1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Prius cut out mid drive, no ready light, car will not start at all, no error codes.

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by Nebster, Sep 27, 2024.

  1. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2024
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Greetings,
    Went out for drive in my 2002 Gen 1 Prius the other day, car started fine and drove for a couple hundred meters when the car just suddenly cutout, no warning or anything, "READY" light turned off. Wouldn't not restart at all, no "READY" light turning on or cranking of any sort.

    No red triangle of death or any codes available since car will not start or going into ignition phase.

    Have checked 12V battery for charge (14V+).

    I do have the full service/diagnostic manual, in diagnostic table for engine not cranking it says issue lies with MG1 or HV ECU.

    Any ideas? at a complete loss at the moment, cheers.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2020
    10,376
    1,792
    0
    Location:
    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    It'd be interesting to know what your HV battery voltage is sitting at rest not working anything not starting the car MG1 I think just locks up and becomes your starter when the car needs to start since we don't have a starter mounted to the block of the engine and a 12 volt wire going to it to spin the engine around to start it the motor generator does that because in this type of vehicle the reciprocating mass of the engine when in drive going forward is always turning there's no neutral per se not like you would have on a normal car so every time the engine wants to start it's done with the shaft of that motor generator would have you the gearing off of it etc and then the battery ECU monitors the battery voltage for the HV battery and if there's not enough of that it can't lock up MG1 or allow it to spin to start the engine so you would be needing to check the HV battery make sure it's isolated from the rest of the car that is a code HV battery isolation fault which you say you don't have I don't know if you have a capable scanner that would show you that code if you were plugged into the car because I don't know the scanner you have there's a big hullabaloo over scanners that will work with most Prius If you don't have one you may not see everything that is a thing.
     
  3. Trombone

    Trombone Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2019
    226
    82
    0
    Location:
    Allentown, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    With key just in the “On” position, can you not pull codes?
     
  4. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2024
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Tried with a simple OB2 scanner and it can't pick anything up in the "ON" position.
     
  5. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    938
    188
    1
    Location:
    texas
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    One
    I doubt your 12v has 14v when the car isn't running. 14v is the system voltage produced by the HV battery. Turn the car off and check.

    Hard to imagine the car not starting without codes - unless it's a battery/power issue - but I'm not real imaginative.

    UPDATE: I take that back, I've imagined that your AC compressor is locked up and won't allow the serpentine belt to turn. I don't know if that is even a possibility on these cars, but it is with my trucks.
     
  6. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,835
    931
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Put a socket on your crank pulley and see if the engine is seized.

    Is the CEL on?
     
  7. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2024
    371
    88
    10
    Location:
    Third Rock from the Sun
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Can you take a photo or video of the process of turning on the car?
     
  8. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2024
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Here's YouTube link to turning the car on, just doesn't give any feedback when I turn the key to "START"

     
  9. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2024
    4
    0
    0
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Engine turns, so not seized, and can't tell if there is an engine check light since car doesn't get through preliminary checks, but I'm guessing it has to be with the hybrid part instead of ICE