2005 Won't start

Try your other fob. Did she put her foot on the brake pedal before hitting the power button? Sometimes I press the power button & nothing happens. I just put my foot on the brake & the car always starts. I have been told that if you shut the car down without putting your foot on the brake pedal this can happen. I am not a Prius mechanic, but I do know they can be strange if you don't do things the way they like them done. If your car was running fine & the batteries were performing well nothing should have happened by just parking it. Hope this helps you.

 

To eliminate a couple of myths...
.
Foot on or off brake during shutdown doesn't matter, nor does
whether it's in Park or not [it goes into Park anyway before
finally turning off].
.
The "hold button for 15 seconds [or some other long time]"
thing to reset some computer or other is total fiction, one
which is often promulgated by know-it-all dealers as well
[who parrot this dreck without even ever having TRIED it].
.
I'd say for starters, get a voltmeter onto the 12V battery
terminals and watch it as attempts are made to start the system.
.
_H*

 

Holding the power button for 15 seconds may not work, but I've been told with certainty that you can reboot the Prius by pushing the power button while totally naked. For this to work, you have to stand outside the driver's door and lean into the car. That will work as well as what the dealers tell you, and at least you will get a show out of the deal.

I agree with hobbit; check the 12 V system, or just jump it and see what happens.

Tom

 

No, no! I retract my previous statement! Rebooting while
naked is absolutely the correct diagnostic path. Remember
to raise one foot behind you and point the toe, too.
.
_H*

 

Hi Christina, welcome to PriusChat! :welcome:
Pay no attention to these kibitzers, your 12V battery is probably dead. The big HV battery is probably just fine. It seems the little 12V battery usually lasts about 3 years. Just jump start it when you get back and go get a new battery, but be prepared, the dealer will charge you $$$$

 

Don't go naked to get a new battery:crazy:

 

Well Tom

Thanks for searing that disturbing mental image of you permanently into my brain. I may require lifetime medical treatment. It is without doubt the most deeply disturbing mental image I have ever imagined

jay

 

H

I stand corrected, *that* is the most disturbing mental image now seared into my brain

I need a drink

jay

 

Agreed. Considering the price of a replacement though, it is worth your time to remove the 12 vdc battery and charge it with an automatic battery charger set to 10 amp position. This is per the Toyota PDI I have attached

 

Actually, if you *did* go naked to get a new battery, I bet they would offer a steep discount just to get you quickly out of the service area

 

I'm having a somewhat similar problem. I went on vacation for five days, and upon returning I've found that my Prius won't start at all. At first I thought there was a problem with the fob (which has never worked well), because I couldn't unlock the doors, either automatically or by pushing the unlock button. I used the small key to get in, and inserted the fob in the key slot. Absolutely nothing happens when I try to start the car. No lights go on - the car appears to be completely dead. I'm wary of messing around with the battery, as I am not very car-savvy. My boyfriend is at work for five more hours, so I'm basically stranded and searching for any insight into what is going on here. This is abnormal behavior for a car left outside for five days in San Diego in April, right? I've gone the weekend without turning it on plenty of times before and never had a problem. The car is about 3-1/2 years old, regularly maintained.

 

It is likely that your 12V auxiliary battery is dead, especially if it is the original.

 

Something was left on, or a door or the hatch ajar, which drains the 12V battery. One way to prevent this is to always lock the car; it will give a long warning beep if something is wrong. If this is the first occurrence the battery could still have life in it and all you need is a jump start. If this is not the first occurrence then you probably need a new 12V battery.

If the car was left running and it ran out of gas be happy that it was not stolen. You will need to put at least 3 gallons of gas in it along with a jump start.

 

Do you have to buy the 12V battery from the dealer? Couldn't you buy any 12v battery that would fit?

 

It's not easy to find a non-Toyota battery that will "fit":

1. The terminals are much smaller than standard.
2. The battery is AGM (absorbent glass mat) construction, much different than a conventional lead-acid battery.
3. The battery is vented so that hydrogen gas does not accumulate in the hatch.

 

To date there appears to be one source for a non-Toyota battery which fits plus a custom installation kit for that same battery:
Parts kit for installing Optima battery on 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Prius
Optima has a good rep so I'm inclined to buy this when it comes time to replace my now-four-years-old original battery.

Anything else, other than a Toyota battery, will require the installer to craft proper electrical connections, mounting spacers, and vent tube.

 

Our 2005 would not start. Took it to the dealer. After having it several days and telling us they had to consult with Toyota in Houston to determine what the problem was, they said it was the ECU transmission control unit. Total repair cost, $900.00. Just picked it up today. Drove it home, parked it. 3 hours later, same thing as before, will not start. $900.00 repair, still not working. Do you think it is the 12V battery and the dealership just doesn't know anything about Prius'?

 

Here's an easy way to assess the health of the 12V battery: turn on the headlights and see how bright they are. If bright, then the battery is probably OK. If dim, then the battery needs to be charged or replaced.

Assuming that the battery seems to be OK, a few questions for you:

1. Odometer reading?

2. Has anything happened to the car recently, that might be related to the no-start problem?

3. As you try to start the car unsuccessfully, do you see any warning lights coming on? Any warning icons on the MFD?

4. How much fuel in the fuel tank? How many bars appear on the gauge?

5. You apparently were able to start the car, when you drove it home from the dealer. Any driveability symptoms at that time? How many miles did you drive from the dealer to your home?