2006 Prius... help me fix

I am not a battery expert, but you first want to make sure you have a good charged-up small 12volt battery in the rear compartment. A run-down 12-volt battery could explain why you cannot start and maybe be the whole issue (if you're having a good day). If you're having a bad day, you may need a new hybrid battery.

 

You can try that but what you really need to know and what people who are willing to help you need to know is the condition of the 12 volt battery first as a failing or failed 12 volt battery can create several DTCs.

 

if you don't know much about cars, a 10 year old car with 300k is probably not your best choice.i don't know much either, but it sounds like your hybrid battery needs charging, which requires a special charger. all the best!

 

If you can get the car running (with a fresh 12v) you can charge up the HV batt on a Gen2 by revving the engine with your foot on the brake. Otherwise there is equipment from Toyota that can charge up the HV batt, assuming that is discharged. But the concern would be the HV battery is damaged due to being discharged,6

 

if you can start the engine to charge the hybrid battery, you don't need to charge the battery.you are going to repair it, but don't know how to tell if the12 volt battery is failing?

 

one way to find out if the 12v is failing is to take it out of the car and get it tested at the parts store. you can look for a date code on the battery to determine if it is original-- in which case its probably weak or dead. you can try to charge it if you have a charger, but really, you got a good deal on a prius with 300k? HV battery is probably toast and that's why you got it cheap.

still, you got to have a good 12v hooked up to the car before you can even start to find out if or what else is wrong with it. if you have a known good 12v, hook it up across the one in the car and see if that helps.

 

Did you at least disconnect 12v you will reset the codes/computer reboot and give it another shot.

 

is the 'ready' light coming on?

 

12v is fine? how many volts does it have with the car off? and then how many when its on? dash lights only mean its not completely dead. I did have one come in on a hook. it had dash lights but wouldn't go ready. i charged the 12v battery and cleared the codes and it started and ran, so I drove it out, but several codes indicating the HV battery was bad came right back.

 

$3000 for a car with 300k miles......sounds like you should just flip it with the problems for $1500 and call it a day.

 

you obviously don't know much about cars, let alone a complicated Prius. You might even end up losing money if you keep this car.

 

Just take off the negative lead screw where the wire connects to the chasis in the back.
You have to depress the brake pedal when then power button is pressed to get READY. Wait a while and engine will start, or step on gas.