Prius Won't Try to Start After Repair- Help!

A few questions to provide some context:

1) Which bumper was replaced, and what other accident damage happened to the car?

2) Did the car operate prior to this body work being performed?

3) Odometer reading?

4) When the POWER button is depressed, does anything happen besides the anti-theft LED continuing to blink?

5) If nothing is happening, then I suggest that all of the fuses in the main relay/fuse box near the inverter, and the box under the instrument panel on the driver's side should be checked. Do not rely upon visual inspection, remove each fuse one at a time and use a multimeter on the ohmmeter setting to check continuity. Good luck.

 

Do a continuity check on the fuses.

 

If you have a digital multimeter, first measure resistance across the test leads by shorting them together. See what the reading is and let's call that value "x".

Then measure the resistance across the fuse terminals, and subtract x from the measurement. The result should be something like 0.2 ohms or less.

Also, take a look at the fusible links. They are located in a 5" long plastic box (clear cover, white sides) that is within the main relay/fuse box near the inverter. These are high current fuses that you cannot remove to test, but you can at least look at them and see whether there are visible breaks in the links.

If you note any problem, note the name of the fuse in question and post.

I am wondering whether the body shop staff decided to jump start your car, reversed the battery polarity, and caused the no-start situation. Depending upon what you find, you may be able to confirm or refute this hypothesis.

 

Has anyone else noticed that there's been other users here post similar stories about having their Prius at a workshop/bodyshop and the battery going flat, requiring a jump or recharge? I'm sure I've heard this story before and it's definitely a bit of a concern. I agree with Patrick that they may have screwed something up when they tried to jump it (or charge it in the vehicle).

After reading some of these stories I think if i ever have to leave my Prius at a bodyshop etc then I'll give them express instructions not to touch anything electrical and if they flatten the battery then to just leave it until I get there. This stuff really worries me now!

 

Depending on what the circuit is, you cannot measure the fuse resistance with the fuse in the circuit. You can either remove each fuse, and measure the resistance, which should be much less then 1 ohm (as Patrick correctly describes), or measure the voltage across each fuse in the fuse holder. You should be able to do this if you have sharp enough probes. If you read any voltage more then a few tens of millivolts, the fuse is open. If you read zero volts, then check the fuse resistance.