Prius Won't Start

Just tried to start my new 2008 Prius, 16,000 miles, and got the Problem icon and the car stopped. Now, the car won't start, but when I do attempt, the display shows this icon:


http://mahanon.net/photos/a38f22815ac3.jpg

I got the car used, and a manual is on the way, but I have no idea what this icon means. Can someone explain? I'll be calling Toyota on Monday.

Thanks!
Julian

 

I got the car from a different dealer, actually, and hadn't had it checked over yet, because it was so new and I figured I could get it all looked at with the warranty at my first oil change. Maybe this wasn't the best decision, but it's what I did decide and will have to live with.

The gas gauge has two pips left on it, and it's ready to go down to 1 pip any time. The current tank has about 450 miles on it, so I'm getting ready for a refill. I've only driven the car about 1500 miles.

Funny thing, I was just putting the plates on this afternoon and I had opened the hatchback for something, I don't remember what, and I thought that was surely the answer. Just tried it and made sure that the door was closed really well, but that didn't turn out to be it.

There aren't really any other warning lights on that I can tell. The brake light is on, the warning icon, ABS icon, and check engine light. In other words, the car is dying somewhere in the boot up process, but it almost looks like it hasn't diagnosed the problem yet.

Any other ideas? I really appreciate these! I'm planning to call my Toyota dealer on Monday and have the car towed there to be looked at, since I can't really move the thing. Still, it would be AWESOME if I could get out of that whole mess with a simple fix. Alas, life doesn't always work that way.

Thanks again!

 

Actually, I don't have the SKS (which I totally should have mentioned), so I have to insert the key into the ignition to start the car. Thanks for the idea, though!!!

 

I'll definitely give that a try! It would make sense that this would be a simple, stupid thing. Since I'm not a pro at jump-starting, I'll call Toyota in the morning and suggest that this is the problem. Without a manual (I got it used, and it's been ordered), I probably shouldn't attempt it myself or get someone inexperienced with the Prius to try it, either. I really appreciate the suggestion, and I can't wait to check as soon as it gets dark out (I'm not at home anyway).

I'm definitely going to read up on how to jump start this baby, just in case this ever does happen again. I'll let everyone know if that's the case or not. Not because if it goes to the dealership they can't figure it out, but if you're anything like me, you'd want to know the end of the story.

Thanks again!
Julian

 

I suppose that's a possibility, which is kind of scary since there are two pips on the meter. I know that I've read that the gas meter can be off, but that seems kind of far to be off. Obviously, I'm going to try this. I'll need to put gas in the car anyway.

I'm confused about the icon, though. If it indicates a problem with the hybrid drivetrain, how would that be related to the gas?

I'm still not at home, since Sundays aren't really a day that I can get any help anyway. I'm going to try all of this here in about an hour.

Thanks again!!!

 

Yeah, that's the plan. I tried gas and checked the lights which are BRIGHT, and the car still didn't start. I'll call Toyota at 7am and tell them that my Prius won't start and that I need a tow, shuttle, and service. Thanks, everyone for coming to my rescue with ideas on this!

Julian

 

Well, the diagnosis is in, and it's not a good one: it's the inverter!

Here's the best part: I got the car used, as I mentioned, and it was in an accident! I ALMOST asked for a Carfax report, but didn't for reasons I do not remember. Lesson learned, I will ALWAYS ask for this on a used car from now on! Sometimes, I do stupid, stupid things, but I always try to learn from them. Toyota believes that this is the only problem from the accident, so hopefully everything else will be warranty covered in the future. Does anyone else have any insight into this?

When the car was being repaired, the connector cable for the inverter was not placed back where it was supposed to be. I forget where it was supposed to be, but the technician who took car of it used electrical tape to tape it to the bar behind the radiator. Guess what? Water got in there and shorted the thing. I have a little solace knowing that if I had looked closer under the hood when looking at the car, I wouldn't have seen any problem, anyway. I'm definitely not a motor-head.

Toyota won't fix it under warranty, which is no surprise to me (the part and assembly shows no issue, it was purely the moron that taped it). I got the car at a Ford dealership about 2 hours away, and after going around in circles with them, they decided that they would pay to tow it back (because they refused to take Toyota's word, probably because they don't understand it) and repair whatever is wrong with it. I don't think that they believe the inverter is the problem, but my service writer assured me that until they replace it, it will refuse to start so I don't have to worry about not getting a new one. As long as it starts, it's a new one.

They said that they have several master certified mechanics that they may have do the job, to which I questioned since it's not a normal ICE car or component that's the problem. He said that if they look at it and don't think that they can do it, they will get Toyota to do it for them. I'm hoping that they realize that it's dangerous to replace if they don't know how and let Toyota do it. Problem is, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here; I can let them have the car and give it back fixed or I can pay Toyota $4000. I'm just REALLY hoping that they don't do it themselves.

Anyway, that's the story this far. Sorry for writing a book. The car is being towed in the morning, and I'm really hopeful to have it back by the end of the week (depending on part time and mechanic schedules).

Have I mentioned that I absolutely love my Prius, despite all of this?

Julian