Unusual behavior in starting the car?

Is there a switch in the brake system that "tells" the computer that the brake pedal is pushed?

If so, that might be the problem.

Please keep us posted and good luck.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Perk @ Mar 8 2007, 11:20 AM) [snapback]402152[/snapback]</div>

You need to push the brake pedal firmly when starting the car. The 'switch' is pressure sensitive. To find out how hard you need to push, put the car in Drive and watch the MFD arrow display while pushing the brake pedal lightly and then harder. If you push hard enough, there will be no arrows to the wheels. Push too lightly and the car will attempt to creep. I think you need the same force on the pedal (no arrows) when starting the car, otherwise you would be attempting to start it in 'creep mode' and it refuses to do that for safety reasons.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chanterelle @ Mar 8 2007, 02:37 AM) [snapback]402134[/snapback]</div>

 

<_< Evan is right.

The recall to replace the brake light switch was important. The contacts on some of the original switches tended to oxidize preventing good contact. Without contact, your brake lights would not light when you apply the brakes and starting would be problematical since your Prius requires that the brakes be applied before it will go into "Ready" mode. This was a simple replacement which many dealers were able to do "while you wait" at no charge.

This was characterized as a "Safety Recall."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chanterelle @ Mar 7 2007, 11:37 PM) [snapback]402134[/snapback]</div>

That last paragraph indicates the problem is not associated with the brake switch. It may be just a bad "Start Button" contact or a relay associated with the start sequence. As you may still be under warranty - at minimum you should go to the dealer and log the complain so its in his records. If they can't find it, keep taking it back... and creating multiple logs.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chanterelle @ Mar 13 2007, 11:16 PM) [snapback]405246[/snapback]</div>

Let's put a new battery in the FOB (or better yet, try the other FOB with a brand spanking new battery from a store that moves those batteries a lot - that way you are sure it is not stale).

Finally, make sure there is nothing electronic around the cup holder such as a cell phone or another FOB or some kind of garage door opener... i have experienced interference from competing electronic gadgets (and I think the book warns you about them).

I am sure this is frustrating... try the above for a week - and see if that makes the intermittent problem go away.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chanterelle @ Mar 13 2007, 11:16 PM) [snapback]405246[/snapback]</div>

OK, I will not suggest it, but now I am curious about which dealer failed to diagnose your problem.

 

Did they insert the FOB into the key slot? If not it may be a bad FOB IMHO.

 

Try this: turn off Smartkey and stick the fob in the slot the next
few times you start up, and see if the flakiness is still there.
That will or won't eliminate that factor.
.
Next, someone needs to actually get in there and SCOPE the brake
switch, both sides [there are two sets of contacts], or listen to it
with the type of audio tester shown here, and replace the switch if
it shows signs of poor contact.
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Mar 14 2007, 09:20 PM) [snapback]405850[/snapback]</div>

Interesting research Hobbit.

I'm not familiar with the term "H-Bridge". Is that an electrical bridge of some kind?
If so, I'd assume the H is descriptive of the the arrangement.

Dave M.