Prius Won't Start

[jsheldahl]

Just tried to start my new 2008 Prius, 16,000 miles, and got the Problem icon and the car stopped. Now, the car won't start, but when I do attempt, the display shows this icon:


http://mahanon.net/photos/a38f22815ac3.jpg

I got the car used, and a manual is on the way, but I have no idea what this icon means. Can someone explain? I'll be calling Toyota on Monday.

Thanks!
Julian

[richard schumacher]

That's the generic something-is-bad icon. Are there no other warnings or icons? What does the fuel gauge show?

Did you buy it from a Toyota dealer, or pay a Toyota dealer to thoroughly check it over before buying? [D'ohh!! Nevermind, I see now that you bought it new.]

[donee]

Hi js...,

Assuming (dangerous) you are new to the car here are the things to check. Are all the doors fully closed? The rear hatch has a tendency when the support struts are new to not close all the way. Really push it down when you close it. And the most common newby "can't get the car to start" issue is pushing down on the brake pedal firmly (again with all the doors closed) when you press the start button.

Check those two things out, and see what happens.

[jsheldahl]

I got the car from a different dealer, actually, and hadn't had it checked over yet, because it was so new and I figured I could get it all looked at with the warranty at my first oil change. Maybe this wasn't the best decision, but it's what I did decide and will have to live with.

The gas gauge has two pips left on it, and it's ready to go down to 1 pip any time. The current tank has about 450 miles on it, so I'm getting ready for a refill. I've only driven the car about 1500 miles.

Funny thing, I was just putting the plates on this afternoon and I had opened the hatchback for something, I don't remember what, and I thought that was surely the answer. Just tried it and made sure that the door was closed really well, but that didn't turn out to be it.

There aren't really any other warning lights on that I can tell. The brake light is on, the warning icon, ABS icon, and check engine light. In other words, the car is dying somewhere in the boot up process, but it almost looks like it hasn't diagnosed the problem yet.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate these! I'm planning to call my Toyota dealer on Monday and have the car towed there to be looked at, since I can't really move the thing. Still, it would be AWESOME if I could get out of that whole mess with a simple fix. Alas, life doesn't always work that way.

Thanks again!

[dbuchanan]

Originally Posted by jsheldahl

Just tried to start my new 2008 Prius, 16,000 miles, and got the Problem icon and the car stopped. Now, the car won't start, but when I do attempt, the display shows this icon:

http://mahanon.net/photos/a38f22815ac3.jpg

I got the car used, and a manual is on the way, but I have no idea what this icon means. Can someone explain? I'll be calling Toyota on Monday.

Thanks!
Julian

You need to have the key inside of the car!!
This also stumpted me the first time I saw it.

[Sheepdog]

I have seen that icon when Im in my wifes car and she walks away with the key while I stay in the car. It's almost like it misses her! Maybe it just misses the key?!

[jsheldahl]

Originally Posted by Sheepdog

I have seen that icon when Im in my wifes car and she walks away with the key while I stay in the car. It's almost like it misses her! Maybe it just misses the key?!

Actually, I don't have the SKS (which I totally should have mentioned), so I have to insert the key into the ignition to start the car. Thanks for the idea, though!!!

[edthefox5]

Originally Posted by donee

Hi js...,

Assuming (dangerous) you are new to the car here are the things to check. Are all the doors fully closed? The rear hatch has a tendency when the support struts are new to not close all the way. Really push it down when you close it. And the most common newby "can't get the car to start" issue is pushing down on the brake pedal firmly (again with all the doors closed) when you press the start button.

Check those two things out, and see what happens.

The car will start and run fine with the hatch open it just puts up the standard door is ajar red nag and pushing down on the brake pedal firmly when you push the start button is exactly how you should start the car.

[edthefox5]

Originally Posted by jsheldahl

I got the car from a different dealer, actually, and hadn't had it checked over yet, because it was so new and I figured I could get it all looked at with the warranty at my first oil change. Maybe this wasn't the best decision, but it's what I did decide and will have to live with.

The gas gauge has two pips left on it, and it's ready to go down to 1 pip any time. The current tank has about 450 miles on it, so I'm getting ready for a refill. I've only driven the car about 1500 miles.

Funny thing, I was just putting the plates on this afternoon and I had opened the hatchback for something, I don't remember what, and I thought that was surely the answer. Just tried it and made sure that the door was closed really well, but that didn't turn out to be it.

There aren't really any other warning lights on that I can tell. The brake light is on, the warning icon, ABS icon, and check engine light. In other words, the car is dying somewhere in the boot up process, but it almost looks like it hasn't diagnosed the problem yet.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate these! I'm planning to call my Toyota dealer on Monday and have the car towed there to be looked at, since I can't really move the thing. Still, it would be AWESOME if I could get out of that whole mess with a simple fix. Alas, life doesn't always work that way.

Thanks again!

Without turning the the car on just put the headlights on. Are they bright?
I bet not.
My guess is you left a vanity light on or a door ajar all night and it killed the boot battery in the trunk.
NOTE!!!!!!
If dead boot battery be extremely careful I repeat extremely careful if you jump start it. Use the front jump points under the hood and if you reverse the polarity on the jump leads you will severely damage the car.Look in the owners manual on the jump points. The positive is RED. If your not an ace at jump starting a car do not do it on this one.Good luck. I'm sure its something stupid. Don't make it worse.

[jsheldahl]

Originally Posted by edthefox5

Without turning the the car on just put the headlights on. Are they bright?
I bet not.
My guess is you left a vanity light on or a door ajar all night and it killed the boot battery in the trunk.
NOTE!!!!!!
If dead boot battery be extremely careful I repeat extremely careful if you jump start it. Use the front jump points under the hood and if you reverse the polarity on the jump leads you will severely damage the car.Look in the owners manual on the jump points. The positive is RED. If your not an ace at jump starting a car do not do it on this one.Good luck. I'm sure its something stupid. Don't make it worse.

I'll definitely give that a try! It would make sense that this would be a simple, stupid thing. Since I'm not a pro at jump-starting, I'll call Toyota in the morning and suggest that this is the problem. Without a manual (I got it used, and it's been ordered), I probably shouldn't attempt it myself or get someone inexperienced with the Prius to try it, either. I really appreciate the suggestion, and I can't wait to check as soon as it gets dark out (I'm not at home anyway).

I'm definitely going to read up on how to jump start this baby, just in case this ever does happen again. I'll let everyone know if that's the case or not. Not because if it goes to the dealership they can't figure it out, but if you're anything like me, you'd want to know the end of the story.

Thanks again!
Julian