Toyota Prius 03/04 Starting Issue

[Dang5941]

Toyota prius 1.5 ltr 03/04 reg 52000miles on odo.

This morning I woke to another beautiful summers morning to find that my car would not start. No electrics, and wouldn't even respond to the key fob for locking and unlocking. Sundenly after 10 minutes of panicking as I thought I would be late for work. There was alittle bit of life. And I mean a few beeps and security light. Then all went off again. Finally it jump started into life and I got to work. After 15 minutes of being at work and asking my boss if he knew what it could be. He's a mechanic for buses. I went back to the car and saw that the ignition was on in the second position for electrics to be used such as radio ect. And the key fob was in my hand. The car does not have smart key entry.

Sorry for story. I thought I'd be sure to get details down. If anyone has any diagnosis or same problem please let me know.

Oh and my mfd response is very slow. Takes like 20 minutes for that to display info. I know this is a common fault and have had it for about a year now. But I don't think that would affect the car.

[korat102]

Try holding the power button in, it should eventually force it to shut down - like a locked up PC.

Leaving it in 'ready' mode will flatten the 12v Battery pretty quickly. I'd get that charged as well, just to make sure it's not a low voltage, you get all sorts of strange effects with a low voltage on that Battery.

If that doesn't help, it my be the combination meter playing up, that'll be a pain.

[Dang5941]

We'll it was the fact there was no power what so ever at first. Then it didn't turn off after key was out. We'll it turned off but after I left must have come back on into utility mode

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Replace the 12v NOW

The 12v on a hybrid is it's weak spot. You have no way of knowing it's failing like on a traditional car where it will turn the engine over slower and slower when starting it for a few days first.

The 12v in a hybrid either has enough power to boot the computer or it doesn't. Jump starting the car will help once or twice but if the 12v is that shot that it's losing charge quickly, then you are just prolonging the issue. Also, you have to be VERY careful jump starting a hybrid. Do NOT have the donor car rev their engine or you will fry your cars electrics.

A new Prius 12v is about £95 fully fitted from Toyota. If yours is still the original you need to get it done NOW. Running the car with a failing 12v can put strain on the inverter and charging circuits and has been reported to lead to failure.

It's a rare Battery so a like for like non Toyota replacement is tricky to find in the UK without going into details. Toyota hold them in stock and if you're on your original, you've done well as they only generally last about 5 years or 80,000 miles.

Regarding the above post from another user, leaving it in Ready won't flatten the 12v as the charging circuits start immediately from the HV Battery, even if the engine isn't runnning, BUT as mentioned above by me, you can over load them if your 12v is failed or failing or shorted inside.

[Dang5941]

Thanks you cabbie. It started after work fine. Now I'm waiting outside a shop for a friend to rescue me because it's not responding again. But as I sit here in disappointment as I have only owned the car for a year and a half. I keep seeing lights jump into life every few minutes for like a split second. And my key fob isn't in the ignition. :(. God hates me today lol

[kithmo]

Do you actually press the start button to turn it off before you take the key out or do you just take the key out ?

[Dang5941]

I turn it off properly. I cherish my prius. I try to show it a lot of love. Even my driving style reflects that lol

[kithmo]

It sounds like you may have a problem with the key connection socket, maybe some of the pins are sticking (IIRC they are spring loaded). Alternatively, as GC says, the 12v may be on its way out or the 12v Battery connections may be dicky..

[Dang5941]

Yeah I will have to get that looked at. But I'm pretty sure it's not the Battery. We'll the charge anyway. As there is no lights and it comes back on after like 20 mins.

[timberwolf]

Combination meter fault.

[Dang5941]

May be a dumb question. But what's a combination meter?

[timberwolf]

It is an Electronic Control Unit in the dash I think behind the speedometer. I'm sure Mr Google will have the answer.

[Dang5941]

Haha thanks. I did have a brief look on google. But sometimes it's just easier to ask a real human like the good old days. To many results to begin listen to googles many possible answers :)

[Grumpy Cabbie]

And an easy way to discount the 12 volt is to leave the car overnight. Next morning switch it on to Acc (NOT into Ready as that engages the charging circuit) and then wind all 4 windows down and back up at once. If they slide up and down as normal, then your 12v is fine. If however, they go very slowly, juddering, stopping etc and then struggle back up again, possibly with the interior light going very dull or out, then your 12v is shot.

You also haven't said if it's ever been changed.

It's the cheaper fix and the 12v can often (but obviously not always) be the cause of many weird and wonderful faults and error codes. The fact you had to jump start the car gives me cause for concern.

[timberwolf]

I dislike that test. In my experience, when the Battery state of charge is on the edge, it is easy to tell as the door locks are sluggish or difficult to unlock and the three relay switch over becomes hesitant or they fail and you'll see a big warning triangle.

Combination meter fault - I don't know if the warranty extension also occurred in the UK. Thinking about it Toyota UK are pretty rubbish so probably not.

http://lusciousgarage.com/blog/prius_dash_lights_out_-_combination_meter_warranty_extension/

[Dang5941]

Hi again. Sorry been a few days. Really needed to get car done. It was the 12v Battery that had gone. £150 for Battery and fitting. Which is even cheaper than buying ut myself. So happy with that. And now I'm getting up to a extra 5mpg so very happy it wasn't something very expensive. Thanks for all your help everyone

[valmiki]

£150, what happened to the £95ish fixed price servicing? go back and have a word...

[Dang5941]

I didn't go to toyota. I had no way of getting it there without spending a lot of money on recovery. So the local garage came and did it

[Chris Dance]

Dang; If you join Toyota Club you get AA at home breakdown service included. You would avoid any expensive recovery costs.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Dang; If you join Toyota Club you get AA at home breakdown service included. You would avoid any expensive recovery costs.

He's right. I pay about £60 a year for the Club Toyota breakdown membership which as Chris says, includes home start. A total and utter bargain. Membership also gives 5% off your Toyota insurance premium too - I think (double check this).

But at least you realised it was the 12v Battery and you should hopefully be ok now for another 5+ years. Glad all is sorted.

[Dang5941]

Thanks again for all your advice. When I come go renew things I will definitely take all your advice :).

[johalareewi]

I pay about £60 a year for the Club Toyota breakdown membership which as Chris says, includes home start. A total and utter bargain. Membership also gives 5% off your Toyota insurance premium too - I think (double check this).

Toyota Club also covers Europe so if you pop over the channel from time to time, you can still be rescued. And if someone in your household is already a toyota club member, extra members get a discount.

[korat102]

Toyota Club are a bit useless when it comes to getting incorrect details corrected though...they misspelled my surname in a way that only a half drunk lemur could manage but trying to get it corrected has been an exercise in futility.