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Oil changed at 20K car would not start!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by [email protected], Dec 23, 2008.

  1. Bencynbennett@verizon.net

    [email protected] New Member

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    :( I went to Speedy Oil today to have my oil changed. 1 st visit to this garage. I have had no problems with my car, and followed the oil changed guidelines. I drove to the shop , and pulled up, the attendent came out and said they could do it right then, for me to wait in the waiting room. I asked him if they had ever done a Prius and he replied they had. 20 minutes later a technician came in asking if there was some sort of security feature present as they could not start the car. I explained about how to start and he blew me off and patronized me about knowing Prius cars. 10 minutes went by and i walked into the shop asking if they figured it out, and I got into the car myself, and no nothing... no lights no beep nothing. The tech said he tried to reset the maint. light. The maint. light was never on, ... They then tried to tell me that I brought in a car that was "broken", they then again patronized me saying that "they didn't break the car, that it was that way when it came in... I don't need to say that they drove it in?! No the car was fine when I took it in... I called Toyota Service and they said they can't figure out why the car won't start other than the tech. must not have know what he was doing... Long story short is they jumped the battery and I was on my way 3 hours later!
    Has this ever happened to anyone, or would you know why the car wouldn't start?

    Thank you.:confused:
     
    #1 [email protected], Dec 23, 2008
  2. Blegate

    Blegate Prius Gen III 2013

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    Long shot but perhaps your 12v battery was low? I had a similar situation, when I got back from week long trip I moved my prius out of the garage to the driveway. 10 minutes later I tried moving the car back into the garage and no-go. 12v was dead. Weird stuff.

    Your situation seems different since you drove the car in and most likely the ICE was running while you drove there. I'd charge your 12v battery tonight to be safe.
    b
     
    #2 Blegate, Dec 23, 2008
  3. Bencynbennett@verizon.net

    [email protected] New Member

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    Thank you for your reply. I hesitate to think it was the battery, as I've been driving around a lot in the last few days. I went out this afternoon and started the car, and drove it 15 miles to a store, went in and out drove 6 miles, and parked it in a shopping plaza was gone for 15 miutes and then drove to the garage in the shopping plaza. I had no indication that the battery would be flat? Also, I am very careful with interior lights etc. none were on or in the door position.
     
    #3 [email protected], Dec 23, 2008
  4. Blegate

    Blegate Prius Gen III 2013

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    Yes you're probably right. What's odd is that I can't imagine the shop somehow doing this since they typically check the engine air filter & cabin filter while changing the oil/filter. I can't imagine them mucking with anything else which could contribute to this...

    Do you think that when they were trying to reset the maintenance light that perhaps they didn't power the car on or off correctly and just ran the 12v down? I imagine the 12v could be depleated quickly with the fan and or lights turned on. Just a thought... I could see it go in 20 minutes or less. It's a small battery.


    b
     
    #4 Blegate, Dec 23, 2008
  5. Bencynbennett@verizon.net

    [email protected] New Member

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    I drove back from the garage. After your reply I went out and started the car without a hitch. ??
     
    #5 [email protected], Dec 23, 2008
  6. Bob64

    Bob64 Sapphire of the Blue Sky

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    They must have drained the 12v battery. They started it up, didn't go into ready mode, left it in aux while they did the oil change, finished the oil change, tried fiddling with the maint light, and eventually depleted the battery enough to cause the battery to start failing. (you might want to get the 12v battery looked at now).
     
    #6 Bob64, Dec 24, 2008
  7. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

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    I don't know if you need a new 12 volt, but you certainly need another oil change place!
     
    #7 lenjack, Dec 25, 2008
  8. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    When you went to the waiting room, what state did you leave the car in? Did you leave it running (READY), or did you intend to turn it OFF, or something else? And where was the fob?
     
    #8 richard schumacher, Dec 25, 2008
  9. Rest

    Rest Active Member

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    The moral of the story is that every Prius owner should do their own oil change. It is easy and saves you money plus you will know it is done correctly.
     
    #9 Rest, Dec 27, 2008
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