Help!!! Cranks briefly but won’t start

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Bill Frederick, Jun 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM.

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  1. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    So my 2011 Prius sat for a year and a half because of a cracked cylinder head. I finally got around to remove the old cylinder head And found coolant in the cylinders I took the head to a machine shop and found out that it was cracked. I replaced it with a cylinder head that I found at a junkyard. Now that I have everything back together, it will struggle to crank over and then just die after a couple seconds. When I try and start it again, it won’t crank at all, but I can hear it clicking. If I let the car sit for several hours, it will try and crank again, but just once. I have to let it sit for several hours again before it tries to crank again. I have kept the 12 V battery charged and have had it checked. It is a good battery. After it cranks once I have disconnected the 12 V battery and let it sit for 10 minutes. When I reconnect battery it still won’t crank.I’ve replaced plugs and the ignition coils were new when I stopped driving the car. Any suggestions would be helpful.

    Just to give you idea what I’ve done so far. I put a new timing chain in it, I have replaced the fuel pump, and I’ve checked to see if water has made it back into the cylinders, it has not. It did try and crank when I had the plugs out of it, but it only does it the one time like I described above. I am getting four permanent codes. P0117, p3190, p3191, and p0352. Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 Bill Frederick, Jun 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
  2. DirkAshburn

    DirkAshburn Member

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    Sounds like starter failure to me. I'd address that first. Did you get the compression tested after replacing the head?
     
    #2 DirkAshburn, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    are you addressing the p0352? the others just saying engine fails to start and low coolant temp.
    maybe the coil harnes is damaged or disconnected
     
    #3 bisco, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just to be sure that you know, the hybrid battery cranks the engine, and if you keep trying to start it, you may damage the battery by low voltage.
     
    #4 bisco, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM
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  5. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    ????
    If coolant sat in the cylinders, that is not good.
    And your hybrid battery is likely almost dead. It's not strong enough to turn the engine over,
    or fast enough to start the car. Charging the hybrid battery should be the first thing to do.

    It is likely you don't have all the connected connected properly, the connection could be corroded.
    You said the car sat for a year, NOT good for electrical connections, or batteries.
    And since the hybrid battery is practically head, you're not getting enough power to run everything.
    What is the voltage of the 12v battery?

    There is NO STARTER on a Prius!!!!!

     
    #5 ASRDogman, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:46 PM
  6. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    There is NO starter in a Prius!

     
    #6 ASRDogman, Jun 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
  7. DirkAshburn

    DirkAshburn Member

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    True that, I stand corrected.
     
    #7 DirkAshburn, Jun 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    did some leg-work for you, copy-and-paste of googles ai responses, to “code + toyota”:

    P0117:

    The Toyota P0117 code indicates a low voltage reading from the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor, meaning the engine's computer is receiving a false or incorrect temperature reading. This can lead to various issues, including hard starts, rough idling, and even hard acceleration.

    P3190:

    The Toyota P3190 code indicates "Poor Engine Power." This means the engine is not producing the expected power output, and it can be caused by various factors like fuel system issues, airflow problems, or sensor malfunctions. In a hybrid vehicle, this can also lead to the hybrid system compensating, potentially overloading the HV battery and causing premature degradation.

    P3191:

    The Toyota P3191 code indicates that the engine is experiencing repeated start failures. This means the engine is not turning over and starting properly. The code is often linked to issues within the hybrid system, potentially impacting the hybrid battery's health.

    P0352:

    The P0352 code, meaning "Ignition Coil B Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction," in a Toyota indicates a problem with the ignition coil for cylinder number two. This could be due to a faulty coil itself, damaged wiring, or an issue with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The result can be a rough-running engine, misfires, and the check engine light illuminating.
     
    #8 Mendel Leisk, Jun 13, 2025 at 9:30 AM
  9. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    Really dumb question; that cylinder head from the junk yard - was it properly and professionally checked out before you installed it. Car crashes tend to screw things up and gen3 power trains aren't the most reliable out there.
    Add to that coolant pooling on top of the pistons. How are the piston walls???
    Waiting a few hours is a good sign that the traction battery is dead; the voltage is taking time to recover. If you can get the car started again, you'll probably get the red triangle.

    Sorry...
     
    #9 BiomedO1, Jun 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
  10. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    What scanner are you using?

    The permanent codes that you found are old codes that have been stored from the last time the car was running. You need to look for current codes, not permanent codes.

    You need to use a scanner or volt meter to measure the voltage of the hybrid battery. If it gets too low, you will not be able to start the car, and you will need a grid charger to charge the hybrid battery.
     
    #10 Brian1954, Jun 13, 2025 at 6:20 PM
  11. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    Thank you!!! I was pretty thorough with making sure I reconnected everything. I will go back over everything gain while looking for damage to the harnesses. If I can’t get the car started, how do I charge the main hybrid battery if that is what the issue is?
     
    #11 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    grid charger (hybrid auotmotive) or build your own for $100., or individual modules with a hobby charger.
    but, keep in mind that running the battery that low could permanently damage cells.
     
    #12 bisco, Jun 16, 2025 at 3:21 PM
  13. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    The junkyard I got the cylinder head from has a guarantee saying that is in good working order. That is the best I have for you. He piston walls had some small amount of rust on them, but there was no corrosion. I took a clean and lightly abrasive dish sponge to the cylinder walls. The rust was gone and everything felt very smooth.. Is there anyway for me (A nonprofessional) To charge the traction battery without the car being started? Thanks for your reply.

     
    #13 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
  14. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    The scanner tool I am using is a cheap $20 one that I got from Amazon. I’ve had the battery tested at O’Reillys and they say it’s a good battery. I Keep it on trickle charge often. It says about 12.7 V. However, even when I’m trying to jump it, it still does the same thing where it tries to start once and then won’t even turnover for several hours. Thank you for your reply.

     
    #14 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
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  15. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    Also, if I take the 12v battery off of the charger, It dies in a couple days
     
    #15 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 3:54 PM
  16. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    Everything with the wiring looks clean and intact. I will try swapping ignition coils to see if the code pops up on another cylinder.

     
    #16 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 3:56 PM
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  17. Tim Lazer

    Tim Lazer New Member

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    I’m new as of June 16 th Monday. I just bought a 2010 Prius with 142,000 miles and 3 days later the check engine light came on. I assume someone cleared the code Pa080 before they sold it. I’m trying to figure out if it’s just the hybrid battery or maybe the fan. I’m hoping someone can give me a little direction, please!

    Also, does the hv cooling fan run all the time or only when the battery heats up!
     
    #17 Tim Lazer, Jun 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2025 at 11:07 PM
  18. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    If you want to be SAFE, you get a charger that is designed to charge the battery correctly.
    The prolong system is the one I use, I know there are others but I don't know anything about them.
    Yes, you could "rig" something, but the risks are high. And it doesn't seem that you know much
    about the hybrid battery and the risk of killing yourself and creating other dangers, like fire, is great.

     
    #18 ASRDogman, Jun 16, 2025 at 6:43 PM
  19. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    There are a LOT of connections. It's easy to forget to connect something, or not connect it all the way.
    Just take your time...

     
    #19 ASRDogman, Jun 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
  20. Bill Frederick

    Bill Frederick New Member

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    I appreciate the feedback. I am an amateur when it comes to hybrids and I’m trying to take baby steps. I certainly want to be safe. I’m not 100% positive the main battery is the issue yet. I’m trying to avoid taking it to a dealership and most of the local techs don’t have the time to want to take on a potential project car. Any suggestions to pinpoint whether it is the hybrid battery or not would be helpful.

     
    #20 Bill Frederick, Jun 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
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