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Battery Dead? How did car start? V. Weird.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by ishky, Jan 7, 2009.

  1. ishky

    ishky New Member

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    Parked a 2008 Prius w/6Kmiles at 7AM. Tried to start it at 4PM.

    Dashboard w/gear indicator, fuel gauge, odometer did not light. Thought battery was dead. Put it in gear and it moved!

    Energy monitor , climate panel was working, as were headlights and radio, wipers etc.

    Had 1/3 tank of gas. Had 1/2 fully charged battery. Drove out of several level parking garage w/out dashboard lights.

    Battery was being charged by the engine but after 1/2 mile battery charge started dropping into the low "purple" range. Pulled over to make a call and turned car off.

    After a time on the phone call, tried to start again.

    Car started up without problem , gauges lighted, and I made a few stops on the way home without problems.

    Have looked all over manual and this forum.

    Cannot see where anyone has been able to drive a Prius while some accessories are working and dashboard is completely dark.

    Please help. Thanks!
     
    #1 ishky, Jan 7, 2009
  2. ishky

    ishky New Member

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    One more thing. Beep did not work when I backed up to drive car. Thanks.
     
    #2 ishky, Jan 7, 2009
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Are you certain that the dash light brightness (thumbwheel) control is not merely set to minimum? That can make the dash very hard to see. Also you may have had the car only in "IG-ON" and not "READY" while you were driving out of the garage. To avoid killing the big high-voltage traction battery, always make certain that the dash displays "READY" before driving.

    If the dash brightness control is not the problem, then test the 12V battery, either with a voltmeter at the jump-start point under the hood, or with the self-test procedure given by jdenenberg here (no tools needed):
    PriusOnline.com • View topic - how to put 12V battery in sleeping mode?

    Either way if the result is less than 12.0V the battery should probably be replaced. Low voltage on the 12V battery can cause many kinds of weirdness.
     
    #3 richard schumacher, Jan 7, 2009
  4. ishky

    ishky New Member

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    Thanks RS,

    I don't think it was the brightness wheel problem because the dashboard lights came on later of their own accord.

    So you mean I was driving on the hybrid battery with no engine assistance?

    I have probably started the car a thousand times and the car has never gone into anything but a ready mode. Did not even know it was possible to drive the vehicle in any other mode but ready. Cannot verify that I saw "ready" on the display though before I started driving. Did turn it off and on a couple of times before I tried to drive it. At no time did gauge lights come on.

    How did it get in IG-Mode instead of ready mode if you don't mind me asking? I looked in the manual and there is no difference indicated in how to turn the car to IG or Ready. It just says to push the button in both diagrams.

    I'm accustomed to driving 5 speed manual and this is v. weird. Just got the car in August, not happy if the 12V battery is already dead. It seems like this is a problem for lots of Prius owners.

    Thanks.
     
    #4 ishky, Jan 7, 2009
  5. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Prius has four possible operating modes:

    1. IG-OFF where the car is turned off
    2. ACC-ON where the MFD is on and the instrument panel is dark
    3. IG-ON where the MFD is on and the instrument panel lights are on
    4. READY where the car can be driven.

    To cycle between 1, 2, and 3, repeatedly press the POWER button without depressing the brake pedal.

    You should not be able to drive the car if it is not READY. I suggest you keep an eye out for a recurrence and if this happens, please carefully note any warning lights and MFD warning messages. Perhaps you can keep a digital camera in the car to take photos so that you will have some evidence when you take your car in for service. You might have a bad wiring harness or wiring connector and 12V power to the combination meter (the speedometer, odometer, fuel gauge, shift indicator etc.) might be interrupted intermittently.
     
    #5 Patrick Wong, Jan 7, 2009
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