1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2008 DOA!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Organfreak, Mar 21, 2020.

Tags:
Page 1 of 2
  1. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    180K miles, been running perfectly. Started to drive this morning with a warning light, red triangle, ABS and that other brake system (CV-something?) code, stupidly drove it, car died after three miles. Will not start, either electrics OR gas engine. Power assist on brakes/steering died at same time. Towed to dealer 30 miles away, $240. Shop closed due to corona virus. Only had the car about two weeks, all maintenance had been performed regularly. Battery had been reading good with no problems. Battery meter went half-white as car died.

    I'm poor and very afraid of what might be wrong here! Any thoughts?
     
    #1 Organfreak, Mar 21, 2020
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    7,329
    6,841
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Not worth speculating until somebody diagnoses it properly.

    A dealer is going to be an expensive way of fixing it vs. neighborhood mechanic. Granted, not all local independents can handle a Prius, but by now a bunch of them have at least figured out the basics and some are better still. And they're all cheaper than the dealer.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Mar 21, 2020
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,709
    49,855
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    bummer!
    get a cheap tech stream copy on amazon and a windows compatible laptop to read the trouble codes.
     
    #3 bisco, Mar 21, 2020
  4. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes, I'm painfully aware of that but I haven't yet found out who might be able to do this work other than the dealer. I had to tow it somewhere very suddenly, so it was the best I could come up with. From my reading here, it could be a symptom of the 12V battery dying. Service history shows it not EVER being replaced!
     
    #4 Organfreak, Mar 21, 2020
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,263
    39,031
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Any word on when they're reopening?

    Dang! For next time, check 12 volt's voltage first.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Mar 21, 2020
    kenoarto likes this.
  6. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

    Joined:
    May 22, 2009
    9,083
    5,798
    0
    Location:
    Undisclosed Location
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    As stated, not enough information here to come to any conclusion.
    I can only hope for the OP that it is something as simple and relatively cheap to fix as the 12 volt. But for a 12 model year old vehicle, which if I'm reading right, the OP has only had for two weeks, it could be anything.

    Hope it's not the HV battery.
    Good Luck.
     
    #6 The Electric Me, Mar 21, 2020
    kenoarto likes this.
  7. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Monday morning.
     
    #7 Organfreak, Mar 21, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  8. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,297
    4,238
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You can test the 12v battery with a voltmeter.
     
    #8 SFO, Mar 21, 2020
    kenoarto likes this.
  9. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yes, but the car is at the dealership, 30 miles away. Thanks, though. If I understand correctly, it should read at least 12.6 VDC.
    I talked to the previous owner, and he confirms that the 12V battery has never been replaced!
     
    #9 Organfreak, Mar 21, 2020
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,709
    49,855
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    that's good news(y)
     
    #10 bisco, Mar 21, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  11. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Heartland Toyota called me back. Car started perfectly for them with NO error codes! I authorized a diagnostic checkup for $130. Of course, a 12V battery failure is still suspected since that battery's never been changed. Now I wish i had just left it as a FORD (Found On Road Dead). They charge $270 for a new 12V battery, installed. (I'm too old and feeble to do the work myself.)
     
    #11 Organfreak, Mar 23, 2020
    bisco likes this.
  12. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yup, dead ORIGINAL battery, verified! This large dealership had "never seen a case like this before!!!"
     
    #12 Organfreak, Mar 23, 2020
    kenoarto likes this.
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,263
    39,031
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    It's not hard. The OEM and dealership batteries have a lifting strap. The Optima Yellow Top I dropped in had one too. And the battery's pretty small. At least 20 pounds though I think.

    When removing, disconnect negative first, then positive. Install is the reverse. Completely connect the positive first, before dealing with the negative. Use a small 10 mm box wrench is safest, less likely to short out between the neg and pos posts. Just take your time. Wear safety glasses, or a face shield if you have it. I have the latter, but find it gets in the way, fogs up, usually just stick with safety glasses.

    You can get a wire bottle brush style scrubber for cleaning the inside of the cable clamps. It's a little over-sized for the small clamps on prius, but can be made to work, and the tight fit cleans extra good. Fine sand paper works on the posts. Wash your hands well after, and carefully dispose of any sandpaper, there's lead dust.

    The Prius battery hold-down clamps are a finicky design, can't tolerate any battery height variation. Have some washers on hand, might help to shim.the bracket if the battery's slightly too tall.

    Don't forget to connect the vent tube.
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Mar 23, 2020
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,263
    39,031
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    A bit more:

    IMG_2122.JPG
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Mar 23, 2020
    kenoarto, Raytheeagle and SFO like this.
  15. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Thank you, but they are doing the work for various reasons, as stated above.
     
    #15 Organfreak, Mar 23, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  16. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    11,254
    15,489
    0
    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    What random tool / device don't you have:p.

    Well stocked for data (y).
     
    #16 Raytheeagle, Mar 23, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  17. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    This dealership (Heartland Toyota in Bremerton, WA) won't give me my car back until I pay for the work. (I'll have the $$$ on Friday.) That's normal, you say? Right, but currently our governor might shut down "non-essential businesses" at a moment's notice at which point I might not be able to pick up my Prius for months on end! They won't even consider making plans for this eventuality. Their ruling is final.
     
    #17 Organfreak, Mar 24, 2020
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,709
    49,855
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    yeah, life is disconcerting these days, to say the least.
     
    #18 bisco, Mar 24, 2020
  19. Organfreak

    Organfreak Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2020
    42
    17
    0
    Location:
    Gig Harbor, WA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Found the money, car is perfect after a new 12V battery. $400 plus the tow.
     
    #19 Organfreak, Mar 24, 2020
    Mendel Leisk and bisco like this.
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    109,709
    49,855
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    congrats!(y)
     
    #20 bisco, Mar 24, 2020
    Organfreak likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2