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Prius C Won't start

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by rioe, May 7, 2020.

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  1. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    I have had the car now for 8 years 120K Miles with no issues ever. Today I went to start it and it wont start, just dead.
    It did not give me any faulty indication when I drove it few days ago. To be fair I have not driven it that often lately due to Covid. I am leaning towards a bad 12v battery, which has not ever been replaced. Anything else that you recommend me checking that is easy to check for and perhaps replace?
     
    #1 rioe, May 7, 2020
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    nope, it's the 12v
     
    #2 bisco, May 7, 2020
  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Agreed 12v is dead. Charge it to get going again, but you really should replace it altogether. You got your money's worth and then some.
     
    #3 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 7, 2020
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  4. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    So I just went back to the car and I see the check engine light is on with the car off and a bad odor almost toxic inside the cabin that made me start coughing and open all four doors. I can hear the prius engine muttering in the engine bay... Now I am confused...
    looks like with the damn 2012 model there is no easy way of getting it jump started either. it has to be done by removing the back seat so I might as well just change the 12v. But I am not sure why the engine light is on now with the car completely off.
     
    #4 rioe, May 7, 2020
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I'm not sure I understand your update correctly- Are you really certain the car is off? I don't get how you would hear engine noise and see a check-engine lamp unless the car had somehow gone into ready mode.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 8, 2020
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    "Lean" harder !!!
    At that age, the 12 V is overdue.
    Be sure that the new one is fully charged.
    Consider investing in a battery tender.
     
    #6 sam spade 2, May 8, 2020
  7. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    Well car was off initially before I first tried to start it. I saw the display flicker to on mode but it wouldn’t start. But I could hear the hybrid engine running as if it was in EV mode, now it seems its stuck in that mode with no 12v battery to start the car. I am guessing the fumes I smell is from the hybrid engine... IDK I might just have it towed.
     
    #7 rioe, May 8, 2020
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    What do you mean you hear the "Hybrid Engine" running?
    There are electric motors...but if the vehicle isn't moving-parked...you shouldn't hear anything.
     
    #8 The Electric Me, May 8, 2020
  9. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    K so had AAA come and jump start it, he had no idea how to access the battery. So I had to show him how to remove the backseat. “I have never seen anything like this before” he said :) . Anyways car started, I need to take it to Toyota dealer next, there are no shops around carrying this battery and Toyota wants $400 to do the work. This little battery is a nightmare to find. I guess I milked it to the end of its life.
     
    #9 rioe, May 8, 2020
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  10. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Yes it's an odd battery. They usually go for $200ish by themselves, plus whatever to install them.

    Glad you've got it started, good initial step to recovery.

    AFAIK it's only the 2012 that needs underseat access for charge/jump. All later builds have a pop-up terminal in the underhood electrical panel.
     
    #10 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, May 8, 2020
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  11. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    Thanks all for your replies. Just a final update. Took the car to local dealer and got a new 12v battery installed for a total of $345, got some covid discount. All seems to be good now. Here is to another 8 years of trouble free years. Cheers.
     
    #11 rioe, May 8, 2020
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  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best!
     
    #12 bisco, May 8, 2020
  13. DKTVAV

    DKTVAV Active Member

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    Try a different dealer to see if they have cheaper price. I just replaced OEM battery from a dealer last year here in SoCal for only $225.

    There's a thread with battery from Pep Boys and when I checked it was like $190xx something. Not sure it's better than the OEM at cheaper price or not so I went with the dealer one.
     
    #13 DKTVAV, May 8, 2020
  14. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    I did get the battery for $210, installation was another $130. I didn’t want to deal with installing it.
     
    #14 rioe, May 8, 2020
  15. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    First, that price is OUTRAGEOUS.
    (Edit: Sorry, just noticed where you live. Maybe not so outrageous after all.)

    Second, most batteries don't last 8 years.
    5 or 6 is more realistic for the models with AGM batteries.
     
    #15 sam spade 2, May 9, 2020
  16. Vit@liy

    Vit@liy Junior Member

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    Sorry, could you pls. provide battery part no.?
    I am also looking for my 12V battery replacement and don't know what part no. it should be.
     
    #16 Vit@liy, Aug 27, 2020
  17. rioe

    rioe Junior Member

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    #17 rioe, Sep 5, 2020
  18. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It is not necessary to have a "part number" to shop for a new battery.
    Just get one that is listed as an "exact replacement" for that year and model of car.
     
    #18 sam spade 2, Sep 5, 2020
  19. daddy766

    daddy766 New Member

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    Last night my 2014 Prius C was dead, just all of a sudden. Called today to get a jump. 1st tech didn't really know hybrids but connected to the jump terminal, charged it, but no luck. Had another tech come out & right when he got there, I got in the car to open the hood and the lights were now strong and it started! He mentioned something that I haven't seen anywhere and I realized I had done it by mistake after the 1st tech had left: If you turn the key twice in the door for the "unlock all" function, that resets the computer/electrical system or something. I'm not sure what caused it to go into that "dead" mode. All I know is that it seems fine now. Anyone heard of that?
     
    #19 daddy766, Sep 11, 2020
  20. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    It could be that "unlock all" simply draws enough current to knock out the computer and cause a reset when the battery is very low to begin with.
     
    #20 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Sep 11, 2020
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