bdub Report post Posted January 6, 2010 Hello all,I have been a avid reader of this forum for some time and don't recall seeing this topic so please forgive if it is a repeat.I tried to start my FFH after it setting for ~ two weeks and found that everything was dead no headlights, dashlights, door chimes, nothing so I concluded that the battery was dead and not being familiar with jump starting a hybrid I checked the manual to make sure I minimized any mistakes. I used a jumper box and connected the positive lead to the battery and the negative to what I thought would be a good ground, one of the bolts/nuts on the strut tower and observed much arcing when I tried to connect so decided to just hook it to the battery.When I did that all the lights came on and the car started right up with no problems, I disconnected the jumper box and within a minute the engine shut off and the car went into electric mode, I thought I would have to jump the car again however everything was normal, I turned the car off and it started right back up as if the battery had already charged. any thoughts ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lolder Report post Posted January 6, 2010 (edited) Check your twelve volt battery. If it has a red dot in the view window, you have a problem. There have been some problems with the original 12 vdc battery. I assume you have no warning advisories displayed on the instrument cluster. Don't ever hook the last jumper lead to the battery or disconnect it from the battery first. Find a ground on the engine. Lee Edited January 6, 2010 by lolder Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zacher Report post Posted January 6, 2010 (edited) A Tip: If you are going on holiday, or leaving the car sit for two weeks without being started, disconnect the Negative Cable from your battery. This goes for hybrids and all vehicles alike. This is also specified in the Owners Manual. Edited January 6, 2010 by Zacher Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lolder Report post Posted January 6, 2010 When my car was delivered in July, the battery viewer hole was slightly red. I pointed this out and the dealer said "Drive it". I did and in about a week it turned green. It remains green. I think the DC to DC converter that charges the 12 vdc. battery may not charge it as fast as we're accustomed with a regular alternator. There may be more "keep alive" current drain with the car off than other cars. I think that some cars drained the 12 vdc battery in shipment which may have damaged them. This battery is also fairly small for an electronic mountain of a car since it doesn't have to start the ICE. The Prius has the same issues. Keep an eye on the battery viewing port. There is an advisory message if the DC to DC converter is faulty. Lee Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites