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Prius with 170k miles hasn't been driven in nearly 2 years

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Messinger, Jul 27, 2024 at 10:48 AM.

  1. Messinger

    Messinger Junior Member

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    Here's the situation. I am interested in any advice and a general sanity-check of the direction in which I am headed.

    2009 Prius with about 170,000 miles on it. I say "about" because its 12-volt battery is dead, and the last time it was driven was close to 22 months ago. It's been parked outside in a gravel lot in Pittsburgh all that time. I would like to get it back into running shape.

    It was last operated about a year after it had had front-end collision repair completed. Actually, more like front-passenger side damage. The work in the front end seemed successful with the possible exception of some of the electrical work. I own the car but it's operated by a family member who reported at least one headlight sometimes did not illuminate. About the same time the car began to be unreliable in its starting. Although it wasn't driven frequently before it was parked away - maybe once over three days - especially during the winter, the 12-volt battery would die, and the car needed to be jump-started frequently.

    In addition to a replacement 12-volt battery and a definitive fix to whatever electrical problems exist, the car is due for brake pad replacements. The combination of the unreliable starting and the needed brake work probably contributed most to the decision not to drive it.

    The traction battery was replaced about a year before it was last driven. At that time it seemed the traction battery was operating just fine.

    The interior is in generally good shape. It doesn't smell moldy, and the door and rear hatch seals appear to remain in good shape. There are no signs of water getting into the cabin.

    Although it's difficult to fully assess, it doesn't look as though vermin have got into the wiring. There are no signs of nesting in the engine compartment.

    I've never had to resurrect a car in a condition such as this. I assume the fuel will need to be removed from the gas tank. What other fluids should I simply plan to have replaced?

    Even if they will hold air (they appear somewhat deflated now), should I assume I will need a new set of tires?

    I am not familiar with car repair shops in Pittsburgh. Because its parking location is relatively far away from the nearest Toyota dealership/service center, I am inclined to try to locate an independent mechanic with some experience servicing the Toyota Prius. What are people's opinions about that? It's going to need to be towed; should I plan to have it towed to a Toyota Service Center? If I take it to an independent mechanic, are there any specific questions I should ask to help assess the shop's suitability for this task?

    I figure I'll have it towed in and pay for a bumper-to-bumper assessment of the situation, which will result in a detailed estimate of the needed work. The car's value to me is probably more than just its market value. If it can be made driveable for another five years or so, that would be very useful.

    How's this sound to you all? Thanks in advance for any replies.
     
    #1 Messinger, Jul 27, 2024 at 10:48 AM
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just for giggles try jump starting it?

    my guess is the hybrid battery will be a problem, sitting so long. But worth a try.

    how do the brake rotors look?
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Jul 27, 2024 at 11:49 AM
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    If you take it to a dealer, the price they give you will be the same as buy a new Prius.
    Independent shop, if they are honest, will be about 20% of that. Depending on what you
    really NEED to have done.

    How full is the tank? It likely has condensation in it. So draining, or sucking out whats in it
    is probably a good idea. The get a 5 gallon can and get new fuel and pour it in.
    But also put in two bottles of the STP gas treatment to help spread out any water left in the tank.

    Get a new Toyota 12v battery, charge it at 4-5 amps for 4-8 hours. Then install it.
    Then try starting the car. HOPEFULLY, it will run. The hybrid battery is likely low afte 2 years.
    But, you MAY get lucky and it has enough power to start the engine.
    It will probably run bad at first because of the old fuel in the lines. You could try jumping the
    fuel pump and allow it to run for a minute or two the clear out the lines so the injectors get clean fuel.

    Worst case, you'll need to get a charger for the battery. Either the Prolong charger, or something similar,
    or a 7.2 RC battery charger, or a few, and charge each module for a few hours each to give them a charge.
    I wouldn't worry too much about balancing them yet, you just want to get them charged up enought to start
    the motor and let it charge the pack up to a useful voltage. Always let the engine run until it stops on it's own.

    The injectors may be clogged or sticky but the clean fuel might clean them out some..
    That would be a starting point. Brakes and such you can do yourself, if you're handy.

    But it's a starting point

     
    #3 ASRDogman, Jul 27, 2024 at 12:06 PM
    mjoo likes this.
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I'm with Mendel, it will probably start if you jump start it.
     
    #4 JC91006, Jul 27, 2024 at 12:12 PM
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Base
    Don't move it anywhere leave it in the gravel lot in Pittsburgh Go to the vehicle and test the battery with the voltage tester and see if it has anywhere near 12 volts 9 10 somewhere in there If so you could try charging the battery I usually just bring a battery with me because well that's what I do drop another battery in then let's get the car to boot up and put the lights on and try to read the codes and see what we got brake work what kind of break work If you had all the orange lights on before you shut the car off that's involving an $1,100 part plus or minus a few hundred and about 500 to have it installed that's very common on this model car 22 months of hybrid battery sitting is certainly not a good thing You need to probably lift the trunk and open up the well where the 12 volt is looking there with the flashlight and see if you see any water on the floor of the well where the 12 volt sitting there's some rubber plugs that need to be pushed out so that doesn't continue to happen in Pittsburgh this would be very common in that water freezes ruining the battery so take a look usually you'll see a lot of rust or water still standing in that area because nobody's pushed the rubber plugs out same in the spare tire well look for the rust and water drying to white powder looking areas But before you do anything with dealers and all of this kind of stuff let's get the car booted up see if it will ready read the necessary codes so that might involve getting a scanner that's capable are you willing to chip in 58 bucks to have a reliable scanner that will work on all your Prius moving forward or is this just an exercise to get the car on the road to sell it? Pittsburgh is a rust area so how are the rocker panels quarter panels and all that looking?.
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Jul 27, 2024 at 1:01 PM
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