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2010 prius won't start after running out of gas

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by David Lang, Aug 26, 2024 at 10:35 PM.

  1. David Lang

    David Lang New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    simi valley, ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I've been doing a bunch of digging over the last day but am stuck. My dad run his 2010 prius out of gas last night.

    It is reporting a hybrid system problem.(the battery pack was replaced a few years ago and shows 2 bars remaining)

    It also has all warning lights lit up

    I added 7 gal of gas.
    I've checked for codes using torque, none reported (I tried clearing codes anyway)
    I made sure the 12v battery is fully charged
    I've disconnected the 12v battery for a while and tried
    I've put the vehicle into maintenance mode

    but I don't hear it even try to crank the ICE motor

    I don't know how many times my Dad and AAA attempted to start the car before I got there and they decided we needed to tow it home.

    (and just to complicate things, the hood latch is damaged in a separate incident, so I will have to cut metal to get the hood open)

    Any suggestions on the next thing to try? (apologies if I've missed something obvious, but from the list above, I have done a fair bit of digging)
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I mean having two bars left in the hybrid battery after running out of gas I guess it took a while for somebody to register they were out of gas and they were trying to restart the car restart the car restart the car because well whatever reason old and hard-headed whatever it is so that may be an issue now after it sits about 11:00 or 12 hours it'll surface charge again a little bit so I wouldn't think that's your problem the 12 volt is fully charged and showing 12 volts if you short the 12 volt with a coat hanger wire and a pair of gloves it gets real hot the coat hanger wire and then when you measure the 12 volt with your flukey your back up to 12 volts directly not in an hour? Then you should be good when you put your car on and all that do you hear the fuel pump running If you get near the back seat you can If you have codes lit up the lights like you say you need to really read the codes and see what you got obviously 3190 or what have you for the car not the ice not starting but there's other things possibly You need all those codes without the codes you're just pissing in the dark
     
  3. ForestBeekeeper

    ForestBeekeeper Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    I have heard stories of fuel pump losing prime when the tank goes empty, and having great difficulty in re-establishing prime. You need to reprime the pump.
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The hybrid battery may be too low to turn the engine over. If so, you'll need to
    charge it up enough to be able to turn the engine over so it can start.
    You could try running the fuel pump with a jumper for maybe 15-30 seconds to make
    sure you have fuel in the lines and pressurised.

    What codes did you get for the hybrid battery?

     
  5. David Lang

    David Lang New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    simi valley, ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    There are no codes read via the ODB2 interface, the dash shows the hybrid problem banner.

    The car did sit for 12+ hours after it was towed home before I started looking at it. And the battery did get disconnected before I tried to read any codes.

    what do I need to do to get the fuel pump to prime? or to manually run it?

    there is a little bit of a wirring sound from the car at some points, but it's not clear where it's from.

    I thought the starter was powered by the 12v battery? (after all, you can jump start it via 12v)
     
  6. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
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    Model:
    IV
    if it doesn't even try to crank the engine, battery state of charge would be my guess.
     
  7. David Lang

    David Lang New Member

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    Location:
    simi valley, ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I fully charged the 12v battery
     
  8. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
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    Location:
    Third Rock from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    The starter here is a motor generator, which is powered by a high-voltage battery and an inverter converter. Hundreds of volts.
    A 12V battery is needed to start and check all systems, turn on the high-voltage battery relay contactors. If the high-voltage battery has problems during testing, the contactor will not turn it on and will not supply power to the inverter. Therefore, you will not hear the sound of the motor spinning up.

    If you have an OBDII scanning device?
    Then you can connect Android programm Dr.Prius.