1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

New battery, nothing works

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by CivilSmoker, May 18, 2015.

  1. CivilSmoker

    CivilSmoker New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Valdosta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Hey guys,

    First, thanks everyone for the wealth of knowledge on this site, I think it's great that there are so many people willing to help strangers online.

    My wife bought a 2008 a few years ago and it has putted along just fine until last week when the 12v went out. I replaced the battery Thursday (5/14) and everything worked great all weekend. She left work today (5/18), drove .25 miles to a park, and when she was going to leave the park (only at the park ~5 minutes) the car wouldn't start. Dome light works, it beeps that the doors are open, the locks work, and the battery reads 12.5v at the terminal under the hood. It doesn't appear the 120a fuse is blown (I assume you can tell visually). Anybody have any ideas what I can check next? Thanks in advance for your help!
     
    #1 CivilSmoker, May 18, 2015
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Did she try to put the keys into the key slot and start?
     
    #2 JC91006, May 18, 2015
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,479
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Check the tightness of the 12V battery cables at the battery. Also check the negative cable where it bolts to the body.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, May 18, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,401
    49,735
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    12.5 is a bad battery, not a new one. check it at the terminals, and if it isn't 13.0, charge it up. if it won't hold, return it for warranty replacement.
     
    #4 bisco, May 18, 2015
  5. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yeah well...

    I decided to become as unfriendly as possible. As far as I'm concerned you're on your own. Quit trying to save a buck and have it towed to the dealership and diagnosed.

    I'm tired of all you cheap bastards trying to resurrect your Prius's by clamoring for diagnostic group claps like The Lost Boys awakening Tinkerbell.

    JUST KIDDING....JUST KIDDING!

    Listen to Patrick Wong...and the others...they know what they are talking about.
     
    #5 The Electric Me, May 18, 2015
    Merkey likes this.
  6. CivilSmoker

    CivilSmoker New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Valdosta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Welp, I left it in the parking lot. I'll check the connections in the morning. I assume it's possible that the battery is reading less than optimal from opening doors with the dome light on and trying to crank, and so on.

    And, The Electric Me, you're right, I am a cheap bastard that has steered clear of the stealership for 16 years by doing my own maintenance/repairs. Just so happens that this car is a smidge different than than anything I have owned. I appreciate your post though.
     
    #6 CivilSmoker, May 18, 2015
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,401
    49,735
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you want to test the battery after the cars been off for a few hours, and without opening the drivers door. i pop the hood when i'm done for the evening, and test it under the hood in the morning. my 3 year old battery reads 12.7.
     
    #7 bisco, May 18, 2015
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Please understand I was just kidding.- (Recent Thread About This Forum Becoming "Less Friendly"). Couldn't resist posing as the Poison instead of The Cure.

    Yes, as a whole we are a pretty friendly bunch and very helpful.
    And knowledge is power, whether it results in being able to fix it yourself OR even if it results in a dealership visit.

    I also know when I don't have the answer...so best of luck. It appears you are already getting good advice.
     
    #8 The Electric Me, May 18, 2015
    Merkey likes this.
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'm going to say it's your FOB battery, if you have a spare, try that first
     
    #9 JC91006, May 18, 2015
  10. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,763
    3,931
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The 12 V doesn't crank the engine, so not that. Personally I don't think your battery is bad, just needs a charge. In any case not the problem here.
    Even if it was the FOB battery, it should still start the car if it is put in the slot.
     
    #10 dolj, May 18, 2015
  11. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I'm going to assume they didn't do that.

    another theory could be a bad combination meter and they didn't see the dash light up
     
    #11 JC91006, May 18, 2015
  12. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,763
    3,931
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Me too. That's why I reiterated your advice to see if it worked in the slot.

    Research has shown, on average, you need to repeat a message at least three times to have it get across. :whistle:
     
    #12 dolj, May 18, 2015
    Last edited: May 19, 2015
  13. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    15-20 times with me. And then I have to form some symbolic representation of the message in my food, like Richard Dreyfus making a "Devils Tower" out of his mash potatoes in the movie Close Encounters.

    But I'm a slow learner.
     
    #13 The Electric Me, May 18, 2015
    dolj likes this.
  14. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    7,763
    3,931
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    To be correct I should have said "at least three times". I have edited my original post to reflect that. (y)
     
    #14 dolj, May 19, 2015
  15. CivilSmoker

    CivilSmoker New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Valdosta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the input guys. I did try the fob and nothing worked. Got here this morning and found that the 15a AM2 fuse was blown. Replaced it, everything worked for 5 seconds and it blew again. Now researching what the AM2 fuse protects.
     
    #15 CivilSmoker, May 19, 2015
  16. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    It's a short within your inverter coolant pump, have you done the recall?
     
    #16 JC91006, May 19, 2015
  17. CivilSmoker

    CivilSmoker New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Valdosta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I just talked with them and they said the car hasn't had the electric water pump replaced under the recall. He couldn't tell me if the was the same as the inverter coolant pump. If it is, they'll foot the bill for the tow.
     
    #17 CivilSmoker, May 19, 2015
  18. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Electric water pump is the one
     
    #18 JC91006, May 19, 2015
  19. CivilSmoker

    CivilSmoker New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2015
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    Valdosta, GA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The mechanic at the local dealership should probably use this forum. It took him 4 hours to determine what you guys had already told me, after I told them what you guys told me. Everything will be covered under the recall.

    Thanks again!
     
    #19 CivilSmoker, May 20, 2015
  20. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,496
    8,406
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    In the future......YOU SHOULD USE THIS FORUM, more often. So you'll know not to miss the recalls. This would have been a lot worse if your wife was driving on the highway, 600 miles from home, and this electric pump failed. :D
     
    #20 JC91006, May 20, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)