My 370,000 mile 2001 has been relegated to being parked at the Metro station to get me from the train station to work. I only use it about once a week now, and haven't used it for several weeks because I was away on vacation etc. I checked on it today just to make sure its still there and hadn't been vandalized, etc. (fortunately, no issues on that front). However, when I start it up (started no problem), it ran ok for a bit, then seemed to run rough intermittently, then ultimately, the ICE shut off and the warning lights all came on. I was able to drive it around the parking lot on battery power alone, but the ICE never started. I didn't have my (non-prius aware) code scanner with me, so I tried resetting by disconnecting the battery for a minute or so. That allowed the ICE to start again, but it did the same thing again. When I was briefly able to see the MFD energy display, I could see that the traction battery is only showing about 25% SOC. Any idea what is going on? I am beginning to think this isn't an appropriate use for this car. Thanks,
Chances are the ICE never started at all. It fools you, because when it is being spun by MG1 trying to start, it doesn't sound at all like a conventional starter, it sounds as if it has really started, and the car lets you drive around some on battery power while it keeps spinning the engine hoping it'll start. Then eventually it gives up and shows the warning lights. Do you have any kind of scan tool that works on a Prius? The most common recommendation around here lately has been the Mini VCI, but even a ScanGauge II (available through the PriusChat shop) will let you (with a bit of fiddling) read important values like your battery state of charge. The reason that's important is that the display on the MFD is scaled more to the usual SoC range you'd see in driving, and in your situation you really want to see the actual percent reading. You use a certain amount driving around the lot, and a certain amount on every start attempt that you make, and reportedly, around 20% is where the car will stop attempting to start at all. You don't want to go there, because AAA could maybe send somebody around with a 12 volt jumper setup, but probably not one for 300 volts. If you find out how much charge you really have left on the battery (from a proper scantool, not the MFD bargraph), we'll know more about how much of a power budget you have to work with while figuring out why the engine won't start. -Chap
You are correct. Without knowing the DTC logged by your car, I suggest you take the following two actions: 1. Remove and charge the 12V battery. 2. Clean the throttle body interior and throttle plate by first removing the air cleaner housing, then using a clean cloth which has throttle body cleaner fluid sprayed on it to scrub the inside of the throttle body. Rotate the throttle plate to clean the edge of the plate and the bottom. Do not drown the intake manifold in throttle body cleaner fluid. Then see if the car will start. If it does not then you need to seek professional assistance. Or, if you want to continue DIY, get Mini VCI so that you will know what the logged DTC are. Using the Prius once per week and/or not at all for several weeks is not an appropriate use of the car because the 12V battery will lose substantial charge under those conditions and cannot be counted on to start the car when you want it to.
Check for a sticky throttle plate: Cleaning Prius Throttle But you really need a scanner like Chapman recommended. Bob Wilson
Thanks guys. I will try cleaning the throttle body and report back. Hopefully tomorrow. I really don't think I want to invest in buying a scangauge. As much as I have loved this car for the last 270,000 miles I have driven it, if it is not going to work for this purpose, I will probably be selling it (hopefully after I get it back to running as well as it was a few weeks back). If I can't get it started, I may tow it home and sell it as-is. It doesn't owe me anything at this point. If anyone in SoCal has an appropriate scan tool I could borrow/rent, that would be greatly appreciated.
A less expensive option if you have iOS or Android is buy either a wi-fi or BT ELM OBDII adapter, respectively, instead and then purchase a $5 - $10 dollar app.
Well, thanks to the help of folks here, I was able to get it started last Friday. Cleaning the throttle body did the trick. I don't think I have ever cleaned it, so it was pretty cruddy. I suppose it could have just been stuck shut after sitting for that long. Thanks again for the help.
I think that's a wonderful solution. If you leave it at the station and don't run it very much, you don't have to worry about the gas going bad. Every once in a while drive it home to get the engine good and warm and to charge the battery--maybe top off the CNG, too!
