He is moose hunting and his 12v battery drained

he can jump start it from another car, if he has jumper cables. otherwise, he will need to buy a charger, or take the battery out and bring it to a store that can charge it.

to jump it, you would hook the positive battery post of another car to the jump start post of the prius, which is in the fuse box under the hood. and the negative battery post of the other car to an unpainted nut or bolt under the hood of the prius.

CAUTION! do not cross pollinate the positive and negative, or expensive damage can be done.

i hope it wasn't bullwinkle . all the best!

 

If you can pick up a ~4 amp range smart charger and get it hooked up and running right away, the battery may be recoverable. A charging session with a really depleted battery should be done in under 12 hours.

Specific brand that will work well:

CTEK 3300 ($50~)

Hook up would be SIM to bisco's description.

 

Even if a charge works, it's a "reprieve", doesn't completely undo what's happened. The battery will be weakened, life shortened, but it may still be fine for a few years. Just good to be aware.

 

2009? a smart and simple move would be to replace the battery. triple a or somesuch?

 

+1 Just have AAA do the jump (and hold the liability if they mess it up!)

 

Also, do not start the donor car while the jumper cables are connected. The best bet is to start the Prius to 'Ready' with the donor car still turned off, then promptly disconnect the cables. Only then restart the donor car.

Disconnect the black / negative cable from both cars before disconnecting the reg / positive cable at either end. In a recent case, a Prius owner removed both clamps at the other car, then accidentally touched the clamps together, killing the Prius by blowing a fusible link. Had he disconnected the other end of the black cable before any red cables, the accidental touch would have been harmless.

That link is more expensive and harder to replace than a regular fuse, though still vastly easier and cheaper than replacing the electronics it protects.

 

OP says the 12 volt battery is only a year old.

 

I saw a MacGyver episode where he took a moose ,some lemon juice and made an emergency jump starter

 

Is that the one where it didn't work, he got depressed, slit open the moose's belly and crawled in?

 

...also note that the 2004 Prius 12v battery charges quite slowly, so if you get the car started, if you have a long drive that is good. Otherwise you might want to keep it running maybe an hour or so in PARK. Or use a trickle charger to restore the charge.

 

For those that believe the Prius 12 volt battery is a no maintenance battery...think again! Since the first Gen Prius from 2001, Toyota has perpetrated a lie! The 12 volt battery is not a sealed lead acid battery, but is instead a vented lead acid battery (for understandable liability reasons since it is located within confines of passenger compartment). With the loss of water vapor over time due to charging cycles, what you end up with is charging a battery with low electrolyte cell levels... leading to failure for lack of maintenance! I currently own my third Prius which is a 2014 Prius V used with 25,125 miles at purchase. I pulled the 12 volt battery, removed the "no maintenance" battery label and scored around the opaque plastic plate (bonded in place) with an utility knife. After removal of the cell slot cover plate, I found all of the cell electrolyte levels to be below the top of the cell plates. It took approx. 1&1/2 cups of water to bring the cell levels back up to 1/2 inch above the top of the cell plates. If it were not for the light electrical load on the 12 volt battery (not used to crank engine for starting), vehicle owners would probably be experiencing even high failure rates. I am not far away from 400,000 miles of experience with the Toyota Prius. It was my Gen II Prius where after almost three years the 12 volt battery failed and I discovered the failure was due to my own ignorance and Toyota's possible willful negligence. Who stands to profit by not specifying maintenance intervals on the 12 volt battery? I have adopted annual inspection of cell levels on my Prius autos going back over 10 years ago.

 

now you're just being silly. why pollute this thread with negative comments. if you want to whine, start your own thread, or better yet, if you feel you have helpful advice, add it to the existing thread about topping up the battery water.

 

The original equipment 12V battery is AGM (absorbed glass mat). It is not supposed to contain substantial liquid electrolyte, certainly not at 1/2" above the plates.

 

Some would say the drained battery is KARMA:

 

Which then feeds the wolves, the coyotes, the crows, the bears, etc. But, I digress off-topic.

 

Find a moose, tell the moose (he/she) is ugly, then let the adrenaline do the rest. Should make it home in no time.