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Not going into gear, what is next?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Gregory Day, Oct 6, 2019.

  1. Gregory Day

    Gregory Day New Member

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    I just had my $500 2005 Prius towed to the shop. I got her "revived" when I replaced the Fusable link. So she now powers up, 12V reading 12.2 after a charge. Ready light flashes when brake pressed and start pushed.

    The car has been sitting for 6 months as the previous owner passed

    When I try to put the car into gear, it goes only to N. So, I am having codes read tomorrow and am wondering if anyone can suggest to me what might be happening. Car has 240K. I have some working capital, but do not want to put too much into this vehicle. My first Prius or hybrid of any type.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    12.2 is kinda low, get a free load test from an auto parts store
     
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  3. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    After sitting for so long, there will be one or more modules in the HV battery that may need replacing.
     
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Ideally after sitting a long time you're going to want to trickle charge both the 12v and the high voltage battery. The 12v trickle charger costs less than $10 at a Harbor Freight type store and if battery can't hold a charge at 12.8v when car is off, it may be time to replace it. The Hybrid battery trickle charger is much more expensive. But the person on your previous thread who asked you where in your state you lived also lives in your state @TMR-JWAP and is one of the most skilled repair people among us and could assist if you contact him. Learn more about trickle charging high voltage battery pack here: FAQ
     
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    12.2 volts after a charge is death. It should be at least 12.6 your 12.2 means the battery is not capable of holding a charge or not capable of charging to full capacity because it is sulphated and with a load on it probably goes to 10.5 volts. I would guess its been jumped a few times and was discharged at some point to zero volts which is really really hard on a 12 volt battery.

    Just charging a suspect battery and not seeing what it does under even a minor load is meaningless which is exactly what we see alot with the hybrid battery DIY repairs. Lots of nubes just charge up the hybrid battery modules and measure them and they look ok so they think cool its all good.
    Soon after installation of there "rebuilt" battery it throws the RTOD again and there perplexed.

    Battery 101.

    Here's a minor load:

    With car off measure voltage at front jump point. Do not ever measure battery voltage at the battery itself that is meaningless it only matters what the voltage looks like on your dc volt meter at the front black fuse box input which is the front jump point. The front jump bolt is bolting down the main power cable from the battery after it goes through a 100 amp fuse in the black plastic assy that's bolted to the top of the pos post of the battery..

    Then with car STILL OFF turn on headlights in high beam for 5 minutes. Shut the high beams off after 5 let it sit a minute then with car STILL OFF measure dc again at front JP bolt. Your car will fail that test big time.

    A healthy battery will not drop 1 volt on this very minor load test.
     
    #5 edthefox5, Oct 6, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2019
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  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Amazing such a great response isn't shared more often... Will share this with battery issue posts in the future. Sums it all up quite well.
     
  7. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Find out what voltage the HV is reading.
    It may be too low to start the car.
     
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  8. Sharnold

    Sharnold Active Member

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    Go to the energy monitor screen if its sitting on the last bar I would almost bet the HV is drained especially as long as it's been sitting. Green-optimum
    Blue- sufficient
    Purple- lower parameters of voltage
    Last purple line- on its last leg for starting

    You really need to check the voltage on the HV usually if the 12volt is the issue it wont even go into ready mode.
    If you cant jump the 12volt off with another vehicle using the jump block under the hood with it in ready mode and it attempt to start the HV battery is so drained it cannot spin the motor over for the car to crank......best of luck

    20191006_074301.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 Sharnold, Oct 7, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2019
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  9. Gregory Day

    Gregory Day New Member

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    Well as it turns out, the main batteries were bad and after trying out good batteries, there were still many computer issues...so I sold it to the repair shop and got my $$ out of it and now I am looking at a
    2015 Toyota Prius C

    Hatchback 4D (1.5L I4 EFI)
     
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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    all the best!(y)