Cannot get prius into neutral. All gears flashing

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by andy song, Dec 24, 2025 at 4:29 PM.

  1. andy song

    andy song Junior Member

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    Hi all

    Bought a 2008 prius with 263k

    Previous owner said it drove fine 4 years ago but has been sitting

    We put a new hybrid battery pack we had from another in

    We put a new 12v in

    The car just flashes the gear selectors

    Won't go into neutral


    The relays of the hybrid battery do not click

    I checked all the micro fuses in the engine fuse box and they are all good (including the AM2 fuse)

    Anyone have the same thing?
     

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  3. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    x2 to bisco.

    Could be lots of things. Getting codes from all ecu's with a capable scantool would help narrow down the possibilities.

    That said, wouldn't be surprised if there was a corroded blue wire at a connector at the "rear" of the underhood fuse box. Located under the black plastic cover. It's not an uncommon fault that takes the "TCM" (transmission park mechanism) offline.

    But that's just a WAG. fuse%20box1.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    What is your vote meter say that the new hybrid battery pack from other has on it rt now ? Those relays have to click or you're essentially locked out for some reason . I would think the car would tell you. usually when you're locked out of ready mode well. Things ain't ready to be readied apparently . 4 or 5 books is the size of this cars service manual and lotsa reading . Of all the things that can lock you out. Electronically that is
     
  5. andy song

    andy song Junior Member

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    We bought the hybrid battery brand new from the Toyota dealer. The voltage checked 218v at the battery side of the relay with the orange service plug in. The car won't go into ready so the car side of the relay shows no voltage. But we just want to get the car into Neutral so we can tow it back home. We haven't even gotten to the point where we want to get it started yet.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    would the orange safety plug affect this?
     
  7. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Try putting the car into IG-ON, which is two pushes of the start button without your foot on the brake. Then try putting into neutral.
     
  8. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Expanding on that slightly...

    It is easy to either forget to put the safety plug back in or to not seat that plug properly. When that happens starting the car gives a whole lot of dash lights and a whole lot of nothing in terms of being able to move. When this happens the CEL should light and code P0A0D is set. I don't recall if some other follow on codes are also set.

    Also, I don't think you are supposed to flat tow a Prius in neutral. Put it on a trailer if you want to move it more than a few feet. For instance:

    Best practices for towing a Prius? | PriusChat
     
    #8 pasadena_commut, Dec 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
  9. andy song

    andy song Junior Member

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    I tried that but all the gears light up and blinks and won't go into neutral
     
  10. andy song

    andy song Junior Member

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    No it shouldn't because I can scan the hybrid battery using Dr Prius and can see the pack voltage

    If the orange plug was unplugged the pack would be cut in half and would not show the voltage on the scanner
     
  11. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    If this is your immediate problem I don't see what the issue is.

    You are not supposed to flat tow a Prius in neutral, like with a cable behind another vehicle.

    Even if the car won't go into neutral a flat bed tow truck can load it, either by dragging it up wheels locked with a winch, or better, using wheel dollies. Same thing if you brought your own trailer. If they couldn't do this they would be useless for moving many collision damaged vehicles.

    Once you have the vehicle transported back home, presumably where you have a work space and more tools, then you can figure out the electrical problem.
     
  12. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Did the OP do anything about the 4 year old fuel? I would think that a Prius full of garbage gas would probably go into Ready but when the motor failed to start pretty much immediately throw one or more codes and possibly drop right back out of that state. The battery relays should click though, and one would certainly hear the transaxle spinning the ICE and the sounds of the ICE motor choking on the swill it was drinking.

    Other things that I would do before trying to turn this car on are check the oil level and the air filter. The oil is probably still there but a car that has sat for four years is likely to have a rodent hotel in the air filter box. Probably best not to suck rodent poop etc. into the motor.