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2009 Prius-just changed headlight bulb and my car totally dead, won't start

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by krisd, Jul 28, 2021.

  1. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    After changing my passenger headlight my 09 Prius won't start, no lights on dash, doors won't lock, no flashing alarm, nothing. Now reading I was supposed to disconnect the 12 v battery. No mention of disconnecting 12 v battery in multiple YouTube videos nor the manual. Hunted down one post on here with an 05 similar problem. I just picked up this car used. Can anybody direct me to what to do next?
    thanks in advance,
    kris
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I don't think it has anything to do with disconnecting the 12v battery. You might have bought a car with a bad battery. Have it tested and change it if it's bad.

    I hope that would be the only issue with the car, as the battery dies, it clears most of the fault codes on the car. So you really don't know if anything is wrong until the computers pick it up again.....or until the battery dies again and erases the codes again.
     
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  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Most likely the 12v battery is dead.
     
  4. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    More info...I actually put the same bad bulb back in as the bulb spring clip seamed one sided so I was gonna read up on that. Went to start car and completely dead.
    thanks for helping
     
  5. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    can I safely jump start it?
     
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Read attached. Be sure its plus to plus. Depending how bad it is discharged it may require 5 minutes before you push the Power button. It may require two tries at that point. Of course press the brake at the same time.
     

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  7. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    thank, my husband going to take the 12v out and put it on a battery tender first. He'll jump as a last resort. I guess he wants to familiarize himself somewhat. thanks for tips.
     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you don't need to remove it to put it on the tender, and depending on the model, it can take a long time to charge
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    If that really IS a tender versus a full sized charger, it might take up to 12 hours to get a usable charge in it.
    Spending ~ $10 on a multi-meter would be a good investment.
     
  10. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    I had to take it out as I needed an outlet...charged it overnight,it's ready. we are installing now...wish us luck...and thanks y'all.
     
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  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did you get a reading?
     
  12. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    forgot to do that...but it started on second try and we drove it around for awhile. Won't get to it until tomorrow night, we'll get that reading. I think my husband wants to buy a new optima battery because we think it's 6 years old. thanks everybody.. now he is gaining some confidence to check the fan and clean, we drive with a crazy beagle so we want to keep an eye on our fan.
     
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  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Don't buy an optima, just buy the OEM or aftermarket S46B24R AGM. You might find the OEM is cheaper than the optima into the bargain.
     
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  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Optima seemed like a good battery in the beginning.
    Then several years ago, they sold out to another company and their quality went right in the dumper.
    NOT recommended any more.
     
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  15. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    thanks on the optima battery tip much appreciated.
     
  16. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

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    so we tested 12 volt car diagnostic and it registered 12.2 and then when we tried a load with power 2nd time and dash came on and it was at 11.9. I think we can wait a little on replacing. Retracking our steps as we've only had the car for 3 weeks, I was leaving the doors open a lot to clean upholstery and vacuum out a bunch and I think the radio was on often as it took me a minute to see power button and was also probably turning it on accidentally when cleaning. Oh and a lot of short trips.
     
  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    And I think you should NOT wait.
    11.9 is a tad more than half dead.
    Things with a Prius start getting flaky around that point.

    At the very least, you need to thoroughly charge it and then test again.
    But it likely is on the way OUT.
     
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  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    And I think you certainly can afford to wait. It really depends on how badly the battery has been abused. If it has had a lot of deep discharges or sat at low charge for a long time, then maybe. Charge it and see how it responds then decide if it "is on the way OUT."
    Good advice here.
    You (and others) keep saying this, but as an actual owner of a Gen 2 that actively monitors my 12 V on a daily basis, I have not found this to be true as have other members here. I have researched and have not found any credible source that confirms this statement to be true.

    As you keep making this statement, I presume you have some documented source to back it up – please supply the sources of your information.

    If you haven't, can you please stop making unsubstantiated claims?
     
  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It is not a "claim" and is not "unsubstantiated".

    It depends on what the load was like when the measurement was taken.
    If it reads 11.9 with NO LOAD, then it is highly suspect in any application, Prius included.

    Saying that is merely stating another possibility.
    I have a bit over 50 years of training and experience in electronics so most of my statements are not just wild guesses.
    Mistakes do happen occasionally though.......but THIS is not one of them.
     
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  20. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    You claimed that
    and to date, you have been able to state how you know this other than it is a hunch based on 50 years of electronic experience. Is that accurate?

    I'm saying that based on my and other member's actual real-life experience with this model car, the claim is unproven.

    So, can you please stop making unsubstantiated claims?