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08 prius having issues after sitting.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by ias61489, Jan 7, 2024.

  1. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    Well my 08 was rear ended June of 2022. It has sat since but I have tried to keep it running here and there and besides a dead 12v battery seemed to not have any issues.

    Fast forward to about a week ago I was getting ready to finally have it fixed and get it back on thr road. I started doing some work to to it, replaced back hatch, 2 days ago installed the prius off road lift kit. Still have brakes to do and I'll do a full tune up even though was done shortly before the accident.

    I have a remote starter in it and woukd run it and unfortunately ran out of gas. I put 5 gallons in and got codes for out of fuel and low power. With the gas and over half a tank would start but shortly after start rumbling bad shake and shut off.

    I think that might have went away after keeping my foot on brake and gas and kept it running for while but when I finally got it to stay on I got it on my portable lift to the suspension work so not entirely sure yet.

    Did the lift put it back down and I've lost my dash completely. The car also wouldn't turn off but after watching quick YouTube video it went off. The 12v battery seemed to be dead again so I hooked it up to charger.

    Maybe that's it? I will also note that I still have the cowl off the car and wipers. Not sure if that woukd effect the dash but maybe?

    I'm ready to get it back on the road and it looks awesome with the new lift and wheels but I keep getting new issues! I know sitting is bad for them but I was limited at the time.

    This is the 3rd time this car has sat for an extended period of time. First the original owner died, my grandfather got it from the estate (his best fiends car) and then my grandfather didn't drive it much then it say for over a year when he moved to south carolina and it stayed in NY at that time. I bought it off him went through it and drove it unto being hit.
    Thanks

    SM-S918U ?
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    II
    Read the codes on the car, most likely you have a bad Hybrid battery. They go bad just by sitting and discharging
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  3. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    ----USA----
    Sorry should have said that. I read the codes and one was out of fuel and the other was low power. The hybrid battery charged up when I kept my foot on brake and gas at same time. Got one bar under full.

    What would cause the dash to go out suddenly when was working fine?

    SM-S918U ?
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Are you out of fuel? The hybrid battery charging up does not mean it's working properly

    If your dash lights are not working, you could potentially run out of fuel because you can't see your gauges.

    The cause of the dash lights going out is a bad combination meter. It's a common issues on older Prius cars.
     
  5. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    I ran out of fuel at one point but now it has over half a tank by one square.

    I had driven it around the block and it ran out of gas about 100 feet from my driveway and the battery limped me back in. Put some gas in it and it was fine for the first start up then the 2 codes popped up and was shaking almost felt like a motor mount was bad then shut off.

    After doing foot on brake and gas that seemed to have stopped. I pulled it forward got it on my lift and did the struts. When I went to start it the 12v battery had died again so I jumped it but my dash was gone but it was able to reverse from where it was. It woikd go forward and backward but no dash lights.

    As soon as was able to get it to turn off the battery died again so I now have the batter out of the car on a trickle charger. I'm wondering if that has something to do with the dash?

    I think the battery keeps dying because the trunk lid is not latched. It can't because the back end is pushed in a few inches so it can't latched. Should have that fixed in a week or 2 hopefully. As soon as I can figure out these other issues gonna bring it to the body shop.

    The battery is new was replaced about month ago.

    SM-S918U ?
     
  6. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    The car ran out of fuel when the dash was working fine. The dash only went out after I did the struts and the battery died again

    SM-S918U ?
     
  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    The dash lights going out is a common issue, so not related to any of your repairs

    Running out of gas can damage your hybrid battery, it'll deplete the battery to a level not normally done when the car is running normally. So hopefully you didn't damage the hybrid battery when you ran out of gas and limped home using battery power. Many posts about this phenomenon and people needing new hybrid batteries afterwards
     
  8. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    Just funny timing since it was working fine until the battery died again. The car not shutting off is an interesting one.

    Yeah didn't plan on it running out of gas, the light was flashing but I had put gas in there figured it just didn't catch up with itself yet but I guess using the remote starter used more than intended. I'm gonna keep the battery charged and put it back on when the snow gets a bit melty and I can clean the car off and see what happens.

    I'm hopeful it's just giving me slight issues because it's been sitting and with some driving around it shall be ok.

    Let's say I need a battery what replacement method do you recommend? I've read some bad things about the greenbean replacements. The lithium is interesting

    SM-S918U ?
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    if the car has been rear ended, best to sell it as salvage. Don't be putting good money into a car worth little money at this point. A new battery will run you more than $2000 and a used battery from greenbean type refurbish companies is just a waste of money.

    There are no guarantees the car will run good after a new battery is installed. You could be left with a broken car and with a brand new expensive battery inside.
     
  10. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    Nah it's only got 67k on it. To me its worth it to keep it running. I should have had it fixed right away but due to my back injury it has me messed up good for awhile. Pushing myself to get things done finally.

    SM-S918U ?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    maybe the fuel pump went bad
     
  12. ias61489

    ias61489 Junior Member

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    Could be! I'm hoping to get to it next week. Gonna keep the battery charging over the weekend and start again with it next week this week went south so no time.

    Got the lift kit installed, you know the important things first not running right but good higher up with the new wheels lol

    SM-S918U ?
     
    bisco likes this.