1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Parking for 4-5 weeks; Do I need a trickle charger?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by PsychicNumb, Oct 23, 2021.

  1. PsychicNumb

    PsychicNumb New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2021
    10
    2
    0
    Location:
    Knoxville, Tennessee
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I'm hoping to find a garage in NYC where I can leave my 2013 Prius for 4-5 weeks in Nov/Dec. Do I need to take precautions with the battery during this time, and if so, should I use a trickle charger or is there another/better option?

    One other piece of relevant info: I imagine there's a chance that whatever garage I find may entail someone else actually parking my car for me; So, If I hook up a trickle charger right before pulling into the garage, can the car still be driven into the parking spot? Sorry if that is a dumb question, I just don't know much about these things. If possible, I don't want to have to ask an employee or parking garage attendant to do anything extra like mess with the battery.
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,470
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    There is a chance the car will have enough 12v left to start the car. Probably a better chance it won't especially if the 12v battery is pretty old already.

    A "Battery Tender Jr" is a good $30 maintainer available at Walmart or Amazon. Great if you are leaving it at home but unlikely to be useable at a public garage since you have to plug it in to 120vac.

    The best option might be to purchase a lithium jump starter, be sure it is fully charged and store it in the cabin under the passenger seat.


    Then, understand how to open the driver's door with the mechanical key in the keyfob. Know how to jump start it under the hood in the fuse box since a dead battery will prevent hatch access. The Prius owners manual has instructions. I would photocopy the instructions for easy access and try the procedures.

    The lithium jump start box will prevent a reverse polarity jump from a "helpful" bystander using conventional jumper cables and could come in handy down the road.
     
    #2 rjparker, Oct 23, 2021
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2021
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Either hook up a smart charger or disconnect the neg lead. Either will work for that time period. These days we're driving as little as once a week:

    69AE33B2-FAD0-4776-B530-37770457D4AF.jpeg
     
  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,470
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    If you disconnect the negative lead you end up crawling over the backseat and pulling up multiple floor layers to access since the hatch won't open. Plus the garage attendant won't do it when they park the car in NYC.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah it is awkward. One work-around would be to have a small jump pack. When you return, pick up the car: open drivers door with metal key, pop hood, connect jump pack at fuse box, and bob's your uncle.Maybe lock the jump pack in the car, say under driver's seat.
     
    fuzzy1 likes this.
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,470
    4,372
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Now that is a good idea. But Bob's my brother.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,861
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it depends on the health of the 12v. i used to leave my 2012 for a couple months every winter, then it died in 2019
     
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2009
    17,035
    10,010
    90
    Location:
    Western Washington
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    If you don't have a battery tender plugged in, you can reduce battery drain by turning off the SKS. Though this will force any valets to use the dead-fob-battery method of starting the car.

    If one must crawl in that way, don't work on the battery from that condition. Instead, manually open the hatch from inside, then step out to get in better and safer position to work on the battery connections:

    upload_2021-10-23_17-50-10.png


    But I like Mendel's idea of using a portable jump pack in front to provide power to electrically unlock the hatch. Be sure to close the driver door before connecting the jump pack in front, so that the brake booster pump triggered by opening the door doesn't overload the jump pack.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,463
    38,101
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Good point.