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2010 Prius will not start after sitting for 6 days in snow

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by TrvlArrngr, Jan 8, 2018.

  1. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    It is also good to check where the negative cable attaches to the chassis. Some people have found that loose.
     
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  2. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    in theory yes, but you probably missed the part about radio and lights working fine. the ECU need a good reset after this botched battery change.
     
  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I didn't miss it. As an industrial electrician, I've seen countless weird things happen with loose connections.
     
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  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And/or try to float some solder into it?

    Might be worthwhile to find a kosher crimper tool. Something like this, believe it's the one I've got. Not sure if the max size crimp would be suitable for the ground cable, might be:



    FWIW, I found this model a bit of a pain to use. It locks progressively with each squeeze, but the release mechanism is awkward to use. It works though, just not the one I would choose if I was using it a lot.
     
  5. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    I am picking up the new part tomorrow morning from the dealer. How would i reset the ECU afterwards?
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what new part?
     
  7. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    new negative battery cable
     
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  8. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    LOL!
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    '
    thanks, all the best!(y)
     
  10. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Any time the battery is disconnected you are resetting the ECU of the car. What that does is erase all the trouble codes the car has stored in it's memory.
     
  11. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    well, the new 12v is now completely dead. Time for a margarita. I will pick up the part tomorrow, recharge the battery and if that does not work I will have it towed to Toyota and sign my life away. Thanks everyone! Cheers!
     
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  12. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    Good luck, keep us informed.
     
  13. davecook89t

    davecook89t Senior Member

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    Ok, that's comforting. I didn't even want to mention the HV battery, because of the cost to replace it. I'm glad it's something else.

    [QUOTE="TrvlArrngr,my negative terminal cable is loose - you can spin it around. does not seem to make a difference for the accessories and lights though.
    [/QUOTE]

    That was one of my first suspicions. It's hard to explain that all the accessories and lights still worked normally, though. Did you turn everything off before attempting to put the car in Ready mode? Possibly the accessories and lights were drawing so much current that there was nothing left to fire up the computers. Anyway, if you are going to put the 12V on a charger and tighten all your connections, hopefully that will solve all your issues.
     
  14. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    It kept me up most of the night. I called AAA and had it towed to Toyota of New Bern. The closer one were horrible on the phone and then never called me back. The one i used is 50 miles away. the other was only about 36 miles. I will let everyone know the outcome when I hear from them. Thanks so much.
     
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  15. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    toyota of new bern just called me and said the ultima battery i just bought will not charge over 4 volts. they will put in a toyota battery and order me that negative cable for 450 dollars. i guess 110 for diagnostics and 49 for the cable and then the battery. They cannot get the cable until friday. I asked them to call the other dealer in Jacksonville since i had ordered the cable from them and was supposed to pick it up this morning. they did and were told it never came in. so glad I switched to the new bern dealer. It's further away but i have more confidence in them. I will post more on Friday. Thanks everyone
     
  16. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    $450 for a china battery and a 2 foot cable and the 10 mins it took them to remove the battery and test it.... that's just sad.
     
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    4 volts max on a new Ultima battery that was running the headlights? Sounds suspicious. Too bad the code reader neighbor did not have a voltmeter to check it at home. Fingers crossed that another new battery and cable does it.
     
  18. jack black

    jack black Active Member

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    it's called capitalism. I've seen much worse in healthcare and no one objects (I guess due to 3rd party payers).
     
  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Off topic, but I object every chance I get. :mad:

    On topic, this is turning into quite a strange story. I sure hope the New Bern dealer gets you all fixed up, @TrvlArrngr. And, if it makes you feel any better, the OEM Toyota 12V battery is an excellent battery.
     
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  20. TrvlArrngr

    TrvlArrngr Member

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    so it was 110 for diagnostics, 35 for the cable, i think 49 to install the battery and the rest for the battery? Hoping that is all it is when they call me tomorrow.