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Prius won't start!!!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by TMahon0691, May 27, 2009.

  1. TMahon0691

    TMahon0691 New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2009
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    Location:
    Albuquerque, NM
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    My wife & I have a new 08 Prius, bought in July, 08. Twice since we've owned it, first less than a month after purchase and just yesterday, the unit refused to start up. Just sat there in our garage.

    The first time, a couple of hours later, as we were getting ready to call the dealership, it turned over when we asked it to. We drove it into the dealership where they diagnosed it and adjusted some software directions.

    OK

    Yesterday, it died again. We called the dealership and they had it towed in. The technician called me this morning to report that it started up for them just before closing and that they were looking for the reasons why it failed.

    Their diagnostics showed no evident reason for failure, but twice in a year is out of line. Anyone have similar problems????
     
    #1 TMahon0691, May 27, 2009
  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    TMahon0691,

    :welcome: to PriusChat.

    If the car fails to do anything when you attempt to start it, the most
    likely scenario involves some failure involving the 12v battery.

    Since the car eventually starts, the battery itself may be OK.

    So, next in line comes the battery connections. Most likely problems
    here are loose connections at the battery itself. Then comes a possible
    loose or corroded battery grounding wire where it connects to the
    body, under the (removable) floor on the passenger side in the rear
    hatch area.

    Hope this helps.

    BTW, when you took the car in the first time, did the techs/service
    writer mention anything about retrieving any codes?
     
    #2 Rokeby, May 27, 2009
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    #3 richard schumacher, May 28, 2009
  4. Mike Dimmick

    Mike Dimmick Active Member

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    Aug 8, 2008
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    Location:
    Reading, UK
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    Other Hybrid
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    The power source control ECU only looks at the brake light switch, not the stroke sensor or pressure sensors. If you're pressing the pedal moderately hard, the brake light switch should be switching on.

    The OP doesn't say whether the car won't even switch on into ACC, or whether it just won't go READY.
     
    #4 Mike Dimmick, May 28, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  5. Tweev

    Tweev New Member

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    just to make sure, you do have the brake down when trying to start the car, right?
     
    #5 Tweev, May 28, 2009
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