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Suddenly the Prius is completely dead

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Ernie stires, Dec 22, 2023.

  1. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    Wife came home in our Prius, and while unloading had trouble and she started honking. My wife I believe pushed a button, anyway she quieted down, then my wife says she cannot lock the car(SDK), which she knows how to do. I grab the key and try locking it, nothing, I then open the door, no inside lights, zero, nothing, completely dead. Is it possible she is immobilized? Can I reset that? TIA
     
    #1 Ernie stires, Dec 22, 2023
  2. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    Oh, and as of three days ago my
    12v battery registered 14v
     
    #2 Ernie stires, Dec 22, 2023
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    that's the voltage with the car in ready, which is inverter charging voltage.

    measure it at the jump point under the hood with the car off.
     
    #3 bisco, Dec 22, 2023
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  4. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    Right, 12.3, had to jump it to start it, not sure why or how the 12V crapped out except it must have been slowly failing. Putting it on a charger tomorrow.
     
    #4 Ernie stires, Dec 23, 2023
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    12.3 is not that low, but after it's fully charged, if it will start the car, take it to auto zone for a free load test
     
    #5 bisco, Dec 23, 2023
  6. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    #6 Ernie stires, Dec 23, 2023
  7. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    I measured it at 12.3 after I jumped it and ran it awhile. Putting it on the charger tomorrow. I’ll follow up.
     
    #7 Ernie stires, Dec 23, 2023
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  8. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    look for loose and/or dirty battery connections. Remove them completely, clean, tighten, spray battery sealer over them. Also look for parasite draws on the battery. Several people has found corroded connections in the trunk area of these old Prius.

    hope this helps...
     
    #8 BiomedO1, Dec 24, 2023
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  9. Ernie stires

    Ernie stires Member

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    Good idea, and I will. Parasitic draws are terrible, I know!
     
    #9 Ernie stires, Dec 24, 2023
  10. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    The symptoms your wife experienced is known problem when some of the connections in the 12v battery are not completely clean and tight... You'll be able to know if it happened again by watching your speedometer when you turn the car off. If the gear shift indicator turns off last then everything is normal. If the gear shift indicator turns off at the same time as everything else on that screen then it happened again and you'll have to start wiggling all the connections around the 12volt area to get it going again. When I used to have the problem, slamming the right rear passenger door really hard would fix it.
     
    #10 PriusCamper, Dec 24, 2023
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