Random start- What is the start sequence? What am I doing wrong? Half of the time I go to start and move my 2008 Prius, I get a false start.. Meaning: Can not select drive or reverse.. N and P are available. 1. Foot on the brake. 2. Push start 3. Car comes on. dash lights.. Not hearing Hybrid battery contactors engage. 4. Orange light in start switch. NOT green. 5. I can shift to N or P ONLY. Correction: 1. Start button OFF. 2. Foot on brake. 3. Start button- again. 4. I hear the Hybrid battery connect in the rear.. contactors. 5. Then drive can be selected.. I can not figure out what I am doing wrong on the first start sequence.. Any suggestions? Kenneth in TN
When the car will not "start" correctly (I assume that READY is not lit on the dashboard), check and see if the stop/brake lights work. From your description it could be the stop light switch going erratic and sometimes not functioning. If the brake light DO work when you have a problem, then I would scan all the ecu's in the car with a "prius compatible" scantool to check for codes - esp in the HV battery and hybrid control. Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
This used to happen to me sometimes too. Until I realized that my finger was getting to the button a few milli-seconds BEFORE the brake was firmly engaged. Since I realized that, it has never happened again.
