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

2008 Prius with new 12 V battery won't shift; lots of warning lights

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SuzyGS, Aug 20, 2017.

  1. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    I'm new to this forum and I really hope someone can help me. I have been reading through tons of PriusChat conversations to try to figure out what is wrong with my daughter's 2008 Prius, and I can't figure it out. Quick background - we bought the car two and a half months ago and it had 101,000 miles. After about a week, my daughter left an overhead light on and we had to have it towed to the Toyota dealer, where we had the 12-volt battery replaced.
    Fast forward 2 months later. While my daughter was driving the car yesterday, some warning lights came on, and she was able to drive it to our home and park it in the driveway. Now it seems to have all the symptoms that it had when that previous battery went dead.The car will not shift out of park or neutral. At my brother's advice, who also has a Prius, I bought a battery charger and have it hooked up right now. We got it up from 82% to 95% but the voltage still shows 12. After checking the diagnostic codes on the screen for only about 3 or 4 minutes, the battery percentage went from 95% down to 88%. We've had the car on the charger for several hours and the voltage has never changed. It just stays at 12. However, the car's diagnostic screen has shown changes in the battery voltage, from as low as 12.3 to as high as 12.8. After checking the voltage for a couple of minutes the number went down slightly.
    I uploaded a picture of the diagnostic codes. I couldn't find them anywhere on this chat or on Google. If anyone knows what they mean, please share!
    Has anyone else bought a new 12-volt battery and had this happen? We paid a fortune for it at the Toyota dealer and I didn't expect it to fail. I don't know very much about cars and I hope there is some fix for this. If it's simply a defective battery, great; hopefully it's under warranty. But somehow I doubt that is the true problem. By the way, the warning lights I saw were the red triangle, the brake light, the check engine light, and the electronic stability control light. I think that's it. Thanks in advance to anyone who might have some insight.
     

    Attached Files:

    SFO likes this.
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!

    yes, first two years, complete warranty. pro rata after that. it does happen occasionally, but from your post, it's difficult to tell if it's the battery, or something else.

    if it's not the 12v, you will have to have the codes read to determine the problem.
     
    SuzyGS likes this.
  3. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    Thank you for replying. It's so scary when you buy a used car and I just have this sense of dread that there's something weird wrong with it that will always keep causing the battery to fail. Is there any information I left out that I should add to help anyone figure out what might be wrong? It just seems so odd that a brand new battery would not work after only two months.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's just the charger voltage vs the car reading.if it's 12.8, that's fine. if it's 12.3 or below, no good. if it's in between, it should work, but a new battery should read close to 13v.

    there could be something draining it, or your daughter ay have left a light on again.

    if it's not the battery, those codes won't help. unfortunately, you need to have them read at a dealer, which will probably cost over $100.

    where did you buy the car?
     
    SuzyGS likes this.
  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Welcome to Prius Chat (y).

    What electronics does your daughter have hooked up to the car? Any that stay attached at all times?

    If the battery is dying within months, there must be a parasitic draw causing the battery drains.

    Keep us posted(y).
     
    SuzyGS likes this.
  6. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    We bought the car in Georgia from an individual. I thought the voltage should be over 13...my daughter did not leave the light on this time. That was the first thing we checked. I think she learned a hard lesson the first time. I SAY a hard lesson, but we were the ones who had to buy the new battery. Toyota charged us over $300. It does seem like something could be draining it, though.
     
  7. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    I just checked with my daughter and she said that she hooks up her phone to the car when she is driving it and plays music. She also charges that phone while she's driving the car. She doesn't try to charge it or play musicwhile she's not driving the car, though. And she doesn't have any other electronics hooked up to it
     
  8. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    I have an update. The battery charger finally got the battery up to 100%. I checked the diagnostics, and it said the voltage was hovering between 12.4 and 12.5. Unfortunately, the car will still not start and all the warning codes are still lit up. So I still don't really know why the car won't start, since it should have at that voltage, but I guess this battery is not very good and I will be taking it to the Toyota dealer in the morning. Thank you so much to my new community for answering me so quickly. I really appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to posting under happier circumstances.
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  9. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,251
    15,474
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    If it has codes, do you have a way to read what is ailing your Prius? Toyota typically has a diagnostic fee around $125 and will be able to read them if you have no other way.

    What do you know about the hybrid battery? Original? Any previous issues with it?
     
    SuzyGS and SFO like this.
  10. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The 12v battery is slowly charged by the HV battery.

    Short trips around the neighborhood might be a contributing factor.

    Once you have the codes please post them and we can offer additional guidance.
     
