What do I do !! The battery warning light came on after installing an amplifier.

I am thinking that maybe they didn't tighten the terminal connections tightly at the 12v battery. Also how old is the 12v battery. If its more then 3 years old it may be that the battery is just weak and on its way out.

 

I have a 600 W Profile Amp installed that I bridge to drive one 10" subwoofer. I installed my own. It could be something simple my Prius is a second generation but the only time I've seen the main Caution light is if a door is not closed all the way or the time I was an idiot and ran out of gas.

 

Where I would start, I would disconnect the amp power line at the 12v+ battery and see if the warning light goes away. And make sure both terminals are nice and tight.

 

Check your auxilary battery connections including the ground that connects to the body panel (if they do this on your model like the 04+).

If that does not change anything then remove the fuse on your power wire leading to your amplifier. There should be no need to remove the amplifier. Just disconnect the power and ground leading to the amplifier at their sources, not at the amplifier itself.

How did you obtain a source signal for the amplfier? Did you use an aftermarket head unit or did you use a line converter and get signal from stock speakers?

Yes, I do have a very large set of amplifiers in my car (1,900 watts RMS).

 

Have you tried disconnecting the Aux battery for 30min or so and see if the system resets? On our LS1 (Camaro/Firebird/Corvettes) cars we would sometimes get computer glitches and that would fix them although you will see a reduction in mpg while the system relearns. Maybe this works with the Prius?

Have you checked for codes?

 

I assume you don't have a Scangauge or you would have checked for codes by now. Maybe run to the local auto parts store and see if they can scan you car for trouble codes. With the codes someone in here may be able to offer advice on your next couse of action.

 

Not sure on a Prius. On my old GMs it was a few driving cycles and a hundred miles or so of varied driving it seemed.

It's not an issue though. Nothing weird happens during relearn.

 

Probably a silly question, but it sounds like you had the subwoofer installed by someone else. How did they attach the components? I thought I remember reading several years ago about someone who had an installer drill down into his battery to mount a sound system...

 

>shudder<

Let's hope it's not that!

 

Again it is most likely loose connections on one or both posts on the 12v battery or where the negative battery cable bolts to the body. These connections must be tight and should not be able to move when tightened. OR its just coincidence and your 12v battery is on its way out and due for replacement.

 

Glad it wasn't anything serious. I say that you will probably be wasting your time getting them to give you your money back. (Most likely you signed a form with a waiver attached to it that said they aren't responsible for damage to your vehicle) If you told the stereo shop why you had them uninstal it and then tell them why it set off your main battery light perhaps they will work with you and re-install it for free on a day where they aren't busy. At least they would if they like repeat and word of mouth business, plus it could be a good learning experience for them to know what they did wrong.

 

Talk to the shop about the situaiton and show them the receipt from the dealership. A good shop will either refund you the secondary charge for the removal, OR pay the diagnostic fee for the dealership, OR give you some type of in store credit although this is the weakest form of saying sorry IMO.

 

Are you referring to the lock on the high-voltage hybrid battery connector.?
Why would your installer have been messing with that? If so, they were very foolish, could have been electricuted, and owe you every dollar you have expended and should re-install the system. (not that I'd want them to).
For the most part, service people are worthless these days, and the old saying...if you want something done right...do it yourself....applies.
A little homework, and I'm far more adept at just about anything.

I know a guy who had an amp installed in a Gen II, when he dropped it off he said, Please treat it like it's a Ferrari. When he got it back, they had
1. Broken a tab off the batter cover/floor corner piece.
2. Broken the pos. terminal protector (both because they didn't take the time to figure out those came loose, and just pulled.
3. Charged him for a inline fuse, but none installed.
4. Shotty installation of LOConverter, which prevented stock amp shield from going back into place properly under the passenger seat. They just gave up and left it that way.

Upon post intall inspection, I identified all this, and just the Toyota parts replacement cost for broken pieces exceeded the original install charge. And they payed every cent. They didn't know what to think when my buddy stormed into the place and told them the work looked like a teenager from Wal-mart had done the install....and he handed them the bill .....In front of customers and owner.....

I don't let anyone touch my car.