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showing full tank of gas, car won't start, then showing empty

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SunYellow, Jul 2, 2013.

  1. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    I picked up my new to me 2008 Touring Prius last night from the dealership (Mazda not Toyota)- happy to see the tank looked full. I started and stopped the car on two errands after picking up the car, and the gas tank still showed full.

    This morning the car would not start after the first attempt, after the second all the lights came on including the red triangle, and on the third attempt the car started but the last pip is flashing. Any ideas on what might have happened and what I should do next?
     
    #1 SunYellow, Jul 2, 2013
  2. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    With any electrical or other weird issues with the Prius, always suspect the 12V battery until that possibility is eliminated. Get the voltages with the method in this thread and report them back here just to eliminate this as a cause. Weird stuff happening? MPGs dropping? Test The Battery | PriusChat

    This method can also be used without turning the headlights on and off three times by using the parking lights instead.
     
    #2 SteveLee, Jul 2, 2013
    uart likes this.
  3. Prius_Cub

    Prius_Cub Member

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    *Edit - SteveLee beat me to it :)
    Hi SunYellow, congrats on the new to you Prius, though sorry to hear about that issue.

    You'll find here that a lot of weird issues can be explained by a bad 12 volt battery, here are the instructions to test it yourself...Entering Maintenance Mode (aka 12V Battery Check) without Switching Headlights ON/OFF | PriusChat

    Check the voltage there, its most likely your battery is bad if they never changed it out, I also bought an '08 with a bad 12 volt battery but got it replaced by the dealer. Mazda may still cover it since you just bought it.
     
    #3 Prius_Cub, Jul 2, 2013
  4. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    Thanks SteveLee and Pius_Club! I will definitely be checking the 12V battery ASAP. I'll let you know how it goes.
     
    #3 SunYellow, Jul 2, 2013
  5. Eclipse1701d

    Eclipse1701d Prius Enthusiast

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    If it is the 12Volt, the car probably sat for awhile without being started long enough to charge. Good luck with your new Touring Edition!
     
    #4 Eclipse1701d, Jul 2, 2013
  6. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    Again had a hard time getting her started this evening... let alone test the battery. Performed the first battery check with switching the headlights on and off and got a 9.9 reading- yikes! Guess I'm going to buy a new battery and see if that works. Hoping that's all it is, and not a more serious electrical problem. Thanks again for all your help!
     
    #5 SunYellow, Jul 2, 2013
  7. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    And by battery, I mean a 12V of course ;)
     
    #6 SunYellow, Jul 2, 2013
  8. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    The Dealership should handle the Battery for you, even if purchased "as-is". That's $200-$300.
     
    #7 frodoz737, Jul 2, 2013
  9. SteveLee

    SteveLee Active Member

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    The dealer should replace the battery. But if he leaves you holding the bag you should do some research here on battery alternatives to the overpriced OEM. Please update us on the outcome when you can.
     
    #8 SteveLee, Jul 4, 2013
  10. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    To start, thanks once again for all your help! PriusChat is beyond awesome, and I am loving this community! In the end I decided to just buy the Optima and replace myself, with the guidance of my experienced dad and the PriusChat community. (Came to this conclusion because the battery was so dead it wouldn't take a charge, and the car would have to be towed to the burbs for the dealer to replace the battery with the same OEM, and I really wanted the Optima.) I replaced the battery today with the Optima, and it was a success! Fuel gage is showing full, and I am one happy driver.
     
    #9 SunYellow, Jul 7, 2013
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best!(y)
     
    #10 bisco, Jul 7, 2013
  12. SunYellow

    SunYellow New Member

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    Thanks, bisco!
     
    #11 SunYellow, Jul 7, 2013
  13. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    You might take the battery receipt to the used car dealer sales manager and ask if they will write you a check.
     
    #12 Patrick Wong, Jul 8, 2013
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