1 week old Prius V won't start

Pretty upset only a week old on a Friday night and it won't start, lights on dash just all flash and blink.

Not feeling good about my purchase right now and no transportation all weekend until Monday.

Did you try to jump start it?

Many dealers run the 12v battery down when showing off the cars and weaken the battery to the point where one or two discharges by the end user will kill the battery.

I went to a dealership to take a test drive of a V and they had 3 with dead batteries. The one we finally got to test drive had to be jumped. Think you probably just need a good charge on your 12V battery. Good luck, hope that's all it was.

I have been driving it for a week, put around 700 km's on it.

Wouldn't that charge the battery?

If it has a little red button near the overhead light cluster press it, Toyotacare will answer your query and dispatch a repair vessel to you posthaste. If it doesn't have a little red button call your nearest dealer for immediate satisfaction, if your dealer doesn't offer immediate satisfaction press them for a loaner car until yours is worthy.

If your battery was low when you pulled out of the dealers lot 700k may not have rejuvenated it, or you may have left an interior electrical drawing device unbeknownst to you, on.

Relax, it won't let you down, "Toyota"

If the battery already has several dealer run downs till dead events, your NEW may already be SHOT! You might have to insist on a NEW battery if this kind of not holding a charge thing keeps up!
Personally, I just dump the 88 dollar OEM battery and buy a Optima now and not worry about it for many years to come!

The guys above have pretty much covered it if it is indeed the battery. Try researching this topic in the GenII forums. Many of us have replaced the OEM battery after weakening it by repeated full discharges. There are also reports of new GenIII cars having problems. We then started to hear reports from knowledgeable Prius owners who would visit dealerships and observe display cars with lights on and doors open for long periods of time without an external power source or the engine being on. The problem is the dealers, not the car or Toyota.

Feel secure in your purchase. You made a great choice. Stick around this forum learn more about the car so the dealership won't rob you blind in the future.

Double post

Thank you all very much for your advice and suggestions, it is very much appreciated.

I looked online at optima batteries, does anyone know which model would be used in the Prius V, there seems to be several types.

There does not seem to be one identified yet for the V. Toyota's battery is perfectly adequate. If the seller stores and charges it correctly just before installation (and if the buyer doesn't kill it) it should last for four years or more.

Oh boy. If my new $30K ride didn't start after 1 week of use, I'd be livid.

Regardless of cause, Toyota and its dealerships should be bending over backwards to solve your issue, pronto. Especially since it's a hybrid and a new model to boot.

Give them hell.

Did you try pressing that little round button on the dash?

I do not see any red button in my car, but a boost started it right away.

I dealer thinks the 12v battery is bad and will install a new one on Monday.

My salesman also said that a hybrid should always be plugged in with the block heater in the winter but he didn't say that before I bought the car.

Is that true? Does anyone know?

Pure bullsh*t.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

that's good dealer is replacing battery.

regarding the core heater, is the salesman interesting to install for you for $100?
I just had one installed in my vehicle (that's probably why it's been unseasonably warm for Chicago)... I did have to have my car jumped once (not fun experience for 1st time especially in a hyprid like Prius). I have not had an issue since that occurred end of 2010 and I bought vehicel in 2010...

Absolutely not true. Your salesman and dealership seems extremely un-informed. Always ask here on PC before you do anything.

I didn't think that was true, seemed like a load of bull to me. I actually have a block heater installed on my Prius V, but my parking spot at my apartment building doesn't have an outlet near by to plug it in.

I think once I have a good reliable battery installed I should be fine.

For hardcore competitive hypermilers, this is true of any car, not just hybrids.

For ordinary drivers, it is not true. Use the normal practice of nonhybrids in your climate as a guide.

I just purchased a v3 a few days ago, the battery was dead when the salesman attempted to start it, he claimed that various employees frequently left doors open, lights on and a few other BS stories, including 30 thousand a month in battery replacement costs for the dealership, gotta good laugh with that one, especially when I told him the profit from the $495.00 wheel locks you add to the sticker price should cover it...who knows, anyway, they jump started it and no problems during the first 250 miles.

By the way...if anyone is worried about their stock Prius wheels being stolen I'll sell you these genuine Toyota $ 495.00 wheel locks for 20 bucks, when I left the dealership I told the salesman he forgot to remove the locks...he responded, it's ok you can have um.

Re: 1 week old Prius V won't start A new member today w/question

Hi, I am a new member. Picking up my new V today or tomorrow. I am concerned about the battery. I hope the battery has not be drained several times by sitting on dealer's lot. Would be best to drive it say an interstate to fully charge it? Since I am a female and not techincally inclined. Traded a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder so this is going to be a new experience for me. I just don't want to get stranded.