I'm new so this topic may be well known, but here goes. 2004 Prius driven on past Friday, no trouble. Monday, tried to use and driver door will respond to smartkey but nothing else. Power button causes a few dash lights to begin blinking over and over. Getting it to shut off took quite a while because almost no response to power button. I had to wait for 5-10 minutes until the engine check light came on and it briefly responded to my having inserted the smart key into the dash. A few minutes later tried again and most of the dash lights start blinking wildly. Driver door had opened but no other functions worked including power doors. I had to insert the key again into the dash and wait for 5 minutes until it finally recognized the power button enough to shut off. Today, Tuesday, the tow truck is on it's way. I go out to get it ready and the doors now respond instantly to the smart key on all sides of the car, plus it locked all doors from the outside buttons. I did not try to start it again. It has done this before. It has had all recall work done and the MFD replaced, I believe. I don't know what they will find when they tow it in. Thanks!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ldenning @ Dec 26 2006, 09:50 AM) [snapback]366661[/snapback]</div> Hopefully they'll find something instead of the usual "we couldn't find anything wrong with it". Good luck!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ldenning @ Dec 26 2006, 07:50 AM) [snapback]366661[/snapback]</div> Speculation on my part but it sounds like the 12 VDC, auxiliary battery. When you first went to start it, the battery was too weak to power all of the electronics. Sometimes, this can be a function of temperature. The second time, it had recovered enough to start. I've seen this with other lead-acid batteries. GOOD LUCK! Bob Wilson
In the local paper (ChiTrib) a 2004 Prius owner wrote in saying that their battery had died and they had to pay ~$139 to replace it. Their only confusion was in thinking that the battery was warranteed for 100,000 miles. The respondent correctly advised them that the hybrid battery (HVbatt) is covered for 100,000 miles whereas the 12volt battery is covered for only 40,000. Additionally, the 12v Toyota battery used in the Prius is not like most other car batteries and therefore it is best if you just go ahead and get the Toyota battery replacement in stead of something else. Good luck and I hope it's just as simple as a dead battery.
12v battery death causes some of the strangest things to happen. wouldn't be surprised if that was the cause.
