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2015 Prius C Won't Start Twice!

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Bigboi, Oct 28, 2020.

  1. Bigboi

    Bigboi Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Hey Prius C friends! My 2015 Prius C with 58,000 miles wouldn't start, twice! I didn't leave anything on, weather got colder at 30 degrees, it wouldn't start, lights turned on, whirring sound, dash flickers and becomes solid, music is playing, but Ready sign doesn't come on even in park (it's push start). Gas engine never ignited until I paid $50 for a jump. Took it to a Toyota Dealer they said everything is fine hey we topped off the battery for ya. Fast forward a week later, I didn't drive the Prius C for 4 days, it wouldn't start again. This time, my little 8000mah 12V portable jump starter worked and got it going again.

    1.) Why did the Toyota Dealer say everything was okay, and then my car doesn't start a week later?
    2.) Should I bring it back to the Toyota Dealer again?
    3.) Has anyone had this happen where their battery was only 5 years old, zero accidents, and dealer says it's in good shape, you didn't leave anything on, you didn't have the fob near the car, and your car still doesn't start?

    Please help Prius C friends, I don't want to be stuck jumping my 2015 Prius C every 4 days
     
    #1 Bigboi, Oct 28, 2020
  2. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    II
    If your battery is older than 4 years replace it
     
    #2 tankyuong, Oct 29, 2020
    kenoarto and Leadfoot J. McCoalroller like this.
  3. davidc83

    davidc83 Member

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    Location:
    Scottsburg, Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Five
    Buy a new 12 v battery..topping it off is not a test for a good battery. Batteriesust be tested under load to have accurate reading. The alternator puts out enough juice to keep it running after a jump, but the battery isn't maintaining a charge.

    Z6201V ?
     
    #3 davidc83, Oct 29, 2020
  4. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Because most "mechanics" these days know little to nothing about how a battery works or about how to tell if it is going bad or not.

    Yours IS about worn out. Find a new one.
    A Toyota dealer is only one option.
    5 years is not a bad run, depending on environment and usage.
     
    #4 sam spade 2, Oct 30, 2020
    kenoarto likes this.
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    1) clueless

    2) no

    3) yes
     
    #5 bisco, Oct 30, 2020
    vvillovv likes this.
  6. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    (1) dealer didn't give a recently charged up 12v a load test?
    (2) only you can decide
    (3) yep at 3 years old 12v showing weakening already.
     
    #6 vvillovv, Oct 31, 2020
  7. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

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    I should have paid more attention that you're asking about a 2015 C and not contributed to the model mismatch between your C and my Prime. ooops. :eek:
    I hope answers to both 1 and 2 are still relevant to your C.
     
    #7 vvillovv, Nov 4, 2020
  8. Bigboi

    Bigboi Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius c
    Model:
    Three
    Hello Prius C friends, you are right, it was the battery. The dealer said they topped it off with GR8 or whatever, battery came back a solid 12.7 and then a week later after car doesn't start again, the same Toyota Dealer mechanic said the battery was bad it was 9.6 I asked how the hell does the battery get that bad in 1 week he said hey, anything can go wrong in 1 week it's normal. I said uh huh. Right, normal. Ok. Long story short I get hosed for $250 battery plus $62 labor but the good news, and there is good news despite getting utterly HOSED. They said they found a bad rusty ground so they replaced it with a new bolt. I read the reviews on Amazon about people saying their off brand 12v stopped working in their Prius C in a year and the company refused to honor the warranty on it so that swayed me from DIY 12v replacement
     
    #8 Bigboi, Nov 6, 2020
  9. davidc83

    davidc83 Member

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    Five
    I have had batteries go bad overnight..especially on my motorcycles..start fine one day and click click click the next day....

    Z6201V ?
     
    #9 davidc83, Nov 7, 2020
  10. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Most things work just fine day after day, right up to the instant that they DON'T.
     
    #10 sam spade 2, Nov 8, 2020
  11. SwhitePC

    SwhitePC Active Member

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    mine's (that I gave away to my sibling) original 12v battery died the other week too (almost 7 years...probably age and lack of use, as they haven't driven it much because it's caught up in interstate ownership DMV transfer BS and covid)
     
    #11 SwhitePC, Nov 18, 2020
  12. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Three things.

    There is no aftermarket / off brand 12v for the Prius C. If people have put one in, they are finagling it in there.

    $250 for the battery isn't getting hosed.

    I've seen an old battery go to crap in a single day. When they go, they go.
     
    #12 dubit, Nov 19, 2020
    SwhitePC likes this.
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