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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

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    Vehicle:
    2002 Prius
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    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.
     
    #1 Nebster, Sep 27, 2024
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    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.
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Sep 28, 2024
  3. Trombone

    Trombone Member

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    With key just in the “On” position, can you not pull codes?
     
    #3 Trombone, Sep 28, 2024
  4. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

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    Tried with a simple OB2 scanner and it can't pick anything up in the "ON" position.
     
    #4 Nebster, Sep 28, 2024
  5. ronlewis

    ronlewis Active Member

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    Vehicle:
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    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.
     
    #5 ronlewis, Sep 28, 2024
  6. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Put a socket on your crank pulley and see if the engine is seized.

    Is the CEL on?
     
    #6 BiomedO1, Sep 28, 2024
  7. MAX2

    MAX2 Member

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    Can you take a photo or video of the process of turning on the car?
     
    #7 MAX2, Sep 30, 2024
  8. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

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    Here's YouTube link to turning the car on, just doesn't give any feedback when I turn the key to "START"

     
    #8 Nebster, Oct 1, 2024
  9. Nebster

    Nebster New Member

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    2002 Prius
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    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
     
    #9 Nebster, Oct 1, 2024
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