Prius won't start and check engine light appears

Sounds as though you've drained the 12V battery. It is a bit dangerous to have the car's electrical system on that long without having the car in Ready mode.

You'll need to jump the car (follow the instructions closely in the manual). I'd then have the 12V battery tested to see what damage it may have suffered. Better to get that replaced (not cheap) than to be stuck in this position again.

 

In future just turn the car ON as though you were about to drive it away, and leave it in Park with the brake set while you putter about. (This of course assumes that it is not in an enclosed space, that is, outdoors or in a garage with the garage door open.) Let it manage its own energy as it was designed and built to do.

 

Sorry! I forgot to add: Welcome to PriusChat. Sorry this has to be your first post.

 

If you have another car available, just go that route, instead of calling AAA. If you already subscribe to AAA, and you have the time to wait, by all means take advantage of the service. Just be certain you've read through the manual and have it with you when AAA arrives.

As far as checking the battery goes, the dealership certainly will do it, though I would call first to see about the cost. If your car is already getting on to three years of age, you may consider simply replacing the battery. In this case, the dealer can handle it for you. Not all battery & tire stores will have the appropriate replacement battery (one that vents).

 

If you really did that I'm afraid that you have drained your HV battery.

 

Very good catch. But very unfortunate for the OP.

This explains why the headlights and wiper would be working. Pushing the On button once just allows the radio to turn on and fans to run. If you pushed it twice, then you were able to engage the A/C system. Obviously, you intended to do this, as you noted you were "defrosting" the car. I'm sorry not to have caught this sooner.

If the HV battery is fully drained, you will not be able to jump start the car. The 12V is probably fine, but it does not have the juice to start the ICE, I don't believe.

Your only option, as far as I know, is to call Toyota. Perhaps AAA will tow the car to the dealer for you, but I do not believe AAA will be able to get the car started.

 

The ICE starts with the aid of MG1, which needs jiuce from the HV battery. If SOC went below the critical level (20%?) the check engine light will go on.

 

My 05 Prius did a similar thing. I had hit the start button twice for accessories (CD shuffle for road trip) then out of habit I had the break depressed as I pressed start to shut it off. As I recall I happened to press the start button to shut mine off just as the IC Engine started, it stopped apparently normal but would not do more, a few minutes later, then you described your situation in your post.

Neither the 12V nor the HV were drained.

The system was confused not abused.

When I tried to start after the CD shuffle, the silliness began. I had been in smart key mode.
I switched to key insert mode. When I put the fob in the dash it would not let me pull it out, as if the car was running but it was not "READY".

I do not remember exactly which lights were on on the dash but it was somewhere between initial start and ready. I disconnected tested and reconnected the batteries. The draw from the system was as if the car was in ready mode but it was (not) working as you described yours.

I put a battery charger on the 12V connectors, pressed and released start button a few times to no avail, but I think what actually cleared up the trouble was holding the start button in for 10-15 seconds until the lights in the dash went off. The charger had been connected for just a moment and the system would have had full voltage instantly with it so I suspect the issue was unrelated to voltage.

Weird problem but the car worked as "good as new" after what appeared to be a reset. The dealer disavowed any knowledge of the problem, or solution.

Kind Regards

 

As I was reading this thread, there is just too many abbreviations like HV, ICE MG1, etc. Is there a knowledge based website that I can read in order to decipher what is going on

 

Hmm, a Prius glossary? Search for the john1701a and hobbit websites, they may have one. In the meantime:

HV = high voltage
HV battery = traction or drive battery, as opposed to the 12V battery
ICE = internal combustion (gasoline/petrol) engine
MG1 = motor generator #1
SOC = state of charge (how full is the traction battery)

 

Sorry, but it's like that.
If you press power once, accessories work and you do not see the SOC level on the MFD.
If you press power twice, the whole car works, the HV battery is connected and you can see the SOC on the display. The OP even deployed the defrost mode which get's juice from the HV battery.

IMHO pressing twice POWER or leaving the car in READY but in N, it's nearly the same thing.

I'll be glad to stand corrected!

 

Very helpful. Thank you for the info.

 

I know in my '08, if I leave the car in 'N' for a long time...the car will beep and display a warning message stating that the battery is not going to charge...it want to be in 'P'.

 

NMonnell,

I killed my 12V in a similar way this summer. I oftentimes use the car in a mode other than ready. Power once without brake pedal depressed for radio only (accessory or acc.). Power a second time without brake pedal depressed for all accessories (Ignition on or IGN on). Power a third time without brake pedal for Off. Power at any time with brake pedal for ready mode regardless of what mode the car is in at the time. See this thread:

http://priuschat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33838&highlight=battery

Learned this the hard way.

 

Whats the point on ign-on mode then?

 

Hi Bob,Tramp and Evan,

To test the the HV battery relay state is simple, but needs warm weather. Get the car in the sun at 80F or higher. Put the car in ign-on mode, and turn on the AC and set temp for 70. Open the hood and touch the A/C compressor with a screwdriver and feel for the running vibrations. Turn A/C off, and check the compressor again. If the A/C compressor runs, then the HV Traction battery is connected to accessories during ign-on mode. Be careful around the cooling fan which is just in front of the condensor. It may be running, or turn on at any time. Thus the use of a screwdriver.

The car may not turn on the A/C compressor in cold weather when cooling is desired. Thus the need for warm temperatures.

My foggy memory on this is that the A/C compressor does run in ign-on mode. But, hell, its been several months since we have needed cooling in the car, and I never run the car in ign-on in my daily routine.