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Urgent help please. 2009 not starting.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017.

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  1. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    I need to pick up my child with a disability in the next 30 minutes.

    I have owned my 2009 Prius for about 3 or 4 weeks. I am very new to this so probably there's a user error somewhere.

    I have been sitting in a parking lot making phone calls. I went to start the car and I press my foot on the brake and I started the car but I left my foot on the brake for quite some time without shifting into drive. All of a sudden the brake light lit up and a big red triangle with an! Lit up. And I could not put the car in Drive. For a short time all of the gears were lighting up so reverse Drive Park they were all kind of lit up as if they were all selected at the same time.

    Now when I try to start the car it says maintenance required and the car will not go into gear.

    The maintenance required light flashes I hear a little clicking sound but I can't make it go into gear.

    If anyone is available to talk me through this I would give you my cell phone number.
     
    #1 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Shut it down and try again
     
    #2 JC91006, Nov 13, 2017
  3. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Tried that at least seven times. I no longer get the brake light or the big triangle just maintenance required
     
    #3 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  4. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    I have to walk to my child school or there will be no one there when they let out
     
    #4 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    might be your 12v battery, hopefully.
     
    #5 bisco, Nov 13, 2017
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  6. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    I hope so. Looking for cables and instructions. My manual is on my dining room table 40 miles away. Of course.
     
    #6 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  7. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Question is how old is the 12v car battery? Has it EVER been replaced?
     
    #7 kenoarto, Nov 13, 2017
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the battery is in the hatch, right side, under the floor. or, there is a jump point under the hood in the fuse box.
    CAUTION, do not cross polarize the connections.
    the jump point is under a little red cover that is hinged on one side. the tab inside only has metal on one side, so make sure the positive clamp is touching it.
    negative goes on an unpainted bolt or nut nearby.
    the donor car should not be running.
     
    #8 bisco, Nov 13, 2017
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The maintenance required light doesn't mean anything it's only a reminder. You probably have a dead battery
     
    #9 JC91006, Nov 13, 2017
  10. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Thanks. Cables coming soon.

    Maintenance records says battery was replaced at 91000 Miles 3 years ago right now. Car at 121000 right now.
     
    #10 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  11. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    You all so much! He found someone to provide a jumpstart, but I gave it one last try before we tried the cables and it right up up. Driving about an hour now so hopefully I will be charged again
     
    #11 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
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  12. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Lesson learned. No accessory mode! At least not for more than a few minutes.
     
    #12 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
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  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You need to fully charge that battery or you'll end up with a dead battery again. 1 hour of driving won't do much to charge the battery up
     
    #13 JC91006, Nov 13, 2017
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  14. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    #14 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  15. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Besides driving how do I do that?
     
    #15 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  16. 2k1Toaster

    2k1Toaster Brand New Prius Batteries

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    You just keep the car in READY mode for about 8-10 hours, or hookup a portable battery charger.

    The Prius, especially the Gen2, is a Japanese car. They didn't fiddle with it much when they imported it to the US like they do for lots of the other designs. This means the Prius maintained the standard Japanese starting battery which is normal sized for the Japanese market and very small for the American market. The whole concept of sitting in a car in ACC mode for any length of time is absurd in the eyes of the Japanese. It just isn't done. Nobody does that. In the US, it is common to be done and people have huge batteries for that.

    So yes, in the Prius, do not use ACC mode. Because of the hybrid system, just leave it in READY anyways. Everything is powered and when the HV battery gets low the engine will cycle. It wastes a small amount of gas but the car will work. Better yet, just don't sit in your car.
     
    #16 2k1Toaster, Nov 13, 2017
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  17. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Chiming in on the importance of a 8-10 HOUR charge with the car running. The old days of charging car battery with only 1 hour of driving at highway speed WILL NOT CHARGE A PRIUS BATTERY!
     
    #17 kenoarto, Nov 13, 2017
  18. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Interesting!

    So it might be okay to leave it in ready mode overnight in the garage?
     
    #18 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  19. PriusPaddler

    PriusPaddler Member

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    Ok thank you. Will try overnight tonight.

    Good to know!
     
    #19 PriusPaddler, Nov 13, 2017
  20. kenoarto

    kenoarto Senior Member

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    Yup! WARNING: If in the attatched garage, be darned sure you have proper ventilation!
     
    #20 kenoarto, Nov 13, 2017
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