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Lights work but no power to dash... Security Light Flashing

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jeff C 2010, Sep 6, 2018.

  1. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    Very frustrated right now trying to figure out what is wrong with my Prius. I have a 2010 Prius IV with 230,000 miles. While driving home last night the security light started flashing, so I opened the Torque app and looked to see if anything there was showing issues. No issues, no codes, everything was as it should be. So I just drove home. Once home I turned the car off and now the light is still flashing but the car will not start. Only dash lights are the security light and open door light. I have tried both key fobs and both will lock and unlock the car but no reaction from the start button.

    What I have done so far....

    -12 volt battery reads 12.7 volts at the fuse box.
    -No fuses are blown
    -All interior lights, headlights and taillights work
    -Key fobs still locks and unlocks the doors
    -Tried jumping just to see if it would work... didn't
    -All fluids are at the correct levels
    -Brake actuator starts when the brake pedal is pressed
    -I can hear the brake switch click when I press the brake pedal
    -I have tried to hold the fob to the power button with no luck
    -Disconnected the 12 volt battery for a couple of minutes (twice)

    ...Gas tank is at almost full

    Other maintenance I have done just in case....

    Two months ago...
    -Changed plugs
    -Cleaned EGR Valve
    -Cleaned EGR Cooler
    -Cleaned manifold

    Three months ago...
    -Changed brake pads front and rear

    At this point I am about to have it towed to the dealership and I am not looking forward to what they would have to say... or charge!

    Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

    Jeff
     
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Did you press the brake pedal during or immediately before this?
     
  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    What color is the led on the start/stop button when you press the brake pedal to start car?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  4. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    I didn’t know it mattered when the brake pedal was pressed so I really didn’t pay attention. Is there an order to this?
     
  5. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    There is no power to the button so no light at all.
     
  6. Maarten28

    Maarten28 Active Member

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    It could be that the power switch is defective.
     
    Grit likes this.
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    The RFID reader in the power switch, used to read the key fob when the fob's battery is dead, doesn't wake up until the brake pedal is pressed.
     
  8. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    If led doesn’t turn green as you hold brake pedal down to start car and also no Amber in assessory mode then power button needs troubleshooting, or replaced.
     
  9. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    Well I called the tow truck. He showed about an hour ago. I got in the car to release the emergency brake and the car came to life! No explaination. It started and I am elated!
    Just to be save I have driven it to the dealership to have them give me a diagnosis. I’ll report any finding later.

    Oh, one thing that is crossing my mine is that on Thursday night I noticed that the coolant was low so I added about a cup and half of coolant to the reservoir. Would low coolant cause the immobilizer to shut the car down?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    reservoir? inverter coolant? is there any turbulence?
     
  11. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    Well about 3:00 this afternoon the tow truck arrived to take the car to the dealership. So, I unlocked the car and jumped in to release the emergency brake and the car started... I was shocked! I dismissed the tow truck and drove to the dealership where I requested a full diagnosis. After an hour the technician returned and said that he could not find anything wrong at all. They didn't even charge me for the service.

    He said that if it happened again to video it.

    Thank you everyone for you help!
     
  12. Jeff C 2010

    Jeff C 2010 Junior Member

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    How does one check for turbalance? Just remove the full cap and look? Or is there another way?
     
  13. ITBland

    ITBland Active Member

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    Here is a Gen 1 showing the turbulence:

    And a Gen 2 (More like your Gen 3, but not as good a view):
     
    #13 ITBland, Sep 9, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2018