How can I stop my Toyota Prius discharging its battery when not used for a few weeks?
I have a three-year old Prius and, on several occasions, the small auxiliary battery has gone flat when the car has been left unattended for two to three weeks. The Toyota service centre has suggested that if I leave the Prius in a locked garage I should leave it unlocked, as the security features do cause a small but significant drain on the battery, but if I followed this advice would my theft insurance be invalidated, and, if so, what else might I do to avoid the original problem?
Asked on 1 July 2012 by WF, Rickmansworth
Answered by
Honest John
Leaving some cars fitted with Bluetooth unlocked can lead to a drain from the Bluetooth attempting to pair with a phone that isn’t there. I can't answer for your insurer. You will have to ask. Surely the answer is to leave it hooked up to a battery conditioning trickle charger? But you need to confirm with your Toyota dealer that you can do that with a Prius. One reader got into big trouble using the wrong type of battery charger.
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