Hybrid “Ready” but not cranking ICE

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Gee V., Nov 7, 2024.

  1. Gee V.

    Gee V. New Member

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    Hey guys, I need help.

    I dived into a 2011 Prius that the hybrid system is ready, but when tries to crank the internal combustion engine, it just can’t. I heard the motor humming but no crank.

    my friend, the owner of the car, run out of gas last night and since then the Prius is having this problem.

    The hybrid battery is in 16% of state of charge according to Dr. Prius app.

    I got codes P0335 and I already put a new crankshaft position sensor
    P0A0F engine failed to start

    12 V battery is good, fuel pump is working, all fuses are in good state.


    Any idea on what’s happening?
    Thank you all
     
  2. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    The hybrid battery may be too low (16% SOC) to start the engine. Try disconnecting the 12v battery for a few minutes. Then, connect the battery and try to start the car

    Edit: If the engine starts, let the car run to charge the hybrid battery. Turn off the car after the engine warms up and turns off by itself.
     
    #2 Brian1954, Nov 7, 2024
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2024
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  3. Gee V.

    Gee V. New Member

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    Tried that, same humming sounding like the electric motor is trying to start the ICE but with no success just give up and throw the codes.
     
  4. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    This might be silly, but are you pressing the brake pedal before and during pressing
    the "ready" button?
     
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  5. Gee V.

    Gee V. New Member

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    Yes, I tried with and without pressing the brakes.
     
  6. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Put a socket on the crank pulley and check for rotation - engine may be seized.
    If the engine isn't seized, disconnect the 12V battery and pull the traction battery safety disconnect. Turn-on the headlights to drain any residual power. You may want to put the 12V battery on a fast charger while it's disconnected. Go get a coffee, at least 15 minutes later. Turn-off the headlamps. reinstall the safety disconnect and then the 12V battery. this should bring the car back to original factory settings, except for odometer.
    Try again.
    Note: if it runs, the engine will do a few strange things - that's the ECU relearning and resetting sensor inputs. Allow the motor to run, until the ECU shuts off the motor. this will ensure that the traction battery is back up to a normal functioning level.

    hope this helps......
     
    #6 BiomedO1, Nov 8, 2024
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2024
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  7. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    If you hear MG1 spinning but the engine crankshaft does not also spin, something is mechanically broken among the transmission input damper, input shaft, or planetary gear (and the P0335 is no surprise, as the ECM would be expecting the sensor to show that the crankshaft is spinning).

    A clean break of the input shaft is what I've seen when others have posted photos from similar situations.
     
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  8. Gee V.

    Gee V. New Member

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    Turns out the shaft was broken and the damper was worn. My friend left at the shop today and will get a package with "new transmission" and also the head gasket. Just got the text from him.

    Thank you for the inputs, that helped me to get to this issue.
     
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  9. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Out of curiosity, how many miles on the 2011 Prius?
     
  10. Gee V.

    Gee V. New Member

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