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Driver Window Auto Control

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Hytec, Feb 16, 2010.

  1. Hytec

    Hytec New Member

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    I replaced the 12V battery, and now the driver window auto-control no longer works.

    I hooked a battery charger to the +12v lug in the fuse box and ground hoping to maintain all user-selected computer settings. When the new battery was installed and the charger removed, everything (BluTooth, Nav, Radio settings, etc.) appeared to have been saved except the clock. Though, the auto-control does not work. The driver window control now only operates in manual like the other three window controls.

    Does anyone have an idea what may have caused this, and how to restore the auto function?

    Thanks

    EDIT - Solved..page 42 of the manual. Who would have thought to look in the Index under "Power"? I looked under "Window", "Switch", and "Control", but "Power"...gimme a break. :eek: LOL
     
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  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The fact that the clock had to be reset and the driver's window auto function did not work is evidence that your battery charger did not provide 12V to the system while the battery was disconnected. This is to be expected.

    Most battery chargers have a safety circuit that will disable the charger if it does not detect voltage produced by the battery. The voltage must be of the correct polarity and sufficiently high enough so that the charger thinks the battery can be charged safely.

    Even if the battery charger did not have this safety circuit, it would still be a poor choice to provide 12V to the Prius. This is because the DC produced by a battery charger typically is very poorly filtered or regulated. A better choice to provide 12V backup would be a small 12V battery or a lab power supply which is both voltage and current regulated.
     
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  3. Hytec

    Hytec New Member

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    Patrick, thank you for this information. I didn't know about the limitations of battery chargers as a reliable power source.
     
  4. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    BTW, if you manually run the driver's window all the way down, then all the way up three times the computer will "re-learn" where the limits are and the auto function will magically return. I read that in a post on here somewhere. I had the same problem then noticed it worked again - the post explained all.
     
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  5. Hytec

    Hytec New Member

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    Thanks...shows I must do something about my impatience with automation...:embarassed:
     
  6. almostrice

    almostrice Atari Rocks

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    I had the same problem when I put my 12v battery back in. Thanks for explaining why this happened.
     
  7. Hopopotamus

    Hopopotamus Junior Member

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    I replaced my 12v battery earlier today and window is working fine in auto mode, however when it's closed completely in auto mode it goes back down about 3-4cm. Now I have to roll it up manually. I know this car have safety but there is nothing caught between window and window frame. Hope this will go away. I looked in to manual and there was something about it but there is no fix for it in manual. Don't want to go to stealer.

    P.S. This morning I was bragging on PriusChat that my 2004 12v battery was still good. That made me check my battery again and battery was bad ( 11.7v ) after car was running for about 40min so I picked up new battery from Toyota of Hackensack for $138.
     
  8. LRKingII

    LRKingII New Member

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    Cycle the window full up and full down 3times ithink is the fixfor that.
     
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  9. justin time

    justin time Junior Member

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    Hi Patrick -

    Most "consumer" battery chargers are rather low amperage, and one reason it's not recommended to use them to jump start.

    Could this be a factor as well?

    Thanks
     
  10. Hytec

    Hytec New Member

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    On Page 42 of the 2005 Prius Manual, the instructions "To Normalize the Power Window" if the auxiliary battery is disconnected or run down read as follows.....

    "1. push down the power window switch and lower the window halfway.

    "2. Pull up the switch until the window closes and hold the switch for one second."

    This operation worked fine for me after I replaced my 12V battery, so it should work for your 2004.
     
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  11. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    The OP was just trying to keep powered up the volatile memory of various ECUs while the car was IG-OFF. The required current is ~30 mA, not counting any cabin lights that might be left on while you have the doors and/or the rear hatch open while swapping the 12V battery.

    Hence I would say the the ampere rating is not a significant factor in the failure of the OP's attempt to use the charger as a backup 12V supply.
     
  12. Hytec

    Hytec New Member

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    Someone replied to my post when I had a similar problem after trying to use a charger for keep-alive power. The reply indicated that a charger requires a fairly large load like a dead or bad battery before it will provide any power. A charger can not sense a small load like 30ma, so it will not turn its power circuits.

    Made sense to me.
     
  13. DF Breezy

    DF Breezy New Member

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    The three up and three down trick worked for me. Computers drive me nuts. Thanks for the tip. I got my Prius used from a Toyota dealership but they still couldn't come up with a manual for me.
     
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  14. Donald Queen

    Donald Queen New Member

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    3 times up & down didn't help, but this fixed my problem
     
  15. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    $32.95 (but not the original press run). Or eBay....

    -Chap
     
  16. jtrosario

    jtrosario Prius Pioneer

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    Thanks for the tip, been having the window issue as I'm trying to resolve full power off issues. Now I know why Auto UP/DOWN came back yesterday.... 3rd time through a drive-thru :) Thanks for saving me the time and worry over thinking I had an intermittent electrical issue with the driver's window switch. Know what to do for next time!
     
  17. stockdaddy

    stockdaddy Member

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    The backup beep resets also if you DC the battery. That applies if you had to changed to 1 beep by the dealer.
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You can get a "memory saver" cord, plugs into a 12 volt socket on a jump pack, the other end into the OBD port. They work well, typically have an indicator light: if either end is plugged in, it'll light, to let you know it's found voltage. This way you know you're good before you disconnect your 12 volt battery.

    Here's one example. Not the one I have, but they're all pretty similar I think:

    Memory Saver Cord - ESA30 | Call us at 1-800-328-2921 | Clore Automotive
     
  19. DocDNA

    DocDNA Junior Member

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    Thanks. The normal method of three cycles did not work. However the manual was correct.
     
  20. David_1

    David_1 New Member

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    We had this situation on our Prius 07 today. Halfway down and then back up, hold for a second!
    Thank you for the information!