Hello all. I've been a member for a couple of years -- spent my time on the Gen 2 side since I had an '08 Pkg-5. Car had 186K miles, and we planned to hold on to it long term (300K... 400K?), but the guy driving the pickup truck had other ideas. Rear-end accident totaled the car. It now sits in my garage as I hammer out a deal with the other guy's insurance company. Which brings me to this introduction in the Prius V forum. We needed a replacement for the beloved Gen 2, so picked up a '13 Prius V/5 with 93K miles. What a wonderful car. I'm in the process of doing the typical baseline maintenance for a newly acquired used car: oil/filter, air filters, transmission fluid, coolant, plugs, PCV. I'm closely monitoring the oil level. In around-town driving, it doesn't seem to be consuming any. My wife set off this morning on a 700+ mile/2-day work trip -- that should be a good test of consumption at highway speeds. I recognise a number of familiar faces from the Gen 2 forum here and in the Gen 3 area. I'm looking forward to getting to know more of you, and getting to know more about the V.
Given where you live, consider replacing the 12v battery if you don't have evidence that it isn't original. Said as one stranded twice in the last month with a marginal 12v.
I use a cheap 12 volt led voltage readout that plugs into a 12v socket- I periodically check the voltage before I start my cars in the morning. If the battery reads 12.4 volts, then you only have 50% of a charge left ( bad for a engine starting battery)- a 12.2 volt reading would be time to change it out ( only 25% charge left), IMO. A new battery might read about 12.8 resting volts after the car has been turned off for an hour. My memory tells me that a Prius doesn't have an always on 12 volt socket- but I think it would be the same as a regular non-hybrid car. ( power on, but before the engine starts)
At home I have a VOM and a battery load tester. But why with all the sensors available doesn't a car monitor the voltage and give you an explicit warning? Error messages can surely be digitally generated and all it would take is a sensor that was activated when you got in the car, wouldn't have to drain when key not present.
I forgot to say , Howdy and wish you a very many good rides in your 2013 v- I owned a 2007 Prius touring edition for almost 4 years and I have only good things to say about a Prius.
