Prius "Died" 500 Miles from Home

Aww, sorry to hear about the car crapping out on you. Especially on vacation! I imagine this would be covered under warranty and they will provide you with a rental car... is this the case?

I know Prius parts are hard to get since most have to be shipped in from Japan. Hopefully once the part comes in the fix will go well.

Let us know what happens, good luck!

 

hmmm scary. your car was made and delivered just about the same time as mine. mine was built in May 04 and delivered June 15.

hope everything goes well for you. it would be a major bummer for me to be without my car for 3 weeks.

 

You have my sympaties and concerns. I hope that Toyota, either the dealer or corporate is giving you some kind of free rental for the time your vehicle is going to be out of service. I certainly would push corporate for one if the dealer isn't budging because you deserve to have some alternate wheels for such a long period of vehicle unavailability.

As for electronic failure rates. Most of the time they are very low. With as many Prii that are out there, I'm inclined to believe that your situation is very rare. That probably doesn't make you feel very good right now, but all the same I don't think there is a lot of alarm for those who have not been affected by this.

My best to you.

 

Hi Wolfpack. Sorry to hear about your troubles while on vacation. But sounds like you found a great dealer to deal with. In all the reflashes I have done, I have never had to replace an ECU. But there is always the first time, :lol: . And like was said earlier, parts from Japan or the supplier for the Prius sometimes take a while. Hope everything comes out well for you.

 

wolfpack, which area dealer are you using?

 

Wow, glad to hear the car's fixed! I know the feeling of missing your Prius! We rented a Cavalier last week when we flew back home.

Well, if you ever need a recommendation for a good Prius Tech, my husband works with one smart guy here in Durham who knows the Prius inside out. But I'm glad you don't need a recommendation!

Let us know how things turn out!

 

Wow Wolfpack., what a bad scene..Glad Toyota and the dealers helped out. This car has a good reputation despite the news out there. Yea I heard the early 04's and maybe a few others seemed to have a program problem or software. It is rare the ECU had to be replaced, usually the Flashing works. Everyone here in Texas (my town) says the car is going to die., everyone asks me if it still works....!!!! Much of it is bunk, but out of 80,000 units I hear about 17 developed a problem to the point Toyota and NHSA have become envolved, and I am sure they will find the cure, if not already. Even though they have had this generation car since 2003-4, they had previous generations and systems for many years. These cars are very complex and computer controlled, and many things can cause problems, especially add ons and the likes. Texas has a lemon law, if your car fails like this again and again, check with your state, Toyota may have to totally replace your car, failure must be the same systems or reasons, so keep yourself informed. Best of luck and sorry your vacation was "interupted". We're fixing to go too, soon and will be testing our 6/05 silver one, hoping for good MPG., so far only have gotten 40-41, but that is TX in summer heat., lots of small trips +AC..so I am being patient., and learning tricks in driving to help the car out.

Best Regards

 

Any ideas? My Prius is 2 weeks old (640 miles) and died yesterday, I tried starting it after work and it would not start, July 4th weekend here and no help from Toyota or my dealership, they are closed this weekend and holidays. I was ready to call the last Toyota number on the list and tried it one more time and it started (15 minutes after I started trying to start it). I had all kinds of warning lights on and blinking boxes around the D,R,N,B, but no Ready light. Fuel was full but the last box was blinking as if it was empty of fuel. Check engine light was on along with a few others. I got it home, it started right up a few times after getting home and now off to work this morning, hope it runs. Anybody have any ideas, computer glitch? Another dealer said bring it in Tuesday morning, crossing my fingers. I wonder if the cars regular battery was low, my hatch is really hard to close and get the light to go off, it may have been ajar all day. Other than that I LOVE my Prius!

 

Since your car is that new it makes me wonder if it is the old failure to apply the brake when either changing into gear or even pushing the start button.

The hatches are hard to close but simple if you remember one thing, after bringing into place, push directly on the Toyota emblem.

 

Sounds like you didn't hit the brake hard enough, like Fred mentioned. If all the lights are on and there's no ready light, sounds like ACC or IG-ON mode. Put your foot on the brake harder and start 'er up again

 

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This kind of response is very impressive. If you look at the calendar and work out the date changes it most likely means that someone went to the production line and took a replacement unit out of the production run. Japanese companies work on a very tight "Just In Time" inventory so the 3 months interval you were originally quoted was most likely the time needed for the vendor (which may not be Toyota) to schedule and build an additional ECM. Your posting was on 6/20. My guestimate of the process is:

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  Seeing this kind of support just confirms my decision to by a toyota Prius.

