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2001 prius won't start p-3120

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by jtuchol, Oct 22, 2017.

  1. jtuchol

    jtuchol Member

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    I will make this short, I got a parts ( 2001) too repair my 2001 that has been sitting since 2014 with a bad battery but besides the battery issue it was kinda jerky before it quit in 2014 don't know if that was related to the battery or what. back to the problem put battery in no go! it goes into the ready mode & than a clunk & a code which is a trans code p3120 it's like something is stuck I put a breaker bar on motor & tried to turn motor with it no luck, it seems motor tries to turn but something is stuck. did I leave it sit to long? could rotor be stuck in stater?( rusted) can mg 1 be turned by wrench from other end?
     
  2. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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  3. jtuchol

    jtuchol Member

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  4. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    I have seen cars that sit for a few years that have their motors lock up. Lack of lubrication while sitting in one place outside is hard on a car.
    It can happen with any car.
     
  5. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

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    It's kind of what the code indicates, tho. These things, to my knowledge don't have a torque converter, so if the trans or an MG is locked, the IC is locked. You think about it, there's a lot that the transaxle and the MG's do, act as the engine starter, generator, drive functions. I would be surprised if you gas motor (IC) were locked up, much less surprised if the MG2 (on the driver's side) were burned out or perhaps the MG1 (on the pass. side) were somehow non functional. The MG's aren't gear driven or clutched, so they're always engaged with the transaxle an IC. If I'm wrong, Eric, or Chap (or others here) are ready to pipe up and correct me.

    I know this is of limited use, it is going to require hands (and wrenches) on diagnosis. Only offered for discussion and to perhaps advance the dialog. Sorry, I think you're in some deep doo-doo.
     
  6. jtuchol

    jtuchol Member

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    well, you have told me what I didn't want to hear but you are right I looked @ it again engine is free trans is locked up luckly I have a wrecked 2001 parts car that runs & drives I am going to swap motor & trans as a whole, lots of work but what choice do I have.
     
  7. jtuchol

    jtuchol Member

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    just looked again motor is free locked trans.
     
  8. Chuck cottrill

    Chuck cottrill New Member

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    I have a real nice 2001 toyota prius as far as looking nice but ive never got to drive a friend of mine gave it to me i dont know what to do to fix it he told me it was he batt but ive replaced both of them and still i dont get anything out of it the lights and every thing on the dash works it just wont turn over what should i do with it i thank i will sell it
     
  9. Dxta

    Dxta Senior Member

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    What sort of battery did you replaced? HV or the aux?
     
  10. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    When you first tried did the engine turn over and die? Or was there simply no response when turning the key.

    If it "started" and died within 20 seconds, and you tried this more than 5 times, you may have driven the hybrid battery's voltage too low. You don't get many chances before it goes below the minimum voltage threshhold.

    If this is he casethe case then you will need to charge back up the hybrid battery with a high voltage charger. Buy, borrow, or build one. Or send to a specialty shop and pay to have them charge it.

    Once that is taken care of there are some basics you can do to improve your chances of car starting up. We'll get ot those later.

    Gotta figure out where stuff like, do you know there is fuel? Is the fuel pump working?

    I am happy to chat on the phone. (Then you can do the typing of what we discussed if you want).

    In the future you will likely want to have some diagnostic tools for this old car
    - old XP laptop
    - Techstream software
    - mini vci hardware cable
    This will let you see full diagnostic info on the car. Read and clear error codes. See hybrid voltage data live. Much more. A must for anyone with and older Prius.
     
    Raytheeagle and WHCSC like this.