Newbie question

I bought a 2011 Prius that will not start after 3 months of ownership. I took the 12 v battery to a local auto shop to check the charge/put a load on it and we're told that it appeared to be fine. It should be noted that this battery was an after-market Optima battery. Which strikes me a little odd, that a 4 year old car already had a new battery with only 50k miles on it. After putting it back in the car, it still wouldn't start. I jumped the old battery and the car started right up. I then promptly took it to the dealership and bought a new Toyota battery. After replacing the battery, the car started right up - no issues. Until 4 days later (today) when my husband went to start the vehicle this evening and it WOULDN'T START. We tried jumping it, but it did nothing. The interior lights are on, the light turns green on the start button when pushing on the brake, but that is it. What is going on with this car? It had only been sitting for about 3 hours since it was last driven, before it wouldn't start again. Thanks for reading!

 

Thanks for that suggestion! After a week at the dealership, they could not recreate the problem, so they just replaced the battery in the key fob. Everything seemed to be ok again for about two weeks...but the trouble has started up again last night. After parking the vehicle for about 15 minutes while I ran into the grocery store, it was up to the old tricks again by the time I came out. Interior light comes on, the green 'ready' light is on when I press on the brake, but when you hit the power button - it wouldn't start. It does make a noise when I press the brake though which I believe is the normal brake actuator noise. After trying several combinations of hitting the brake, then the power button, then locking the car with the key fob as I sat in the car and then trying to start the car, etc. (I have no idea if this actually helps, but I was desperate! Ha.) the car started. I was able to drive it home and put it in the garage. However, it wouldn't start again this morning - same issues. I will say that this is a particularly cold Ohio winter, but my old 2005 Prius never presented these sorts of problems. Any further ideas/suggestions would be appreciated.

Also - to answer your question - I have jumped both the Optima and the OEM battery at this point. I replaced the Optima with the OEM. Hope that makes sense. Its hard to type through frustration sometimes.

 

Thanks! I live in Ohio, and winter is pretty brutal at the moment. My 2005 Prius never had any of these same issues that my 2011 is having...so I am sort of at a loss.

 

I will get a volt meter and give it a try. Thanks again for the suggestions everyone!