 

BluePriusPA:

It does sound like you had either the brake not applied firmly or perhaps the dome light stayed on because the hatch did not securily close. I have had to close this hatch firmly, and have to watch to make sure it is closed firmly. Watch the car, when you leave it,usually the keyless lock unit will not lock the car, if a door is open. My locks once would not lock, and it was the rear hatch. Now if you leave the light on depleting seriously the 12 volt battery, the car will not start. Perhaps after sitting for awhile, and you correcting the drain, it allowed the 12 volt battery to gain back some electricity. Thus later the car starts, have the dealer check it out, reset any error codes, and check the computer, they may be able to confirm my hypothesis. There probably is nothing wrong with your car. You drainned the 12 volts and the car cannot start, you try and somehow corrected the drain, ie maybe re-closed the rear hatch. You then LATER tried it again, the battery recovered some charge, and thus the car was able to start. That's my side and I'm sticking to it, don't fret the car is great, and there very likely is no problem with it or its design. the 2004's had problems with the programing and required flashing, and this was a very small number of them (17 out of 80,000 I believe)., so I think a basic error on the use of the car is probably what caused all this. Do use the suggestion and get in the habit of pushing down right on the TOYOTA emblem after you closed the hatch. When you walk away from the car, make sure the keyless thingy locks the doors, press the lock button, orange lights will flash indicating a lock command was issued to the car, and the domes should all go out and the doors will lock, at night this is easy, daytime..just try the driver handle, it should be locked. Hope this helps, and again welcome and be patient this car is fine..ps I am still struggling getting the most mileage out of it, getting now 43.8., but my normal short trips with AC (Live in Tx) have only yielded about 40 MPG..so you see it is a learning thing..have patience

 

Thank you guys for your ideas, I do know the brake was pushed down firmly, since I was trying for 15 minutes to start it. My Prius started right up yesterday morning, so I am thinking my hatch was ajar with the light on all day and the alternator charged the engine battery on my ride home. The car hasn't done anything wrong since, I will be pushing on the Toyota emblem from now on, since I use the hatch everyday. Thank you guys!!!!!! I am very, very happy with this car, it was the best choice I have ever made in a new car purchase. My fiance drives a Dodge Ram 3/4 ton and wants to use my car all the time.......LOL :lol: But I must work also, so off to work I go with it. Alot of people think the car is overpriced, but I have Package #6, which I really didn't want but I was on a waiting list and took a ride one day to another Toyota dealership and saw this car sitting on the lot, so I bought it. I was waiting for a Salsa Red one but I love my Seaside Pearl, except the light colored interior. The interior was scotchguarded. My fiance has gotten grease on the passenger armrest and I cannot get it out, so I am looking to replace the interior with leather. I am getting between 46 and 48 mpg, mostly in town driving, with gas around here at $2.28 a gallon, I love my Prius! This website is wonderful, Thank you!!!!!!!!

 

the car will start with the hatch open. i have hauled many many things that have required the hatch to be open and car operates normally. there is an indication on the dash that a door is ajar though.

i find it strange your hatch is so difficult to close. you might want to take it in and mention that to someone at Toyota.

also, it your car didnt start, Roadside Assistance is available, if the problem was the 12 Volt battery being run down by the open hatch (turning off your dome light might help alleviate that problem although i know the dome isnt on for the hatch) then they will come out and give you a jump 24/7

 

BluePriusPA, just to let ya know, there is no alternator But you had the concept right, the power inverter charges the 12V battery.

As far as that grease stain goes. Try a wet (but not soaking) rag and scrub at it for a while. Make sure to wipe with the grain the last time you rub it so it dries right. I've managed to get blue ink out of my tan interior. And seat covers, if you decide against leather, are a good way to protect those seats.

Glad you figured out the problem. Enjoy the car!

 

BluePriusPA..yep glad it seems OK, pretty car..seat covers may be an option, also look at armrest and door rest covers found on this site..these seem OK and may be cheaper then leather. That hatch is real tricky, I have found you must FIRMLY SLAM IT DOWN, in order for the hatch to lock down. You can go with the hatch unlocked or even fully open if you have oddball cargo, just tie it all down if you have to. As for the end of the trip, make always certain you fully close the hatch. I have debated whether the Toyota Dealer can make life easier..problem is if they loosen the lock system too much, you may get ratttles, and leakage...you must decide if you want to try and see if they help. Me I find that I just close the hatch firmly. Note also that a red door open light stays lit, and the domes stay on if the hatch is not securily closed when you drive off, and of course when you shut down, same thing, lights stay on and doors don't lock. All the best enjoy the car, and ps good mileage, I'm in East Texas, hot / humid and high 90's low 100's AC on almost always..getting mostly 40-43 MPG., seems best mileage so far about 43.8 with full AC highway run (65-70 mph).

 

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Immanuel:

Mine too. Another odd thing is that if I don't slam it quite hard enough, the interior courtesy lights will go out, but the hatch courtesy light will stay on.

The Door Ajar will be illuminated, but if you're not paying attention and especially if you have the rear cargo cover pulled shut, you could easily walk away with a courtesy light still on.

Jay