    SuzyGS and Raytheeagle like this.
  11. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Suzy, I suspect you are experiencing more than one problem at the same time.

    It is easy to leave the deck light on and not notice. However, a dead 12v isn't going to light up the dash like a Christmas tree while driving. When my 12v batteries failed the interior lights didn't turn on, the smart key system didn't work, and I was able to get the computers booted up after the third attempt and drive the car to the dealer. I bought the second battery from a dealer after the original didn't boot the computers over Labor Day weekend. Before Thanksgiving I found a dark car after work so the second battery didn't last 8 weeks.

    Please share the codes that are pulled so we'll be able to offer informed opinions.
     
  12. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    Thank you for your replies. I think I'll ask the dealer to read my codes for free, since they gave the car a clean bill of health in June after selling me that battery. I hope nothing is wrong with the hybrid battery. I don't know of anything. My daughter usually drives to school and back, about a 12-mile trip one way. But she also drives to church twice a week, only a 2-mile trip. I'm interested to find out what those codes are. I'll post again when we find out. Thanks again!
     
    Raytheeagle and SFO like this.
  13. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    Jim, did the dealer replace the battery? And did you have more problems? I don't expect an answer tonight of course.
     
  14. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,020
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    These systems are pretty complex.......for a layperson to try and troubleshoot.
    At this point, I think you should take it BACK to the dealer that installed the battery.

    P.S. You need at least one number past the decimal point when measuring battery voltage.
    The "12" s that you report are pretty worthless......but the other numbers are good enough that the battery probably is NOT the problem.
     
    Bob Dupre and SuzyGS like this.
  15. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I bought the battery from Liberty Toyota because their dealership was along my commute. (They did not sell the car.) I drove straight from the office to the dealer arriving just before they closed. At first the service writer tried to sell me a battery. I told him it wasn't 2 months old and under warranty. As we were discussing options I powered down the car. Since it wouldn't boot up I left it in the check in lane just inside the garage door. Wouldn't drive me home or give me a loaner but they did replace the 12v battery under warranty. This is why I bought an Optima battery on line for the 2010 and won't really consider buying a car from Liberty.

    By the end of the year the 2006 was totaled and I bought 2010.
    ---
    When you bought the battery did the dealer check for any stored codes?
     
    SuzyGS likes this.
  16. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    We had the car towed to Bill Penney Toyota today. Since we didn't have an appointment, they never were able to work it in to check the battery. They didn't have two minutes to spare. Anyway tomorrow they will check it. I don't know if they checked it for codes in the past but they should have because they gave the car a clean bill of health when we took it in to have the battery replaced 2 months ago. The battery registered at 12.3 this morning and it still would not shift into gear. The dealer told me that it's a small battery and it was supposed to be about 12 volts when it isn't running.. He said if the car is running its supposed to register about 13 or 14. Since they are going to be able to work on it tomorrow, I'll find out more than and post the results. I hope they are better than Liberty!
     
  17. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2016
    2,036
    1,020
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    As is typical, they don't know ZIP about electrical systems.
    A voltage reading of 12.0 volts indicates that it is about 50% discharged.
    12.3 is down but not out.

    A resting good AGM battery will read 12.8 or a tad more when it is fully charged.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    it's either the battery, or something draining it. i hope it's the battery!
    using her phone to listen to music, and her typical driving are not issues.
     
    SuzyGS likes this.
  19. SuzyGS

    SuzyGS Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2017
    138
    66
    0
    Location:
    Hampton Cove AL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Base
    Reporting the latest with a heavy heart. Bill Penney Toyota, which gave our (new to us) used car a clean bill of health after changing the battery two months ago, is now telling us that it needs something called a trans actuator, which will cost $4,800. Why would something this drastic even be possible? We paid $6,500 for the car. I felt safe buying a used Prius for my daughter because we have always relied on Consumer Reports, and it reports this was about the most reliable car there is. It had only 105K miles, the Carfax report showed the oil had been changed every 5,000 miles all its life, the OBD2 (on board diagnostics) test showed absolutely no problem codes, and it drove beautifully.

    I can't put $4,800 into a used car that cost $6,500. :( I don't even have a clue what to do now. if anyone has heard of this or knows anything or has any ideas, I would really like to hear from you. Thank you, Suzy
     
  20. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you ask Bill to please supply a printout of the DTC error codes that were used to come to that recommendation/quote?

    If they charged you for this diagnostic test, they should supply some paper work.
     
    #20 SFO, Aug 22, 2017
    Last edited: Aug 22, 2017