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

2005 prius weird behavior. It won't start.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Fedejunin, Aug 21, 2019.

  1. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    my prius wont start. when i push the power button, it blinks a slow, steady orange, and the dash lights light up and go through some sort of flashing routine, ending with blinking squares around the gear shift icons. please help. Like it can't go to ready, OBD is not working, so I couldn't scan for.errors.
    Battery checked and it has 12.3 volts.
    Hybrid battery recently serviced,
     
  2. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Where are you testing for 12v battery health at, at the jump point and at the battery in the trunk?
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    sounds like the 12v, what does it read with the headlights on?
     
  4. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    The only time I've ever seen the blinking squares around the gear indicators was due to low voltage on the 12v system. Check the voltage between the underhood jump point and the car chassis. Then check it again under load, like with the headlights on high or the interior fan on high.
     
    Skibob likes this.
  5. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I took the battery to AutoZone. They did a test, the report said good battery 12.2 volts.

    With the lights it reads 11.7. when turn the lights off, the reading was 12.1

    I will that first in the morning and I will let you know.
     
    #5 Fedejunin, Aug 22, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 22, 2019
  6. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I didn't mention that I was driving when this happened. First was a beep, but not red triangle, all lights on dash came on, ignition was on but with the gas pressed the car didn't move. So I turned the car off and right after all the synthoms I described in the post.
     
  7. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Ok, I .just check under the hood with a fluke rms, got 12.6 volts and 11.9 v with lights on.
    I don't believe battery is an issue. Also I figured out that without press the gas pedal and pressing power button screen goes on and everything works, I mean lights, radio, fan, etcl. But if I press the gas pedal thent everything 'resets' and shows squares on the gear icons
     
  8. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----


    This is a video I just made.
     
  9. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    So it sounds like you can get the car to "ignition-on" condition successfully. (no foot on brake, press power button twice)

    Put foot on brake, press power button again, and instead of going ready, everything starts flashing?

    How about checking the 12v at the jump point while the flickering is going on?
     
    Skibob likes this.
  10. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Yes, you can see in the video I posted above.
    I checked also the voltage when flickering is.going on, the numbers were 12.4V and 12.36V, basically no variation, but you could hear one of the relays engaging.
     
  11. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I was wondering if the main relay inside the main battery went broke. But this wouldn't explain the flickering on the dash lights and the reset.
     
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    check all the connections at the battery, especially negative to ground
     
  13. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I did. Also I removed the battery and took it to AutoZone. I always clean the terminals and the junction points. This is giving me a hedache. I found in internet a post of a guy with all the same synthoms that my car is having, he was talking with a online specialist (the ones that you pay for anaadvice) and he couldn't figure out.
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    are there any trouble lights?
     
  15. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    If you try to turn it on, it resets screen. Check my video.
     
  16. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I don't see that in the video at all.

    If you:

    With your foot NOT on the brake, insert the fob into the slot and press the power button one time. What happens?

    With your foot not on the brake, press the power button one more time. What happens?

    Place your foot on the brake. What happens?

    While your foot is on the brake, press the power button one more time. What happens?

    You also mention in the first post that your HV battery was recently serviced? What service was performed? Did the car operate normally prior to the service?

    If you think the HV Battery relays may be causing a problem you can remove 12v power from the relays by unplugging the medium sized quick connect at the HV battery. (the HV battery has 3 connections, a small for the safety interlock, a medium for the relay operation and a large going to the ECU) If you disconnect the medium one and the weird flashing goes away, then I would be inclined to think a bad relay may be causing a voltage drop which is causing problems with other circuits.
     
  17. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Without the foot on the brake pedal:
    1 time lcd comes on
    2 times everything resets and screen turns off

    With foot on brake pedal:
    No pressing power buttom nothing happens
    Pressing one time buttom everything resets again.
    Pressing 2 times same.
    Hybrid battery had 2 bad modules, it was serviced few months ago.
    Cat has never had this synthom.
    I will check what you said about the hybrid battery connectors.
     
  18. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,058
    5,783
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    So you are not successfully getting to ignition-on condition. The second press of the power button (with foot off the brake) should turn on the dash board, but not start the engine or engage the HV battery. It sounds like we can eliminate the battery relays from being a problem.

    What it will do, is start the inverter cooling water pump. Perhaps that pump is causing an electrical problem. Often, when they fail, they blow the AM2 fuse in the engine compartment fuse box, which kills the dash and MFD. Maybe try to unplug the Inverter Cooling Water pump electrical connector and check/replace the AM2 fuse. Perhaps it has a poor connection.
     
  19. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    By the way, the inverter Water pump was replace a year ago.
    I disconnected it and tried to turn on the car but I got same problem.
    Also I just.checked fuse AM2 and it is fine.
     
  20. Fedejunin

    Fedejunin Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2017
    19
    3
    0
    Location:
    Ponte Vedra
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Also no changes when I took the safety orange switch or brake control power.