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2010 Prius not driven - how to get running again?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Preeeus, Nov 9, 2021.

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  1. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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    So, we haven't driven our Prius since June 2020 (it's a long story). What steps would you recommend taking to get it running again?
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    What did you do when you mothballed it? Lots, or not so much?
     
  3. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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    Not so much. The short answer is that it threw a P0302 (cylinder misfire) code and we read online that it shouldn't be driven with that problem. Then we had a lot of challenges that prevented us from taking it to get fixed. Now we're worried we've ruined the car.
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    How many miles, assume it's head gasket?

    Get it jumpstarted and see if it'll run. Likely be very cranky, especially with the misfire code. Before start up, maybe remove the plugs and boroscope inspect. If for example there's coolant in a cylinder, the first start up could be damaging.

    1. For sure a new battery.
    2. New engine oil and filter
    3. Check engine air filter condition, replace if needed
     
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  5. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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    Thanks! It has 129,000 miles.
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Full disclosure: hopefully someone that actually knows their stuff will chime in.
     
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  7. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Did you disconnect the 12v battery? How old was it when you parked the car?
    If you disconnected it, you could probably charge it up, 4 amps or less, overnight.
    Test it after about an hour after removing the charger. If you get 12.5 or above, the battery is
    probably still good. Depending on how old it is.

    How much fuel was in it? it might be stale after a year, so you'd want to fill up soon.

    The hybrid battery is probably fine, and should still have a charge.
    Since the fuel system has probably bled down, the engine will probaly turn over a few times before
    starting because the fuel pressure needs to build up.

    If no animals have built a nest and ate the wiring or clogged up the muffler, it should run.

    The missfire could be a bad plug, coil, or possibly water in the cylinder, which means head gasket.
    What is the water level in the tank on the passenger side of the engine compartment?
    If it's low, then probably a head gasket is going, well, almost gone.

    It would best to repair that quickly.
     
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  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The code will be gone for now. New 12v battery for sure. Verify the passenger side coolant reservoir is to the full line. Hopefully it will start. Drive it for 15 minutes and determine if the high voltage bar graph goes to 2/3 or higher. Change the oil and monitor for severe startup rattles or a new check engine. Monitor the coolant level often. Losing coolant is bad.
     
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  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You are potentially facing a double whammy here. A misfire that may or may not be a bad head gasket, plus potential replacements of both the 12v battery and HV battery. I'd say buckle up and prepare to pay a good amount of money to get that thing running in top condition again.

    A car that's been sitting 1.5 years will need at a minimum an oil change, 12v battery, brakes checked. If there is any way to charge the HV battery BEFORE attempting to start the car, I would highly advise you do that. If you start the car without charging/balancing the HV battery, it's almost guaranteed to throw a replacement battery code.
     
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  10. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Wow, this is turning into a depressing chat.....
    You might as well sell the car!!!! ggesssss
     
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  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I would trade it in while the car prices are inflated
     
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  12. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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    Thanks everyone for your help! Sounds like we need to be prepared for costly repairs or possibly needing to sell it. :(

    The 12v is definitely dead. Don't know how old it is. We bought a charger for it and hopefully we can resurrect it.

    We'll check the coolant reservoir on the passenger side.

    There is a shop nearby that does hybrid battery repair. We'll see if they can charge/balance the HV battery before starting the car.

    And, of course, oil change, fill up the gas tank, check air filter, and check the brakes.
     
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Just buy a new 12v battery and try it. It may take a couple start attempts. Don't worry about the hv battery yet.
     
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  14. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Once a lead acid battery has been left uncharged for a time, sulfate crystals form on the lead plates and the battery is toast. Jus put in a replacement 12v battery. As others have mentioned, the HV battery probably still has some charge. Just don't discharge it trying to start the engine as discharging it too far will reverse some battery cells and then you have a costly problem.

    JeffD
     
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  15. privilege

    privilege Active Member

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    inspect

    air filter
    oil
    coolant
    intake (nuts)
    charge battery and start up, then get a full tank of fuel and drive half of it
    check oil and coolant again
     
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  16. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Of course this is a Gen 3 Prius (2010) so hopefully it does not have head gasket problems.

    JeffD
     
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  17. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Other than the missfire, how was it running before it sat?
    If it was running fine, don't stress too much over it.
    Everyone wants to see the worst of everything.
    Have you owned the car from new? Or bought it used? If used, how long ago?
    If it's only been a few years and you haven't changed the 12v battery, it's probably gone.
    But it's worth trying, just to get it to run. If you can't get any life out of the 12v battery,
    Then you'll have to buy a new one, and then charge it for a few hours before installing it
    so you know it has a full charge on it.

    Don't waste your time or money on the oil change. Try starting the car first. If you get it running,
    then take it to the hybrid guy and hopefully he can check for a bad head gasket, and replace it
    before things get worst. And have the egr system cleaned. Most importantly the cooler and intake
    manifold.

     
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  18. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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    It was running fine except it was burning oil. And there was an occasional rough start if it sat for a while.

    We bought it used in 2014. Oh, and we gave the wrong mileage earlier in this thread. It actually has 156,000 miles.
     
  19. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Well, you "may" have had/have a head gasket starting to leak.
    But, with a good charge on the 12v battery, they car should start.
    When you get it to "ready", look at the bar for the HV battery. Depending on where it was before it sat,
    it's probaby got at least 2-3 bars.
     
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  20. Preeeus

    Preeeus Member

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