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Weird Problem - Spouse Can't Start My Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by dwgsp, Oct 17, 2012.

  1. dwgsp

    dwgsp Junior Member

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    I have an '07 Prius Touring with about 95K miles that I have owned for about a month (after my previous '07 was totaled). My wife tried to drive it for the first time today, and the problem is that when my wife tries to start the engine, the dash lights come on and the color display comes on, but the car won't "shift" into Drive or Reverse (it will go into Neutral). A dash warning light also comes on that the owner's manual says means Take to the Toyota Dealer for Service. Then if she gets out of the car and then I get into the drivers seat, everything works fine.

    She had no problems starting my old Prius. We're both using the same FOB, and we repeated the problem several times. I need to take her car on a trip this coming weekend, so we need to quickly figure out what's wrong. Any ideas?

    Thanks!
    /Don
     
    #1 dwgsp, Oct 17, 2012
  2. pjc

    pjc Member

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    Are you sure she's depressing the brake pedal hard enough when she's hitting the Start button? I assume she knows this since you've owned a Prius before, but....

    My wife claims she has some magnetic field anomaly that makes electronics fail around her (LOL). I've always been able to track it back to user error, though. ;)
     
    #2 pjc, Oct 17, 2012
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i was thinking that at first, and it happened to my wife. but why the 'take car to dealer' message? wouldn't you just get acc mode and ready if you push again?
     
    #3 bisco, Oct 17, 2012
  4. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Obviously you need to get a divorce and then remarry someone who can start a Prius.

    It's the simple solutions that work best.
     
    #4 The Electric Me, Oct 17, 2012
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  5. dwgsp

    dwgsp Junior Member

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    Hmm... that would possibly explain the symptoms were seeing. Sounds like a good starting point.

    I forgot to mention that with her sitting in the driver's seat and me sitting in the passenger seat, and when I reached over and tried to start the car (from the passenger seat) I got the same symptom as when she did it. So I don;t think the problem is related to how she is pressing the Power button.

    Thanks!
     
    #5 dwgsp, Oct 17, 2012
  6. John H

    John H Senior Member

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    Does it only happen when you are sitting in the passenger seat? maybe something is wrong with the airbag system and you sitting in the passenger seat is triggering the problem.
     
    #6 John H, Oct 17, 2012
  7. dwgsp

    dwgsp Junior Member

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    The problem also occurred when nobody was sitting in the passengers seat. In addition, when I am driving I frequently start the engine with someone sitting on the passenger seat without problems.
     
    #7 dwgsp, Oct 17, 2012
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  8. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    This could be that time to upgrade!:)
     
    #8 KK6PD, Oct 17, 2012
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  9. bogeybob513

    bogeybob513 rtc513

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    The question as to was she pressing the brake hard enough was never answered. My wife sat in a parking lot for an hour then I came over, stomped on the brake and it started.
     
    #9 bogeybob513, Oct 17, 2012
  10. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    #10 cwerdna, Oct 17, 2012
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  11. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    That's a good idea, check that 12 v battery, if it's low, it's gotta go!
     
    #11 KK6PD, Oct 17, 2012
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  12. drysider

    drysider Active Member

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    I am assuming from the discussion that she has her own key. If so, it might have some sort of defect in the wireless firmware. Try giving her your key and see what happens.
     
    #12 drysider, Oct 17, 2012
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  13. dwgsp

    dwgsp Junior Member

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    You hit the nail on the head! Problem solved! Many thanks for your help!
     
    #13 dwgsp, Oct 18, 2012
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  14. jomo

    jomo New Member

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    I had this issue off and on. It finally got real bad and they replaced the 12v battery. I'm picking up the car today. I'm selling it to a guy who has the SAME problem with his - he was dying to find out what the issue was.
    He tells his wife to wait five minutes then start it and it works (that also worked for me yesterday prior to repair work being done)
    The first couple times it happend I kept trying and would hold the start button and brake until it started. Annoying but it always started eventually.
     
    #14 jomo, Oct 18, 2012
  15. Rob Douglas

    Rob Douglas New Member

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    I think this may be a user issue. I had the same problem, and realized that i needed to press my foot on the break when you press the start button the second time. Once I learnt that, I never had the issue again.
     
    #15 Rob Douglas, Nov 11, 2013
  16. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    This may sound an odd question, but why do you need to push the start button twice?

    John (Britprius)
     
    #16 Britprius, Nov 11, 2013
  17. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    And you don't hold the start button down either. Firmly hold down the brake and firmly push the start button once.

    Anyway...your real problem is your 12 volt battery is probably shot. Its been borderline for a while now and now its cold out and really showing how poor it is. Right before this 12 volt battery leaves you stranded it will throw a red exclamation point upon boot up on the dash. Just pops up with all the other lights on the dash then disappears. It does not store a code.

    The other way your 12 volt is trying to get your attention is your mileage will start to suffer too.

    Do the test 12 volt battery test Cwerdna posted and we especially want to see the second number the load number.
     
    #17 edthefox5, Nov 17, 2013
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