Toyota Service Centre Gave Up - Engine Not Running

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mother, Oct 14, 2024.

  1. Mother

    Mother Junior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    i-Tech
    2011 Toyota Prius iTech, 130,000 kms (Australia)

    ICE cranks but does not fire up

    Fuel smell

    EGR valve and cooler sooty, cleaned

    Delivered to local Toyota Service Centre

    Scan reports ‘Low Power’, no other recurring faults

    Injectors cleaned

    Plugs inspected, OK

    Fuel filter replaced

    E10 fuel drained and replaced with 98

    Injectors removed and operated, spray OK

    HV battery down to 1 bar

    Toyota Service Centre unable to get engine running, cause unknown

    Awaiting ‘Rescue Charge’ from Toyota Australia

    HELP
     
    #1 Mother, Oct 14, 2024
  2. Eddie25

    Eddie25 Active Member

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    What is the low power code, P3190?

    Basically your ICE isn't able to start but the HV battery was still able to attempt to start it, but it won't 'catch' and keep itself running on it's own. I'm guessing the "rescue charge" means that the HV battery is depleted and won't even attempt to start it anymore.

    Essentially it just needs a proper "crank, no start" diagnosis (fuel, air, compression, timing, etc).

    The first thing I would do as a complete amateur would be the age ol' 'spray starter fluid into the throttle body' while (or before) trying to start it. If you can get it to stay running a bit like that you know you have a fuel issue. If nothing there I'd check for spark and after that compression. I'm sure I'm missing something, but it shouldn't be that difficult as long as you have a way to charge the battery every few start attempts. You may also have to charge the 12v.

    They'll probably be able to figure it out once it gets it's "rescue charge", but if not try to find a real mechanic or a hybrid specialist and if you have to, then build a charger yourself. It's pretty crazy how inept and un-equipped a lot of dealers seem to be.

    Edit: the "smell of fuel" would probably change my first action from 'checking for fuel' to 'checking for spark' since that's probably from fuel just not getting burned.
     
    #2 Eddie25, Oct 14, 2024
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  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    I'm assuming the engine doesn't start or even idle. Check for 12Vdc power going into ignition coil - No voltage, no spark, no ignition. Check all your fuses and look over your wiring harness for chew marks and exposed wires.
    Open the Air box @ the air filter - leave everything in place. Don't want to suck something into the intake manifold. You can also inject starting fluid there.
    How much oil consumption per oil change interval were you experiencing before the motor quit? Have you kept up with factory recommended maintenance intervals? Has the 12VDC battery been checked and verified fully operational?

    I would move onto compression test if no other problems are found.
     
    #3 BiomedO1, Oct 14, 2024
  4. Mother

    Mother Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    It’s been nearly two years. The ‘Rescue Charge’ promised from Toyota never eventuated, they had any number of excuses. I ‘pulled the plug’ and removed the vehicle, on the back of a tow truck, and took it to someone who was recommended. The Toyota dealership experience was a disaster, they flattened the HV battery to the point where is nearly rendered unrecoverable, replaced parts that were not faulty and returned the vehicle in a much worse condition than when they received it, and to top it off charged $1,500 for the experience.
    The vehicle was delivered to someone who said that they would have it running within a day but, upon discovering the nearly completely discharged state of the HV battery told me it would take a couple of days. And true to their word after two days all was up and running again and I was happy to pay $950.
    He did not provide details of the repair but, indicated that the problem was with the fusebox. I had earlier checked all the fuses and found none blown.
    Toyota insisted that the problem was with the fuel system even though it was clearly evident that there was fuel in abundance while I constantly mentioned the ignition as a possible cause.


     
    #4 Mother, Aug 15, 2026 at 2:47 AM
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    I always advise people not to buy a hybrid to save money
     
    #5 bisco, Aug 15, 2026 at 1:25 PM
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    One thing I know from personal experience, that'll stop the engine dead, is disconnected PCV hose. Or some similar, gross vacuum leak?
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Aug 15, 2026 at 2:20 PM
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