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Car unable to go into ready mode.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Hach, Apr 3, 2018.

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  1. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    Tl:dr car wont go into ready mode for the second time in a few months (last case guess was frozen brake relay)


    Hey guys... I've got a 2007 prius with about 250k miles on it and this year everything seems to be going wrong. Back in January I went to start my car and it wouldn't go into ready mode no matter what I tried. I made an appointment with toyota figuring I could get it towed in. Well next day it started just fine and I took it in anyways. They said the brake relay had probably frozen over and 70 bucks later I was headed home. Last week I got the dreaded red triangle and all the brake lights came on. Car still ran fine, and I paid 150 bucks for them to scan and tell me it was probably a clogged or failing battery fan. Also that the catalytic converter was probably failing. The next day my rear brakes go out and all the brake lights return. My job told me to bring the car in and they would fix the brakes and clean out the fan. The mechanic must have done something wrong because the brakes are the same and I went and had a universal cat welded on at another place. Went to start the car this morning to see about getting the brakes looked at and now it wont start again. Same symptoms as before. Brake down (lights work), but itnwomt go into ready mode and only way for it to leave accessory mode is to enter the key then take it out.
     
    #1 Hach, Apr 3, 2018
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    seems like you're going about this the wrong way.

    the best way to repair a prius is to make sure you have a healthy 12v battery and fob battery.

    once you have determined that, the next step is to read the codes with a prius aware scanner.
    once you have the codes and sub codes, you can go to the service manual for a troubleshooting tree which assists you in nailing down the problem.
    it's not perfect, but much better than guessing, with it is you, or someone else repairing the car.

    if you want good advice, post the correct codes here for analysis. all the best!(y)
     
    #2 bisco, Apr 3, 2018
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  3. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    Well I haven't guessed at all. Those are what the toyota specialists have told me are the issues. The problem with this issue is there is no code on. Both the check engine and red triangle are off. That's the whole issue. The 12v was just replaced in Feb and I had the key fob inserted so that shouldn't be an issue right?
     
    #3 Hach, Apr 3, 2018
  4. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    20180403_161245.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    #4 Hach, Apr 3, 2018
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  5. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    Here's all the info the last place gave me when they told me about the fan.
     
    #5 Hach, Apr 3, 2018
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    did they fix the fan?
     
    #6 bisco, Apr 3, 2018
  7. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    We tore it apart and cleaned out the fan. It was clogged pretty bad
     
    #7 Hach, Apr 4, 2018
  8. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Bad batteries happen. 6 months before my wife got her Prime, that old car's battery died and got replaced. Just 1 month prior to the trade-in, it got replaced again, an exchange under warranty since it was basically new still.
     
    #8 john1701a, Apr 4, 2018
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2018
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    good point. take the battery to auto zone for a free charge and load test.
     
    #9 bisco, Apr 4, 2018
  10. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    The last time this issue happened was days after getting the new 12v installed. It fixed itself the next morning. Not so this time. I've tried just about everything I could find online and no luck. I don't even know how to get it towed to toyota because it wont go into neutral
     
    #10 Hach, Apr 4, 2018
  11. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    gen 2's had brake actuator issues that were intermittent .. Toyota had an extended repair program but that offer ended in 2017, its a $3000 repair at the dealer parts and labor.. odds are the HV battery is getting weak causing other problems again a $3000 repair at the dealer.
    not going into ready mode can be related to ANYTHING..
    with the age and miles on the car I would not waste time on it, you can be chasing gremlins for months costing you thousands..

    if the repair shop cant give you a definite answer when its hooked to their computer anything you see here is just guess work..
    good luck
     
    #11 Beachbummm, Apr 4, 2018
  12. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Always, front wheels off the ground.

    Otherwise, having the front wheels pulled would generate electricity, which could damage the battery or burnout the inverter.
     
    #12 john1701a, Apr 4, 2018
  13. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    Beach, would a failing actuator cause it to not start? I haven't heard any weird noises that prelude it (was checking around on that earlier) and assume there would be a red triangle for that?

    John when my 12v died the tow company tried to hoist it up onto their rack and it was like trying to move a stone. Used a jump box to get it into neutral to tow. There's no option for that now and the car is parked up to the curb in my apt complex so no idea how to get it onto a truck
     
    #13 Hach, Apr 4, 2018
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    could be a loose/corroded battery connection as well.
     
    #14 bisco, Apr 4, 2018
  15. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    I'm hoping it's not as windy tomorrow and I'll make a video. Maybe someone can see or hear something to give me a better idea on what to do. I drive for a living so every day I'm out a car I'm losing money.
     
    #15 Hach, Apr 4, 2018
  16. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

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    That sure is a long list of current codes, and a fairly wide range of systems. Loss of communication/TPMS/AC issues/collision detection/etc. What in the world? Would almost lead you to think it's a 12v issue or grounding issue. If it were my car sitting there, and I already had a printout, I'd spend a few minutes making absolutely certain the 12v is good and connected properly. Maybe a ground wire loose somewhere? If nothing obvious and nothing else to lose, disconnect the battery in the trunk (make sure + lead can't touch anything) and connect a jumper pack or another battery to the jump connection under the hood and see if the car powers up.

    History of the car? Are you original owner? Salvage repair?
     
    #16 TMR-JWAP, Apr 4, 2018
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  17. Stevewoods

    Stevewoods Senior Member

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    TMR-JWAP beat me to it. Would almost lead you to think it's a 12v issue or grounding issue. Possible loose connection at the battery.

    It would not hurt to try a jump. JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO IT BY THE BOOK!!!

    From what I have read, the Prius is very unforgiving of jumpstarts done improperly.
     
    #17 Stevewoods, Apr 4, 2018
  18. Hach

    Hach Junior Member

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    I'll give it a shot. We did disconnect the negative to do the brakes and then disconnected it and the hybrid master switch when they welded the cat on. I disconnected the positive to see if resetting it would help but no luck. I'll see if I can get someone to jump.
    I bought it used at 95k miles. When I bought it the airbag light was on so that's probably where the collision thing comes into play. It was a clean title, wasn't the prettiest looking car so idk how well it was taken care of before me. I didn't have a single issue til December and now everything's hitting at once
     
    #18 Hach, Apr 4, 2018
  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    When did you unseat the orange safety plug? Did you ensure it is installed correctly?
     
    #19 Raytheeagle, Apr 4, 2018
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  20. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    ray makes a good point. the orange plug must be inserted the handle locked into place then pushed down until you hear a click, then reconnect the 12 volt
     
    #20 Beachbummm, Apr 4, 2018
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