2012 Prius Plug-In: Dead as a Doornail

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by old5ten, Oct 18, 2017.

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  1. old5ten

    old5ten New Member

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    hi all-

    i'm the new owner of a 2012 prius plug in. drove the car successfully for a couple of days, no problems. last sunday i drove it, then parked it in the driveway and everything went dead. no power button, no door looks, nothing. it seemed like an automatic full shut down of everything. any ideas what the source of this could be? the car ran fine up until that point.

    thanks,
    elmar
     
    #1 old5ten, Oct 18, 2017
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Check the 12 volt battery for starters.

    (Think I beat @bisco, lol)
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2017
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  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Yup! A dead 12V is the most likely cause I can think of. Same as with a regular car.

    I think I beat him too, @Mendel Leisk. What a coup!! :LOL:
     
    #3 jerrymildred, Oct 18, 2017
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  4. gallde

    gallde Active Member

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    And once you jump-start it, look to see if you left a courtesy light on, or a door ajar, or if a door or hatch switch might be mis-adjusted and not shutting off the courtesy light. Those will drain the battery.
     
    #4 gallde, Oct 18, 2017
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  5. old5ten

    old5ten New Member

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    ok, thanks. i'll try jumping it. i'm just confused by the fact that it started fine, then ran fine, then died when i turned it off. seems like if it was a dead battery it wouldn't have started fine initially and the 12v battery shouldn't be fully discharging while i'm driving?!
     
    #5 old5ten, Oct 18, 2017
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Check the voltage with a digital multimeter first, see where you stand.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Oct 18, 2017
  7. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    EVERYTHING usually works right up to the instant that it fails. Think a blown light bulb.

    And......the charging system can often keep the car running even with no battery, until you turn it OFF of course.

    It is a bit unusual for it to go completely and totally dead though. Might just be a loose cable.
     
    #7 Sam Spade, Oct 18, 2017
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  8. KCobby

    KCobby Member

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    If it's an original 12v battery, it's due. And the 12v is only used to start up. Won't affect the running. Good luck!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #8 KCobby, Oct 18, 2017
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  9. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    Actually it can and often does.
    Because the charging system doesn't operate exactly right with no battery present.
     
    #9 Sam Spade, Oct 18, 2017
  10. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    OMG...:barefoot: BISCO didn't post anything yet?
    as evrybody said, after jump starting the vehicle, check for doors ajar or the rear hach door
     
    #10 mrbigh, Oct 18, 2017
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  11. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    The 12v battery is only used to boot up the computers and close the high voltage relay.
    The high voltage traction battery starts the engine, if needed.
     
    #11 Prodigyplace, Oct 18, 2017
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    grandchild, dentist and recycling day, who's got time for priuschat?

    thanks for filling in fella's!(y)
     
    #12 bisco, Oct 18, 2017
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  13. old5ten

    old5ten New Member

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    thanks for the suggestions. checking the voltage seems like a good first step. i'll have access to the car on friday, so we'll see what happens then.
     
    #13 old5ten, Oct 18, 2017
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    be careful if you jump start. cross polarizing can cause thousands of dollars in damage. pip charges the 12v while charging the hybrid battery, have you been plugging in?
     
    #14 bisco, Oct 18, 2017
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  15. Rav

    Rav Member

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    Similar thing happened to me, I also have a 2012 but I was driving and mine completely shut down. Yes, while driving. In the end, Toyota determined my hybrid battery was the culprit and they replaced it (free of charge).
     
    #15 Rav, Oct 24, 2017
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  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk MMX GEN III

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    Geesh, how many miles?

    This might be the first PIP battery failure? (n)
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Oct 24, 2017
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  17. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    WOW!!! Glad it was a total fail, though, and you got a new battery with no arguments.

    I wonder what's happening with @old5ten.
     
    #17 jerrymildred, Oct 24, 2017
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'll be curious to know how many miles as well. i can't recall anyone else replacing a battery.
     
    #18 bisco, Oct 24, 2017
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  19. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That the first I've heard of for sure, but I think I remember once reading that someone said they thought they'd heard of one. Which is about as nebulous as you can get.
     
    #19 jerrymildred, Oct 24, 2017
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  20. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    check the 12 vo............................. oh never mind....
    im going to suggest the blinker fluid from now on..
     
    #20 Beachbummm, Oct 24, 2017
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