02 Prius starts then shuts down w/ warning lights right away

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Sapphireblue, Feb 25, 2005.

  1. Sapphireblue

    Sapphireblue New Member

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    Has anyone seen this happen?

    Wednesday night, I put maybe 80 miles on the car, everything was fine.

    Thursday day it snowed like 6 inches.

    Thursday night I tried to get in the car to run some errands, after doing a crappy job of sweeping snow off the car. I started the engine, and it started, but then shut down within about 5 seconds with the "check engine" light, the big triangle/exclamation point light, and the MFD blinking car/exclamation point icon. I tried starting it again and this time it stayed running for a minute while I looked at the manual, which basically came down to "take it in for service." I guessed that maybe since I hadn't swept the snow off the grille, that was causing the error, so I decided to deal with it Friday, today.

    Today almost all the snow was melted off my car so that made things easier... I got in, started the car, same shutdown and same lights. Tried again, same shutdown and same lights.

    Any thoughts? Please? I've had the car for 35 days, had a Toyota dealership check it over after I bought it and they pronounced it good, my husband's out of town with his car this weekend, and I still need to go to the grocery store and the bank! I love my Prius but if this is how it's going to be, I'm returning it and buying a used Saturn for 2/3 the price.

    Off to call Roadside Assistance now to have them drag my car's carcass to the dealership. Argh, I hadn't even named the car yet.
     
    #1 Sapphireblue, Feb 25, 2005
  2. kidtwist

    kidtwist New Member

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    Re: 02 Prius starts then shuts down w/ warning lights right

    Check out the thread below at PriusOnline. Not sure if this is exactly your problem, but it seems similar. Hope this helps.

    Prius Online Thread
     
    #2 kidtwist, Feb 25, 2005
  3. Sapphireblue

    Sapphireblue New Member

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    Yikes, that's a scary thread. Thanks--I think ;)--for pointing it out. If my problem is similar, then I'm lucky the car died in my driveway. My husband had been going to take my car to drive from Maryland almost all the way to South Carolina today; if I hadn't tried to go to the store last night and found the problem then, this could have been really bad for him.

    It's interesting that a lot of people on that Prius Online thread say that it was raining or something got wet, although for some of them the weather was fine. If my car can't handle a little melted snow under the hood, then yeah, I might just be headed for a slow-motion, triumphant-music reunion scene with my favorite Saturn service guy. (And, by default I guess, a somewhat less enthusiastic reunion with gas stations all across the metro d.c. area.)
     
    #3 Sapphireblue, Feb 25, 2005
  4. kidtwist

    kidtwist New Member

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    Re: 02 Prius starts then shuts down w/ warning lights right

    Well, didn't mean to scare you. I don't know for sure that your problem is the same as that one, but the weather issue is what made me think of it. It's quite possible that the Prius tech will know exactly what's wrong and fix it for you and you'll never have another problem.
     
    #4 kidtwist, Feb 25, 2005
  5. Sapphireblue

    Sapphireblue New Member

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    I'm hoping so! I spent a month and a half of my life dealing with busted-car issues on my old car before giving up and buying the Prius, so that's why I have sort of a zero-tolerance outlook on car problems right now.

    Progressive Insurance roadside assistance showed up very very fast and the dealership should already have the car by now. As soon as I hear something, I'll post back in case anyone else ever gets the same problem.
     
    #5 Sapphireblue, Feb 25, 2005
  6. Sapphireblue

    Sapphireblue New Member

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    Overfill!

    I don't know whether to laugh or cry. The service dept at the dealership I took the car to says that the problem was overfilled oil---everyone's favorite Stupid Service Trick. The tech says it was way overfilled, and (he has a thick accent and it was hard to understand him well over the phone) it sounds like it overflowed somehow and got all up into places it shouldn't be.

    I haven't had the car long enough to change the oil, so either it was done at the used car lot I bought it from, or maybe at the other dealership I took it to to have it checked out after I bought it. Either way, that would have been 3 or 4 weeks ago... so I'm not clear on why it would take so long to become a problem? But, regardless, it'll only be a $100 fix and I can have it back tonight.

    I don't know how many posts I've read on the various Prius boards about overfilling, I feel like this was something I should have checked and caught myself before now. Mostly I'm just grateful it wasn't something more serious.
     
    #6 Sapphireblue, Feb 25, 2005
  7. removeum

    removeum Member

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    #7 removeum, Feb 25, 2005
  8. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    #8 efusco, Feb 25, 2005
  9. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    Re: 02 Prius starts then shuts down w/ warning lights right

    I would say that the symptoms point to the "Engine Did Not Start" code,which is P3191. I have seen a few of these. After checking the basics(air filter,tune,oil level/quality,etc.) the Toyota TSB points the tech to check when it happened(coolant temp,MG1 Torq,etc). Then check fuel pressure,circuit opening relay(controls fuel pump) and ECU part number. A few I have had to replace the fuel tank because the fuel pump is inside and not serviced seperately(pressure fluctuation or drops off pressure),a couple needed the circuit opening relay(contacts not staying together) and some needed the ECU replaced(newer part number with updated programming). This is a common problem with the 1st gen but after going through the checks and replacing whatever I am pointed to,I have had good luck in never seeing one return. Just hope you have a good Toyota dealer/tech nearby that understands the Prius. Good luck :D
     
    #9 rick57, Feb 25, 2005
  10. Frank Hudon

    Frank Hudon Senior Member

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    Sapphireblue make sure that they put the Codes taken from the computer on the invioce before you pay the bill. Then post them here and we'll give you a better understanding of your problem.
     
    #10 Frank Hudon, Feb 25, 2005
  11. rick57

    rick57 Member

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    Yes,thanks for the comment, Frank. A trouble code would be nice to know for sure what the problem was(and I would like to see if I was right :wink: )
     
    #11 rick57, Feb 25, 2005
  12. Sapphireblue

    Sapphireblue New Member

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    Re: 02 Prius starts then shuts down w/ warning lights right

    P3191 is right on the nose. I have printed out a copy of the relevant TSB, and will be carrying it and a photocopy of my invoice with the trouble code & diagnosis in the car, so I have it handy to brandish at any individual who appears to even be *thinking* about changing my oil.

    "A drop over three quarts and you will owe me $105.65. Go ahead, punk, make my day."

    Thanks to all of you.
     
    #12 Sapphireblue, Feb 26, 2005
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