Engine will not start- Weird issue

2 things:

1. Fuel filter-maybe the sender unit is in there? Maybe replace that.

Or

2. Fuel pump-maybe the sender unit is in there? I really don't remember, but I thought that the sender unit was in one of these. To me, it sounds like the ICE isn't getting any gasoline for whatever reason.
Let us know, how it goes.
Kyle
02 Prius

 

1. The fuel tank contains the fuel filter, fuel pump, and fuel level sender so if any of those parts have a problem the entire fuel tank must be replaced.

2. Does the car become READY? If yes, what happens when you shift to D and try to drive the car?

3. If the car does not become READY, what warning lights appear?

4. Adding one gallon of fuel will not help, if the car thinks it is out of fuel. You must add at least three gallons of fuel at one time, before the fuel system will register that more fuel has been added.

 

The READY light appears within the instrument panel, when the Prius can be driven. Hopefully this light appeared in the past since you've driven the car for 19K miles.

Replacement of the fuel tank will probably be a high three-digit repair bill.

You might consider replacing the 12V battery now, to see if that will help. The flashing fuel gauge may indicate low voltage on the 12V bus.

If that doesn't help then I suggest you have the car towed to your local Toyota dealer for assistance. Good luck.

 

After finding another ride... go to sears or car parts store and buy a DTC code reader, take gas can. Bring home at least 3 gallons of gas and add to tank then plug in code reader (under dash in front of driver) then list any or all codes and report back to us.
BTW, 2001 to check battery... Set parking brake, then with foot on brake, turn key to "ACC" mode (one click short of Ignition position) then with normal "consumption" screen up push "Display" rocker switch. Now, press upper left corner of screen then lower left corner three times. Push-Push, Push-Push,Push-Push. Release brake, screen should change to diagnostic screen... test from that screen.

 

I am having a similar (sort of) problem with my 2001 Prius. I was driving to work this morning, and about half a block away from work, I started smelling a burning electrical smell (no other indications of trouble yet, though). Since I was very close to work, I continued to the parking lot. As I pulled into the parking spot, the check engine light came on (the yellow, engine-shaped one, not the "red triangle of death"). I turned everything off, opened the hood and the trunk to figure out which end the electrical smell was coming from. The trunk was normal (no smell), so it wasn't the battery compartment creating the smell. I went to the engine compartment, and the smell was coming from the far right side (driver's side as you're facing the outside front of the vehicle). I couldn't see anything visibly wrong.

Later, I got my OBD II tester, which I had used successfully on the car before when it was having another issue earlier in the year. I tried to start up the car to test it, and everything came on normally, except that the READY indicator was not on, the engine didn't start, and the gas gauge was flashing all of the bars (had about half-tank of gas in there when the problem occured). The OBD II tested came back with a "Link Failed", so it could not give me any codes.

I'm really hoping this is not an expensive computer or hybrid system problem (the hybrid system is on the right side of the engine compartment, too), but I'm not putting too much trust in that hope. I only paid $5,000 for the car a couple months ago. If it's more than half that cost to repair, I'm not sure if it'd be worth fixing.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated! Thanks!

 

If the car cannot be driven, I suggest you have it towed to your local Toyota dealer so that a diagnosis can be provided to you. Perhaps you have a short in the inverter coolant pump located near the driver's side headlight; or a relay/fuse box problem.

 

Start with reading the 12V battery bus voltage. Car off and then as close to ready as it can go. No 12V, no joy.

Next we need to find out what is keeping the OBD from running. Check the fuses (and fusible links where possible) with the ohm meter. Don't trust eyes, use meter. Don't forget the fuses in the cabin by the driverr left-hand dash.

Bob Wilson

 

repairman, I have a 2001 parts prius, given you are close to sacramento, if you need the gastank, fuelpump, etc, i have one we can swap into your car if you determine that is the problem.

