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

Prius Wont Start After Checking Spark Plugs

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by thommi7, May 18, 2020.

  1. thommi7

    thommi7 New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Temple, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I was getting some bad engine knock and misfires on all cylinders. I removed my spark plugs to inspect them and now after reinstalling them the car wont start.

    All the warning lights are on
    I'm getting the dreaded "check hybrid" error message
    my 12 battery is reading over 12.4v
    the hybrid battery is showing about 3/4 charge
    the accessories are all working

    I know its possible that my plugs are bad. Before I buy new ones I would like to know if these errors could be caused by bad plugs.
     
    #1 thommi7, May 18, 2020
  2. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,905
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Seems like you didn't reconnect something, or connected it wrong, which is hard to do.
    You should recheck everything, carefully.
    Does the engine turn over? Usually when you first turn it on it will be about 10 seconds before
    the engine starts.
    12.4 volts is kinda low, but it should start. Do you have a charger? 4 amps or less? Or try jumping it with a known good battery,
    or from another vehicle.
    It's not very likely you got 4 bad plugs. Which brand? Hopefully they are not the cheap china copy denso plugs.
    I use Bosch.
    Were the old plugs wet? Did you look inside the cylinders to see if you had coolant in them?
    Have you cleaned the egr cooler and related items?
    How many miles are on it? Hopefully, it's not the head gasket.
     
    #2 ASRDogman, May 19, 2020
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,781
    48,987
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    is the car making ready? 'won't start' is a very vague term for a prius.

    it's probably the 12v.
     
    #3 bisco, May 19, 2020
  4. thommi7

    thommi7 New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Temple, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks for the reply guys.

    I agree that it seems like I did not reconnect something properly, but not sure what that could be since hardly anything was disconnected.

    It doesn't seem to turn over at all.

    One of them had blackish soot. All of them were dry

    I'll charge the battery and try again.
     
    #4 thommi7, May 19, 2020
  5. thommi7

    thommi7 New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2020
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Temple, Texas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Quick pic

    This is the what I see after hooking up the 12v, before attempting to start it.
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 thommi7, May 19, 2020
    Last edited by a moderator: May 20, 2020
  6. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2018
    607
    279
    0
    Location:
    W. Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I don't see that he used new plugs -- just reinstalled the old ones.
     
    #6 NewHybridOwner, May 19, 2020
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,710
    38,247
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    How many miles on it?
    Do you know if the plugs are the ones from day one, from the factory?
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 19, 2020
  8. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2018
    5,905
    3,167
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Okay, may seem silly, but did you press the brake pedal before pressing the start button?
    What is the voltage on the battery?
     
    #8 ASRDogman, May 20, 2020
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)