1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2003 Prius will not start

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by familyman, Jun 26, 2011.

  1. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Car started fine twice this morning but now will not start. Everything inside the car powers on but when you turn the key nothing happens. I do have a CEL but don't know the code because I can't drive it. I tried a jump start but nothing changed. Any suggestions?
     
    #1 familyman, Jun 26, 2011
  2. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,200
    6,482
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Turn on the headlights. If they are not bright, then replace the 12V battery.
     
    #2 Patrick Wong, Jun 26, 2011
  3. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I tried the headlights and they were bright as usual. So I checked the fuse box under the hood on the driver's side and found an ignition fuse. The fuse was good so I put it back and tried starting the car again. It cranked with no problem and the CEL was gone.
     
    #3 familyman, Jun 26, 2011
  4. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,212
    188
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, California.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    You rebooted and did not realize it.
     
    #4 andyprius, Jun 26, 2011
  5. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I wondered about that. I guess I know what to do next time.
     
    #5 familyman, Jun 26, 2011
  6. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2005
    2,212
    188
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, California.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Right, treat the car just like a computer, ie: power up a few times or disconnect the neg lead on the 12V Battery and reconnect. I installed a switch at the neg point on the 12V just for convenience.
    :rockon:
     
    #6 andyprius, Jun 27, 2011
  7. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Something interesting happened today. The car would not start this morning, same issue as before. When I got home from work I grabbed my wife's key and cranked it right up on the first time. Then I tried the spare key that my daughter uses and it would not crank. The spare key was obtained from the dealership after we bought the car but it is not an original key. Is it possible that the chip inside the key has gone bad?
     
    #7 familyman, Jun 27, 2011
  8. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    24,912
    16,215
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Or something happened to the list of allowed keys stored in the immobiliser ECU? You might try using your wife's working key as a master and reprogramming the car to your daughter's key ... see various threads in this forum. You can tell whether your wife's key is a master by watching the red security LED next to the radio, which should go out the moment you insert the key (if it stays on a couple seconds, then goes out, the key isn't a master and you can't use it to enable other keys).

    -Chap
     
    #8 ChapmanF, Jul 6, 2011
  9. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Okay my wife's key is a master but I cannot find a thread on how to program the other key. I have searched using words like "key", "program", and "enable" with no luck. Can you help?
     
    #9 familyman, Jul 7, 2011
  10. ansobu

    ansobu Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2010
    13
    0
    0
    Location:
    43320
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Programming New Keys

    This is what you are looking for I think. Its also a good place to find keys.
     
    #10 ansobu, Jul 7, 2011
  11. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks! I will try this tonight and let you know if it works.
     
    #11 familyman, Jul 7, 2011
  12. familyman

    familyman New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Macon, GA
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    It didn't. Tried it several times. Has anyone had any success with this? When I put the bad key in the ignition I actually get a check engine light. My local Ace can duplicate security keys for about $65. Guess I'll go that route.
     
    #12 familyman, Jul 7, 2011
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)