1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2011 having intermittent starting issues

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014.

  1. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    First post here, we've got a 2011 Prius with a little over 24k miles on it . For the last few months we've been having issues with it starting. First I thought the remote barriers were dying so I replaced them , I thought my wife might have been trying to start it incorrectly till the problem happend to me a few weeks ago. What happens is you try to start it (foot on brake, press power button) and all the warming lights pop up , radio turns on , navigation turns on but car doesn't start. This morning it happend just once , yesterday I had to try it maybe 10x before it finally started up. The dealership had it last Saturday and of course it started every time for them and they couldn't duplicate the problem , they also said they ran whatever tests they do on it and it didn't turn up a problem. FWIW we had the software recall update done in June. Anyone else have this problem ? , anything the dealer could have missed ? I'm starting to think there's a trick to starting this thing correctly . Any help is much appreciated
     
    #1 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    are you stepping on the brake hard enough?
     
    #2 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,691
    38,232
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Coupled with the above, there's a sensor in the brake pedal that detects how much the brake's depressed: maybe it needs adjustment?

    Oh, is the start button orange coloured, as opposed to the blue colour when the car's Ready?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Sep 8, 2014
  4. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I've stepped on the brake every way imaginable , man I would have hope the dealer would checked the brake sensor , the start button was green when trying to start it and stayed green when it didn't start but the waring lights came on , it then went to orange when trying to completely shut it down and start over if that makes any sense
     
    #4 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    if the brake switch isn't activated, it goes to accessory mode. another push with foot off the brake will make it 'ready'. another thought is to test your 12v battery, and the connections.
     
    #5 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  6. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Does that brake pedal need to be glued to the floor when starting it , joking but you get my drift
     
    #6 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no, only if the switch has come out of adjustment. otherwise, it doesn't take any pressure at all, as you experienced up until the time of your problem. sometimes they are defective and work intermittently, no matter how much pressure you put on them.
     
    #7 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  8. ReDave

    ReDave Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2011
    79
    23
    0
    Location:
    Central California, Sierra/Sequoia Foothills
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I think i know what you are talking about, it's not the 'starting' up tho, at least for me, it won't go into D [drive]

    I've never had it happen more than 2 or 3 times in a row, but it's a little irritating.

    i get in the car, put on the brake, push the button, wait a second, and then put it in Drive and occasionally nothing happens

    i do think that perhaps the 'ready' light has not come on, but i'm not usually looking at it well, never actually lol

    This probably less than once a week maybe 2 times a month...
     
    #8 ReDave, Sep 8, 2014
  9. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

    Joined:
    May 12, 2011
    645
    223
    0
    Location:
    Nature coast, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Three Touring
    IMHO it is either the 12 volt battery (needs to be replaced), or the brake pedal depression sensor...
     
    #9 Eclipse1701d, Sep 8, 2014
  10. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Thanks for all the help, the 12v battery in the trunk/hatch area?
     
    #10 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yes, right fender. easy access, make sure the connections are clean and tight, also the neg to the body. after that, put a voltmeter on it after it has sat for a few hours.
     
    #11 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    another possibility is a loose connection up front somewhere, i hope not, could be tough to find.
     
    #12 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  13. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    My neighbor/mechanic tested the 12v battery and it came back at only 10 volts and dropped to around 8 when started, I'm guessing I found my problem
     
    #13 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
    retired4999 and xliderider like this.
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    wow, did you leave a door or light on at any time, or have it in the shoppe for repair?
     
    #14 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  15. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Never in the shop , my father in law had the car for year before he had to stop driving so he might have left a door or two open . I m assuming for the battery to drop that much after 3yrs 24k is not normal?
     
    #15 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  16. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2006
    1,049
    192
    0
    Location:
    NH
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Ahh, so it wasn't in an accident, yes the 12v can go in two years, get another deep cell battery and keep it topped off, many efficient miles ahead.
     
    #16 ursle, Sep 8, 2014
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    no, it's not normal, but you don't have to drain it more than once for damage to be done. or if he didn't drive much, that can also be a problem. grab a new one at toyota, they're about $180. and have an 84 month pro rated warranty.
     
    #17 bisco, Sep 8, 2014
  18. Bayarea67

    Bayarea67 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    11
    2
    0
    Location:
    Pleasanton , Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    New battery is in , thanks for all the help and info
     
    #18 Bayarea67, Sep 8, 2014
  19. Spooled

    Spooled Member

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2014
    142
    25
    0
    Location:
    Concord, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    What about a new optima? are the factory batteries better?
     
    #19 Spooled, Sep 20, 2014
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    hard to say. the optima's were great, but there have been a lot of complaints about old stock lately, coming thru with a low charge. otoh, the oem's now have an 84 month pro rated warranty, which is pretty decent. they aren't cheap though, and the are a few other brands available as well, such as exide.
     
    #20 bisco, Sep 20, 2014
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)