I'm posting this message because of something scary that happened to my Prius. I have been searching Google and haven't found anyone else having this problem. Here's the story-- I bought a 2005 Prius in December and have loved it. Yesterday, we paid to have the windshield replaced because of a crack from something dropping from a tree. My husband turned on the power to roll down the windows and forgot to turn the car off. It was left on in the driveway for about two hours. When we tried to start it, it was totally dead. Nothing clicked, no lights on the dash, no sounds. Nothing. So, this morning we followed the manual and jumped the v.12 battery under the hood. It took about fifteen minutes, but the lights finally came on. I then decided to drive it to charge up the battery. The hybrid battery was down to two stripes. Immediately something felt odd because I never heard the engine come on. I was driving on the electric motor but thought I could make it to the gas station. The caution light was on. I was going 34 and the car gradually decelerated to a complete stop, right at a busy intersection. A homeless guy and two workers offered to help, but the battery was so dead, we couldn't get the car into neutral to move it off the road. My husband came and recharged the v. 12 in the middle of the traffic. After five minutes, he got it to drive about 2 feet before dying. Luckily he got it into neutral and we were able to push it off the road. We towed it to the dealership, and the mechanics called to ask if I'd let it run out of gas. Absolutely not. It was at least two bars from the bottom of the tank according to the gas gauge. They said they added a gallon of gas and couldn't get it to start. Then they added more and it started. Now this is the SCARY part. Both the v.12 AND the hybrid battery were COMPLETELY drained. I thought this couldn't happen. I swear, it was not left on more than two hours. I was so traumatized by all the cars screeching and honking when it died, and I couldn't even get the hazard lights on!, I just don't know if I will ever trust it again. I'm so depressed because I have loved my Prius. I've taken it on two road trips, and have never had a single problem. Am I just completely unlucky? Has anyone had this problem? I reread the owner's manual and, except for my husband's mistake of leaving the power on for two hours, have not done anything wrong. Any advice is appreciated. sas
did he leave it actually on, or just in an aux power mode (pressing power button without stepping on brake)?
He sat down, put on the brake, and turned the power on so they could get the windows down. Actually, it was about 3 hours, but once, when it was new, he left the power on overnight and it started up the next morning. Thanks for responding. sas
Was the fuel gauge at two bars before your hubby left it on? Or were there two bars when you were trying to get the engine to start? If it ran out of gas while in the driveway, then you tried to drive it, I would think you'd get the symptoms your describing. Hopefully you didn't drain the batteries bellow the point where they're damaged.
It is absolutely possible to drain the HV battery if you do as you described. The ICE didn't run, the battery was low after your hubby left the car in the powered up/READY condition for at least 3 hours and the fuel level had been at around 2 bars. The scenario seems very clear to me... Power left "ON", car ran, used up the gas and eventually most of the HV battery charge and the 12v battery. You jumped it just enough to get it going again on the fumes in the tank, drained the HV battery down even further by pushing it beyond it's limits. Hopefully the HV battery wasn't drained completely and with the gas now in the tank it should charge right back up with no problem. Why you'd be freaked out about this I have no idea...any conventional car would stop running when it ran out of gas too. Just don't leave it in the READY condition with low fuel for extended periods of time and never drive it when it runs out of fuel and it should never give you any problems.
efusco, It looks like you are right. I talked to the service people, and it seems I did run out of gas while it was left on. Even though the sensor showed two bars in gas gauge, apparently it is not as accurate with temperature fluctuations (Texas summer heat). The good news is that the HV battery and the v.12 are now recharged and there is no permanent damage. Thanks to all of you who responded. Case closed. sas
