. ivfx

    ivfx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2018
    36
    12
    0
    Location:
    Dhaka Bangladesh
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    no. I think it says Super Start Platinum (so O’reileys) 9/2017.

    I had another battery event this morning. Last night when i parked, I walked out with the headlights on. I locked the car with the remote and it turned off the lights. I also unlocked/locked the car later that night (light wereoff but the switch was in the on position). This morning I had to get my insurance ‘s roadside come jump start it. inverter/pumps keep whining while the car because they were still getting some power but car couldn’t be fully shut off due to unresponsive ness. Roadside guy jump started it using his Acura (another reason!).


    I was thinking it was all good until I saw that the right side of the display (the part that shows the settings/ detail hybrid MPG stuff) is totally blank. Only the right side. Dimmer in correct position. I looked on Prius chat and apparently its happened to some other people as well. For some it fixed itself. I’m not sure what to do it doesn’t resolve itself.shoild i just keep driving without the itchy side display? Should I disconnect/reconnect the battery? Scan tool?

    UPDATE: The right side display came back on and is working after I drove the car 15-20 minutes, parked and turned off for one hour, and turned back on.
     
    #25 ivfx, May 27, 2019
    Last edited: May 27, 2019
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    first you need to figure out if you have a healthy 12v. stop by oriellys for a free load test.

    once you have a known good one, if the display keeps up, it is probably bad
     
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,795
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I'm sorry I don't exactly buy this either.
    I don't doubt what happened to the poster happened. BUT...
    Jumping a battery is a transfer of electrical charge. There is no way the "Battery" knows or cares whether that donor battery is sitting in another Prius, or sitting in a ICE vehicle.

    Truth is, you have to be careful with ALL modern vehicles when doing a jump start. I think with a Prius, especially careful. It doesn't take much to possibly cause damage.
    Something happened to the Posters Prius. But I don't think it connects directly to it being jumped by a Non-Hybrid 12 volt.

    Other owners have jumped their Prius by various methods.
    You can buy "portable" batter jump start units.
    I don't buy that there is any tangible reason, a Prius needs to only be jumped by another Prius.
     
    bobzchemist and Mendel Leisk like this.
  8. ivfx

    ivfx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2018
    36
    12
    0
    Location:
    Dhaka Bangladesh
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II

    the display came back. Also nearest oreillys is 46 miles away. Apparently the warranty on batteries don’t transfer. i’ll see if i can get the correct phone number used during purchase by the dealer( he gave a number to try) if the battery requires warranty replacement. i definitely don’t want to shell out 200$ for a 12v battery. i’d rather just buy a Noco Gb40 for $100
     
  9. nicoj36

    nicoj36 Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2013
    494
    156
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    You're probably right. I think the reason why my Prius went to limp mode after getting jumped by a friend's old crappy 90's pick-up truck was because his battery and truck was old and it probably throws high surges that's why it damaged my hybrid system and dealer had to fix.

    So to answer your statement. I think it is ok to be jumped by other batteries as long as they have a good battery and not a crap one?
     
  10. iskoos

    iskoos Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2017
    399
    246
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I have read the whole thread and since I went through a similar adventure, I would like to say a few things.
    Per the symptoms you are describing, your 12v battery is near the end of its life. The similar happened to me. I lost half of the info screen. I have done some research and people reported a similar thing. I then did further testing by measuring the voltage with the headlights on (this is a very good way to load testing your 12v battery) and my battery was hot. I replaced it and the car came back to life.

    Some people here will swear that you need to get a special battery for your Prius (the ones that cost around $200 or more) but the reality is that you can pretty much drop in any 12 volt lead acid battery and it will do the job. That battery does not provide power for the starter (MG1) so you don't even need a high discharge rate (CCA rating) battery unit. Technically a simple 12v lawn equipment battery will have more than enough juice to start your Prius. I am not saying go get that for $40. Just use your judgement and decide.

    A 12 volt Prius battery (considering it isn't abused) can go 7-8 years easily. My battery (the original one) lasted 9 years. So if yours isn't that old, you may try to recondition that battery with a specialty chargers (the ones that does desulfation charge). I do not thing by constantly jumpstarting, you will eventually bring it back.

    In anyways, good luck and let us know how you ended up.
     
    ivfx likes this.
  11. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2004
    4,365
    3,209
    1
    Location:
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You could probably just start the car with a strong set of AA batteries. But it is not going to last as long as the AGM lead acid battery.

    Overall the car is pretty trouble free. I'd recommend spending the money on the proper battery.
     
  12. ivfx

    ivfx Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2018
    36
    12
    0
    Location:
    Dhaka Bangladesh
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    it’s working fine now. haven’t been to a auto parts store yet to test it to see the Cca readings but will do so soon hopefuly.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,836
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    A regular lead acid battery will work, but will release toxic fumes will fill the trunk, and the cab.
    And you, and anyone else in the car, will breath them. Hopefully, you won't be driving when you get sick
    and cause a crash and injure or kill some innocent person, or people.
    But use whatever you want.
    WHY would they use a $200 plus battery when a $50 one would work?
     
  14. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2014
    2,642
    1,133
    0
    Location:
    Northwestern S.C.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Ha-ha! What kind of toxic fumes? My $65 AGM battery does not release toxic fumes. A $200 battery is more profitable for dealer parts departments.
     
  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,836
    3,136
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I was refering to "iskoos": "Some people here will swear that you need to get a special battery for your Prius (the ones that cost around $200 or more) but the reality is that you can pretty much drop in any 12 volt lead acid battery and it will do the job."
     
  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    where do you get a $65. agm vented battery that fits?
     
  17. ThatDudeOrion

    ThatDudeOrion Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2016
    95
    86
    3
    Location:
    Central, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Bro, buy a new 12v battery NOW, yours is kaput. you've already had to boost it / jump it how many times? How many more times do you need to get stranded before you'll replace the battery?