Will park at LAX for 13 days. Dead battery for sure?

I was in Target today and they had a little jump start gadget that was about 3" X 4" X 2". It was meant to be stored until you need it and had a shelf life of several years. I believe it is single use, but it was small and less than $20. Small, inexpensive and convenient insurance.
I didn't buy one....

 

I've left my Gen III for 9 days at LAX covered parking, no problems starting up afterwards. As expected the smartkey system was off, but I could use the keyfob to unlock the door. Highly doubt you'll have problems.

Have a great time away!

 

Left ours in the garage for 16 days. No problem.

 

what exactly would I be giving up if I turned off the SKS feature? I imagine that I wouldn't be able to lock or unlock the car with the key fob in the pocket -- what else would I lose? thanks.

 

I think the idea that the battery dies in two weeks was started by a single posting a while back where the owner left the car for a couple of weeks and when they got back the 12V was dead and the dealer told them "that's the way it's supposed to work" and somehow that made it into the folklore.

If I get a chance to test this out soon, I'll report back.

 

Thanks. I believe, but cannot prove, that this whole thing is an urban myth. I have left my car parked unused for several weeks at a time and never had a problem.

 

If it's an urban myth, why is there a Toyota bulletin out on it ?

 

All I can say is I left mine in Seattle several times for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks with no problems. I noticed the interior lights didn't light up when I arrived and it may have taken 2 tugs on the door handle to open, but no problems whatsoever.

 

Just got back from a 10-day trip, no problems starting up. I didn't notice it even taking two tries on the door for the SKS to work, but maybe it did... Either way, battery not dead.

 

Unless you are referring to a different item, the bulletin I'm aware of (and referred to earlier) was directed to Toyota dealers and how they should care for newly-arrived Prius cars that may have to be stored for a period.

 

Tom is dead on. currently i am driving my Pri almost daily since i am tracking mileage with the change in the weather, but before i was not and the SKS would disable in around 24 hours.

cant tell you how many times after a few days of sitting, i would go out there and open door just to not have it open. but all i needed to do is place hand on handle and it would unlock after a few seconds.

besides, i think if we examined all the times that batteries did die, there is almost always user error in the equation... or in Tony's case, simply not understanding how SKS worked when not using the drivers door...

 

I travel a lot. Frequently I'm gone 2 weeks. Occasionally as long as just over a month. I have (inadvertently) left my SKS on for two weeks and had no trouble starting the car again. I think (but I'm not sure of this) that once I forgot to turn off the SKS when I went away for a month. The car started right up.

Since (from the above) the 2010 turns off the SKS after a day, I can assert with confidence that the car can sit unused for a month with no problem, and I'd guess much longer.

Now, if you leave lights on, that's another matter!

 

disabling SKS automatically will extend period in which the car can sit. but lead acid has other long term storage issues, go much beyond a month and the battery will die on its own without any help at all

 

I have travelled and left my car for greater than 2 weeks with no issues--started like a gem/full battery. I don't think you should expect that the battery will just die on you.

 

I've left my 2010 for 70 days without a problem when I am out of the country. I only have to use the button on the key to unlock and I'm ready to go, as is the car.

 

Two weeks for me at MCI airport and took two trys to open door with handle but it opened on second try. This whole thing is getting me worried though. Who to believe? Seems like a lot of panic in some threads. My kids may get the car the next time and I'll leave theirs at the airport.

 

Just left the car for 10 days, zero problems. Based on my experience and several other postings in this thread, there are no "12V Battery dead" problems, at least in the 2010's.

It's a non-issue that is based on misinformation or unrelated incidents.

 

Huh? I will be driving my Prius on Saturday for the first time in three weeks (it has been sitting in the garage unused the entire time) and I will quickly post if I cannot get it started unaided in any way.
Guess what? Based on numerous other occasions of lack of use, I don't expect to be posting :mod:
So, if not an urban myth, perhaps my 2010 Prius is extra special....ha ha.

 

You are missing the point.
As long as SOME owners are experiencing the problem, it is not a myth, there IS an issue.
The fact that you and a few others seem to be fine is irrelevant to those who ARE experiencing the problem.