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prius was left running when came back off and won't start.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Canuckwoods, Feb 16, 2021.

  1. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    I was clearing my driveway of snow I mover my 2010 prius and finished the driveway. When I came back to move the car back it was off and I can't get it started the exclamation symbol light was on I can't lock the doors or anything. Any Ideas it is 12 years old with over 500k on it do I just take it out and shoot it?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes just shoot it.
     
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  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I might disconnect the 12v battery for a minute and give it one more chance. Measure the 12v while you are at it and verify no corrosion exists on the terminals or the negative chassis ground.
     
  4. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    Check battery then shoot
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  6. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    Lots of gas I just filled it. I'll check the battery.
     
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  7. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    So if it is the battery what would cause the car to die while running? For most cars it would be the alternator do you think that is the case here? I don't want to sink a whole lot of money into it at this point.
     
  8. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    When you say "left running" was the car in READY mode?
     
  9. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    Left running as in it was idling engine running
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    When the car is in READY mode, it doesn't require the 12v anymore. Even with a completely dead 12v, it shouldn't die.
     
  11. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    Any ideas why it would die then? I don't want to spend upwards of $350.00cnd to find out it's something else.
     
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I would assume you turned off the car when you exited. With a weak 12v battery, it may not have started again when you want to start it.

    So I would check the health of the 12v first, and see if that's bad. If it's bad, replace it and then see if anything changes.
     
  13. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    After all these replies, looks like check for potential cel code a thing of the past.
     
  14. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

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    In Park I assume? Not in Neutral? Because that could kill it.
     
  15. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    Yes, it was in park. No, I did not shut it off. I'll try jumping it this evening. If not the 12v battery what else could have caused this?
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Check it’s voltage.
     
  17. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Just curious, 2010 with 500k miles on it. What repairs have you done to the car to make it to that high mileage? Replace head gasket/engine?
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    More’n like 500K kilometres, still a lot, converts to 310K miles.
     
  19. MelonPrius

    MelonPrius Senior Member

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    Even at 310k miles, I'm interested in how OP kept the car running for so long. Was it a lot of easy highway miles? What was replaced? How often was the oil changed?
     
  20. Canuckwoods

    Canuckwoods New Member

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    I have had to do the bearings twice, did the head gasket 2 years ago that is the reason I hate going to dealers for service. Regular oil changes. As for driving, I was working in sales did a lot of 10-15 km trips each day, not a lot of highway driving it is just a good car. I just wish I could understand how it works I have a 76 spitfire that I brought back from the dead but most of the Prius like most new cars you need a degree in computers, not mechanics.
    Hope to get out this weekend to work on the Prius not hopeful it's just the 12v battery though it sounds like if it was bad it wouldn't cause the car to die while running.
     
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