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Left Prius Prime on in parking lot

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by NHPrime, Jun 9, 2018.

  1. NHPrime

    NHPrime Junior Member

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    Mistakenly left Prius Prime on (but in park) in a parking lot for about an hour while grabbing breakfast. HVAC was off and the car was in EV mode. Besides obviously being stupid and potentially letting someone drive away with it, any harm likely done?
     
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  2. DavidA

    DavidA Prius owner since July 2009

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  3. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Chances are a thief would not know how to drive it. Kind of like those thieves who try to steal a stick drive and give up.
     
  4. Chazz8

    Chazz8 Gadget Lover

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    No problems. The Prime was on (in READY mode) so it can take care of itself for many hours until it runs out of gas. It will use gas to run the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) to generate electricity for main traction battery as it gets used to keep the computer and lights running.

    I have yet to hear of a Prius driven away by a thief, but I would love to hear the thief's reaction when they turn the car off and realize that this is where the Prius will stay now because you don't have the key FOB.

    Also see this report of using Prius as house power generator in outage here post #6; I left my Prius c on all night ?? | PriusChat
    "Exactly. My C was on for 54 hours straight after Sandy, and I took a hit on the mileage for that tank, but there were no other effects."
     
    #4 Chazz8, Jun 10, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2018
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe part it out?
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how much range did you lose?
     
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    It is intended for continuous highway speed runs far longer than that. Sitting idle in a parking lot is a much lower stress condition with cooler system temperatures.
     
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  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    As mentioned, they get used as generators during power outages. They are also popular for people who want to sleep in air conditioning when traveling or camping but don't want a hotel.
     
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  9. SteveMucc

    SteveMucc Active Member

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    so... that's basically LA or NYC traffic (e.g. sitting still for an hour). I wouldn't worry about it at all.
     
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  10. EyePrime

    EyePrime Active Member

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    Nope.
     
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  11. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    With the power left on, I hear an audible alarm when opening the door and exiting the car. Did you not hear that?
    I also cannot lock the doors when the power is still on. Did you leave your Prime unlocked?
     
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  12. NHPrime

    NHPrime Junior Member

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    Yes, the reason I noticed was I expected to hear the unlock beep when I put my hand behind the door handle, but it was already unlocked, and once I got in, saw all the screens were on and such. I must have missed the warning beeps when I left it on from being in a rush! Lesson learned at any rate :)
     
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  13. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    When I open the door with power left on, there is one long continuous audible alarm sound. I like that feature.
     
  14. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    I did it in my Gen 3 when I parked in a rush to get to a loud street festival. Came back about an hour or so later at dusk and saw the headlights still on, "OH NO!" but it was fine and luckily not tampered with. As you say, lesson learned.
     
  15. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Ouch! The long beep means you left it in gear. :eek:

    Three beeps means the car is still ON, but in Park.

    When it's hot and I'll only be in a store for a half hour or so, I leave the car (AC) ON. Lock all the doors with the switch on the door, get out (unlocks driver door), and then lock the driver door with the mechanical key. Come back later to a fully air conditioned car. Costs some gas, but it's worth it.
     
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  16. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Starship has a 2016. Beeps may be different from a Gen 2. Only way to get out with it on and in gear and not know it would be with the parking brake set. Otherwise your car will be moving when your foot hits the ground. Unless it hits something before you get your foot on the ground.
     
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  17. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Yes, that is correct. I'm positive it was not in gear. I will play with it today to reconfirm.
     
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  18. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    Throw the pie in my face!! Rob is right.
    I hear the long continuous alarm when I open the door and it's not in park (with power still on.) Thankfully I think I've only done that one time.

    With the park button set, I open the door and there is no alarm whatsoever. I didn't hear the alarm until I went to touch the door handle to lock it. Got back in the car and the screen said, "turn power off." I stand corrected. (Prius rookie.)
     
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  19. RobH

    RobH Senior Member

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    Three guesses how I figured it out...:oops:
     
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  20. Starship16

    Starship16 Senior Member

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    :) :) :)