Stuck on a starting problem

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Joanna Earl, Aug 11, 2026 at 12:05 PM.

  1. Joanna Earl

    Joanna Earl New Member

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    First post and admittedly not a Prius expert. We have a 2013 Prius with 190,000 miles. It won’t start unless jumped. After it jumps, it drives fine. However, regardless of how long it runs or is driven, as soon as it’s turned back off, it will not start again without being jumped. Nothing comes on the dashboard and all electrical is out as well, until jumped. The auxiliary battery is only a couple years old and has tested good. I ran diagnostics with the doctor Prius app and the hybrid battery appears to be ok as far as I can tell. I checked all of the fuses recommended various troubleshooting websites, including fusable link assembly, and those appear OK. I’ve reached the end of my troubleshooting abilities, and my husband (who is decently car savvy on much older vehicles) does not even want to touch the hybrid. We’re needing to get rid of it quickly, and I was hoping to fix whatever the problem is and sell it as a working vehicle, but my husband is lobbying for a cheap dump at a salvage yard. I’m having a hard time dumping it for $750 knowing that the batteries, catalytic converter, and probably a bunch of other stuff has more value than that. I’m just currently not in a place to go through the process of parting it out and selling a bit by bit. Does anyone have any other ideas on what could cause this issue?
     
    #1 Joanna Earl, Aug 11, 2026 at 12:05 PM
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    You should supply a little data when asking for help. Voltage of 12v when off at battery and at engine jump point.

    Its almost certain if a jump AT THE BATTERY starts it, its the battery.

    Second, measure voltage with car off at the battery to ground and then at engine fuse box to ground. If engine side is low to zero there is a blown fuse or disconnected plug at the battery positive terminal.

    Fuse Point Diagram with Jump Point & Notes .jpeg
     
    #2 rjparker, Aug 11, 2026 at 12:40 PM
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2026 at 1:11 PM
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  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    How and when?
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Aug 11, 2026 at 1:01 PM
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    was it load tested?

    if you're jumping to the point in the fuse box, you have a problem in the wiring between the battery and that point.
    check the voltage at the battery, and then the jump point
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 11, 2026 at 2:35 PM
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  5. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    1. Your battery is in the trunk; so where are you jump starting the car?
    2. Have you load-tested the battery and/or checked for a parasitic drain on the battery?
    a. If there's a parasitic drain on the battery, that needs to be tracked down - a new battery might get the car sold, but that drain will eventually kill the new battery too.
    b. Don't use one of those newer digital battery tester; they are garbage and can give you a false positive (bad battery, claiming it's good)
    c. Running the car won't charge a close to dead battery; especially on a Prius. The BMS (battery management system) prioritizes amps to the traction battery to reduce fuel consumption. On a regular car, the only purpose of an alternator is to charge the battery and provide power to the car's internal components - it doesn't have to provide propulsion to move the car.
    3. does it look like something has been chewing on the wiring harness?

    Hope this helps....
     
    #5 BiomedO1, Aug 11, 2026 at 2:52 PM
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