The 3rd Generation is a big improvement, but, some problems still linger. Especially the 12 V. Good advice above on keeping the car locked.
I like this Amazon.com: PowerAll PBJS12000R Rosso Red/Black Portable Power Bank and Car Jump Starter: Automotive I used to have a big heavy Hummer brand for jumping, but this charges my cell phone and iPad as well, fits in my backpack and only weighs a pound. iPad ? HD
Hey everyone, After recently reading about the cost of a new aux battery for the Prius I invested in a battery tender and connected pigtail on battery terminals(yes under the deck plate in the trunk and I plug it in until it is fully charged.You cannot hurt if you leave it plugged in because it is a trickle charger so it keeps battery full all the time. Then I switch it to another vehicle and this ensures my battery stays full. Inexpensive investment considering a new optima battery is $180.
Potorap I have done this too. It is great insurance. It is not difficult to maintain once you have set up extension cords to keep it plugged in. But our little 12v battery gets charged every time the traction battery is charged. It gets charged some more all the while the car is in "ready".
I don't use the "auto off" feature on the lights, but I seem to remember reading that it only works when the sequence is - push button to turn off power, open driver's door, exit vehicle, close driver's door. If a passenger door is opened and closed somewhere in the mix it can throw it off. Not reliable enough for me. OTOH, I don't even use the full auto setting on my Lexus. Could be I'm a little OCD about it, but I don't like dead batteries. There is also a rear cargo area light with a switch IIRC. If that gets left on it will run the aux. battery down.
Adding the passenger door into the mix shouldn't cause any problem. But messing up the switch - driver door sequence, or exiting out the passenger side instead, will cause a problem
Reply to rogerv, post: 1878364, member: 46557 The only way to leave the headlights on is to stop the car with the headlights on and crawl out the passenger side. Opening the driver's door will turn off the head lights if the car is turned off. The trunk light will turn off if the hatch is firmly shut. However, the parking lights WILL stay on if not turned off and can drain the 12v battery. It is a good idea to pay attention to the warning lights in the dash.
No, I don't believe that is the only way to leave the headlights on, at least in the non-PiP. If one turns off the headlights during the turn-off process (e.g. a reflexive habit from previous cars), then turns the lights back on moments latter (to return to Always On lights mode), it is possible to defeat the headlight Auto Off feature.
Oh my! You caught me. I should not have said that the "...only way to leave the lights on...". Frankly I never heard of and can't find reference to "Always On Lights mode". Are you referring to Daylight Running Lights? These can be set to "Auto" and will cycle between headlights and DRLs depending upon the amount of ambient light detected by the sensor on the dash just under the windshield. But when the driver's door is opened the DRLs as well as the headlights turn off. I just tried it.
I know if the radio is on while in the acc. mode, the car will shut it off after about 45 min. and a message pops up warning about protecting the power supply.
That's why many a Prius owner has changed out to the Optima (see one of a jillion threads like this one: Successful Install of Aux battery -after question | PriusChat and take them to heart). Alternatively, that's why some cars/plugins now have PV panels on their car's roof. What with web connectivity and such ... that little bit of trickle doesn't become fatal. .
