So I hopped in my car 15 minutes ago, pressed the brake pedal, and hit the start button, and I got the pop up > 12 volt battery low. Then it wouldn't let me start the car. First time I've ever gotten this with either of my two Gen 4's. I remember seeing stuff about this.... Like the Toyota Prius OEM batteries were rediculous expensive, but some folks adapted cheaper batteries.. I don't remember all those details ? Any 12 volt battery advice for my 22' XLE ? Oh, of course I could throw a charger in it... But even if it gave it enough juice to start one time, it might only get me to my next destination and strand me there ? At least this happened at home....
check the electrolyte levels and recharge it. Take it to any chain auto parts store for a free scan/load test to see where it is. It's a H4 or 140R group size battery configuration - but batteries are expensive these days. You can check stock at Sam's & Costco too, for convenience. My 21 Prime battery needs a recharge about once a year; I find it below 12VDC every once in a while and throw a charger on it for an hour @ 6A. It's never failed to start, but I did get the FOB battery low message earlier this year.
Thank you Bio. I found a 3 yr replacement at my local Walmart, for $159.... Not bad + I don't want to risk the battery charging "just enough" to get me a long ways from home, then failing again, and if I kill this one in 2 or 2 1/2 yrs, I'll just grab another, free of charge .... Well not really free, I'm just paying for it now
Our Prii tend to not charge the 12v battery sufficiently if you do short trips. Besides, these days you can have a rechargeable lithium jump starter in you glove box. Then you don't have to worry about a weak 12v battery. My 2020 12v gets flagged as weak by the dealer every 6 months (Low Cold Cranking Amps). I may replace it when we get into cold weather as it will be about 6 years old. JeffD
Well interestingly, I do 99% LONG rides, or should I say, my car stays "powered up" even when I'm parked, most of the time, as I do rides hate, and might be in my car 8-12 hrs, and the only time I shut it down, is when getting gas, or sometimes for a lunch break. However, the day that it died, I had actually used my remote start.... Then, without really giving it any time to charge back up, I jumped in my car (my car actually shuts back off when I open the door... which my alarm i staller informed me was going to happen, and no way to get around it, with that alarm in this car) and then it wouldn't start back up. Generally, when I use the remote start, it runs for 10-12 minutes before I hop in, to let the AC cool off the car. This time, I literally just started it, and my GF comes out rushing me to get going ☹️ Hey I will look into a rechargeable jump starter Thank you. The new $159 battery seems to be fine though..... And haven't had the "original problem" of all the crazy pop-up messages.... Yet Good for 2 days now.
