I'd let the V sit for three weeks and apparently it was enough to flatten the 12v battery, but thanks to those who had posted before me, I was able to diagnose and fix it I'd read once to never jump start with this vehicle, but after reading those posts, I think it's probably never give anyone a jump start, but you can get them all day long if you want, in fact the manual tells you how to do it - just get the polarity the right way round I RTFMd and saw (i) where the battery is (which I wouldn't have guessed easily) and (ii) how to remove it - the only problem with that was that I couldn't open the back door because it's an electric lock and even though I took off the inspection panel for it, I figured it's just be easier to do it all through the rear pax side door ("easier" being a relative term) So now I have a couple of questions: (1) There was an electrical connection attached to the hold down bracket, though it didn't seem to go anywhere or do anything. Any idea what that's for? (2) Could I have charged the 12v using the "exclusive" jump start point and I suppose some bare metal on the frame somewhere? - (I'm thinking that probably wouldn't have been a good idea) Anyway thanks again to those who guided me through this
Nah actually that works great. You can also use the same setup to get the back door open, and then use that improved access afterwards.
There is a jump point under the hood. It's not so exclusive. Everybody has one with a Prius of this generation. You can charge or jump from there. You access the car with the mechanical key hidden inside your key fob and then access the hood with the mechanical lever inside the car. At that point you remove the top of the engine fuse box, it will be on the driver side, flip open a red cover on the jump point and use positive there. Connect negative on an any nearby metal piece. Realize a completely dead 12 V battery may take may take a period of time to equalize with the jump power source. Normally, this is not a problem or a concern. A significant issue with jumping in the front or the back is a reverse polarity connection even for a few seconds. It will blow a nearly inaccessible 125a fuse buried in the middle of the engine fuse box. Along with various other fuses that are easier to access. Which makes the next subject a near must have regardless if you are getting a jump or you are giving a jump. A small lithium jump pack stored under the driver seat makes the whole process a one man job especially if you can start the car right away. These boxes have polarity verification circuitry used before they apply power.