 

Did you ever find out what caused the flashing gauge issue? How did the problem resolve?
Thanks!

 

Could his injector relay/fuse have blown or fuel pump relay/ fuse have blown. try those. maybe its something stupid like that.

 

The OP needs to first scan the car for codes. That will help narrow down the problem. Don't start swapping parts without more information, especially messy stuff like the fuel tank/pump assembly.

One thing to try is to disconnect the 12V battery for a few seconds, sometimes that clears codes and gets you back on the road. You don't even need a wrench, just uncover the positive terminal in trunk then unhook the heavy black wire by pressing the tab on the white connector. Wait a few seconds then plug back it back in until it clicks.

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I've seen 3 cars in the last 2 weeks with P3191 and P3101 "Engine won't start errors" in our Boulder shop. Usually happens on cold mornings when owner starts car and right away puts car into drive. The last lady really messed up, she kept driving when the gas engine was not running and completely drained her Hybrid battery...had to tow the car and we had to charge the Hybrid battery (Luckily I have a HV charger in-house...most dealers don't even have one). Spent about 1 hour topping up her HV battery, cleaned out the throttle body then cleared codes and she was on her way.

Gen1 has a design flaw in the software...if car initially goes READY and engine doesn't truly start it will still allow you to keep driving until you kill the Hybrid battery.

If the OP has P3191 and P3101 codes they should clean the throttle body, turn key to ON (not start) clear codes then try starting car. Hopefully his Hybrid battery is not pooched. If so good luck finding a dealer who will charge it...most will say "you need a new hybrid battery...$4500 please"

There is an updated engine ECU available which is supposed to stop this from happening, but as long as you wait 10 seconds on cold mornings before putting car into drive you should be ok.

 

yepp, i've seen this numerous times on gen. 1 priuses. dirty intake and/or maf sensor needs to be cleaned. there are detailed posts in this forum to show you how to do it. will take about 10 mins. i would definitely try this first before moving onto other possible issues.

 

Hi did this problem get resolved? Mine is doing similar. I drove a short distance (less than a block) to my daughters house & turned car off to wait for her to come out. When she was walking out the door I turned it back on. As she was getting in the car I noticed the flashing gas gauge. No error lights on or anything. Before I turned it off was sure I had heard the engine cycle on. I tried to check to see if it had codes come up but it gives me the Link Failed error. All the interior lights work as do headlights. You can not even put in gear because though the P-R-N-D-B are there the indicator is not! Can hear something come on & then go off (maybe a relay?) but no ready light & will not start. dealership is nearly an hour away & no shops in area will work on it

 

Make sure shifter is properly seated in Park. Unhook 12V battery for a few seconds, then try starting again.

You can unhook the positive lead from the battery terminal without any tools.
Remove red cover.
Press the release tab on the large black connector on the heavy black wire going to the positive terminal block...pull it away for a few seconds then reconnect (it will click).

Also, check that your 12V battery is healthy. If voltage is less than 11.5V at rest perhaps try jump starting the car?

 

I tried to jump start it after a service rep from Toyota told me that the small battery could make it do that but it still did the same. Is there anything else that will cause it to do this? I would like to try all the things I can before I even think about sending to the dealer. Just got the Rack & Pinion changed & both rear wheelhubs just before that. It is looking like it is starting to be more costly to keep than I can afford. I really love the car & don't want to have to get rid of it. I has consistantly gotten 40 mpg.

 

But did you unhook the 12V before jumping? If you don't unhook the 12V first some codes may not get cleared.

 

Yes I unplugged the battery before trying to jump. I have now also checked the voltage of the battery & it is at around 12v. So I don't think this is the problem. Is there anything else I can check? I saw a circuit breaker for sale on ebay could something like that be the problem or the box that is behind the glovebox? All the fuses I could check were good.

 

I'm sure this problem resolved, unfortunately nobody says what was wrong & how they fixed it!

Would you please let us know? thanks.