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Battery/no dash lights/clock reset

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Lipglosslez420, Mar 11, 2018.

  1. Lipglosslez420

    Lipglosslez420 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2018
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    Location:
    Albany, NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Weird issues with my 2008 Prius...About 3 months ago I turned my car on and got a big red triangle saying the battery/electrical system needed to be checked. Brought my car to Pep boys and they replaced the 12v battery.

    About a month later, had an issue where the dash lights wouldn’t come on (has happened a few times) but then they do come back on usually the next day. Also, a few times the car wouldn’t turn off (found the trick to get it off eventually).

    Now, the clock keeps resetting andsometimes the door locks don’t work when using the FOB.... went to start my car today and now it won’t turn on. PLEASE HELP!!

    is it possible that the battery they put in is no good? Or could there be a bad connection? Everything was working fine until the battery was replaced... I don’t have any tools to check the battery voltage etc... Should I just bring it back to pep boys and make them replace the battery again? I finish paying the car in November so I’m thinking it may be time to trade the ol gal in before more issues start popping up... Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
     
    #1 Lipglosslez420, Mar 11, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    welcome!

    yes, it is possible, or maybe a loose/corroded connection. bring it back and ask them to check/test.
    could be a bad combo meter as well, how many miles on her?
     
    #2 bisco, Mar 11, 2018
    Lipglosslez420 likes this.
  3. Lipglosslez420

    Lipglosslez420 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2018
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    Location:
    Albany, NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Has 145,000 I believe
     
    #3 Lipglosslez420, Mar 11, 2018
    bisco likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
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    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    start with the 12v test, and ask them to check the connections, especially negative to ground. ask for a printout of the battery load test and post it here for evaluation.
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 11, 2018
    Lipglosslez420 and Raytheeagle like this.
  5. PriDoug

    PriDoug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
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    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I just had the same situation, but with AAA battery installation service. After 3 weeks after installation, I started having intermittent electricity reset every 3 days or so. I have read from other forums, that some people have found that the positive connection wasn't tightened properly. I kept saying to myself that I personally watched him install it, and that I was thinking that there's no way that could be the case with my battery issue.. But... Before I took it to the shop or dealership, I would check for myself just to make sure. Guess what!?! The positive battery post connection was indeed loose. So loose, that when I barely touched it, the connector started to spin around the post. I tightened it up and so far, so good. It has only been a few hours since I tightened it, but the car appears to be happy now. No more funky symptoms. All said and done... (please check your battery cables to make sure they are tightened completely)

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #5 PriDoug, Mar 12, 2018
    Lipglosslez420 likes this.
  6. Lipglosslez420

    Lipglosslez420 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2018
    5
    2
    0
    Location:
    Albany, NY
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Update: had my car jumped and brought it back to pep boys since the battery is less than 3 months old... told them the issues going on. Just as suspected... It was a bad connection with the battery and the connections were pretty corroded so they took sandpaper and clean them all and everything is connected now and working just fine and he said that's probably why it was intermittently happening.

    Any way to prevent this issue? Or my guess is whoever installed the battery in Dec didn’t take the time to clean the connections? Either way it didn’t cost me a dime so I’m pretty happy with that :)
    Now I have to decide if I want to just keep the 08 or trade up for a newer Prius... thoughts?
     
    #6 Lipglosslez420, Mar 13, 2018
    valde3 likes this.
  7. PriDoug

    PriDoug Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2016
    4
    1
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    I have the same thoughts of possibly upgrading, however.. Some newer models are plagued with more issues than Gen 2. Perhaps my next car will be a plug in model, as I live too short of a distance to work, to actually charge up the 12 volt battery sufficiently. I love my 2008. But who knows what is around the corner

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #7 PriDoug, Mar 13, 2018
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