2004 Prius Startup Problems

What exactly do you mean by "Beginning in July of 2006 the vehicle simply would not start."?
Does the dome light work?
Do any dash lights come on when you press start?
Does the dash light up, but you can't get into gear and the ICE never starts?

Sometimes people forget to depress the brake enough when pressing the button, that might be it.

 

the 2k4 Prius was subject to a recall for the brake light switch which if defective will not let the car start. Was your car in the recall program? Ask your dealer to run the serial number and see if it was.

 

ok, couple questions to sort things out.

when you say it won't start... do you mean it just will not go into ready mode or there is no response from the car whatsoever?

did you ever drain the 12v battery?

 

Could be something as simple as corrosion on the battery terminals

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nomadtraveler @ Dec 9 2006, 10:32 AM) [snapback]359697[/snapback]</div>

If it's working now, take a moment and turn on the diagnostics screen. You just press and hold the 'info' button (lower right of the MFD) while flashing the parking lights (using the headlight switch) three times. One of the touch screen displays show the voltage of the 12v battery.

It should be near or above 12v in Acc mode (with no heavy electrical items running) and higher (charging) in ready mode.

JeffD

 

Howdy, nomadtraveler

I second the "check on the brake light switch recall." That was SSC 40L November 18, 2004. My previous Prius was a 2004 which received that recall among a few other flashes of the computers. If the contacts on the brake light switch [located on the upper part of the brake pedal arm below the dash] have oxidized, then the contact may not be consistent thus giving you intermittent failures to start. Your dealer can confirm whether your Prius has had that recall [as well as others which you may need] from your VIN number. This is a warranty item, no cost, just a few minutes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Dec 19 2006, 11:47 AM) [snapback]364258[/snapback]</div>

He already has asked his dealer to check on it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nomadtraveler @ Dec 19 2006, 11:17 AM) [snapback]364240[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nomadtraveler @ Dec 19 2006, 02:17 PM) [snapback]364240[/snapback]</div>

if your vin isn't in the recall list you don't have a susceptible part. if you're not on the list and you want a new part anyway, guess who's paying for it. they don't make all the parts for all the 04s in one shot, they make different lots of them. you're not being fed a line or anything, so it's ok.

did the new battery fix the problem?

 

I don't know if the JBL audio was available on your '04, but I have heard tales of it drawing power even when the car is powered down...do you think something like this might have caused it?

Also have heard of folks not shutting the hatch all the way; the cargo area light stays on and kills the battery.

Try and establish a relationship between your actions and those of the car/battery...that might help narrow the cause, too.

Isn't it odd that jumping the car would cause it to start, if the brake switch is at fault?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinto Girl @ Dec 27 2006, 03:03 PM) [snapback]367415[/snapback]</div>

not necessarily, sometimes the higher voltage is just enough to burn thru the oxidation on the contact and allow the car to start.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Frank Hudon @ Dec 27 2006, 10:12 PM) [snapback]367484[/snapback]</div>

Ahhhhhhhh, interesting thought.

Nice!!

 

OK, here's some logic. If it were a brake light switch problem, then the car would be able to at least go into ACC and Ig-On, as these modes don't require pressing on the brake.
Since the car was said to be completely dead, this is not the problem.

Since ALL the car is dead (not even dome light), then the main 12V is suspect. Most likely culprit is the 12V battery. An excessive battery drain could also be suspect, but not likely to occur in 1/2 hour unless it didn't get enough of a charge getting to McD. Also loose connections somewhere between the battery posts and the main 12V feed could also be possible. So could a bad ground connection.