2009 Prius-just changed headlight bulb and my car totally dead, won't start

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by krisd, Jul 28, 2021.

Page 1 of 2
  1. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    After changing my passenger headlight my 09 Prius won't start, no lights on dash, doors won't lock, no flashing alarm, nothing. Now reading I was supposed to disconnect the 12 v battery. No mention of disconnecting 12 v battery in multiple YouTube videos nor the manual. Hunted down one post on here with an 05 similar problem. I just picked up this car used. Can anybody direct me to what to do next?
    thanks in advance,
    kris
     
    #1 krisd, Jul 28, 2021
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,642
    8,496
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I don't think it has anything to do with disconnecting the 12v battery. You might have bought a car with a bad battery. Have it tested and change it if it's bad.

    I hope that would be the only issue with the car, as the battery dies, it clears most of the fault codes on the car. So you really don't know if anything is wrong until the computers pick it up again.....or until the battery dies again and erases the codes again.
     
    #2 JC91006, Jul 28, 2021
    SFO likes this.
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,332
    5,691
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Most likely the 12v battery is dead.
     
    #3 rjparker, Jul 28, 2021
  4. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    More info...I actually put the same bad bulb back in as the bulb spring clip seamed one sided so I was gonna read up on that. Went to start car and completely dead.
    thanks for helping
     
    #4 krisd, Jul 28, 2021
  5. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    can I safely jump start it?
     
    #5 krisd, Jul 28, 2021
  6. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    9,332
    5,691
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Read attached. Be sure its plus to plus. Depending how bad it is discharged it may require 5 minutes before you push the Power button. It may require two tries at that point. Of course press the brake at the same time.
     

    Attached Files:

    #6 rjparker, Jul 28, 2021
  7. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    thank, my husband going to take the 12v out and put it on a battery tender first. He'll jump as a last resort. I guess he wants to familiarize himself somewhat. thanks for tips.
     
    #7 krisd, Jul 29, 2021
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,656
    50,849
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you don't need to remove it to put it on the tender, and depending on the model, it can take a long time to charge
     
    #8 bisco, Jul 29, 2021
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,798
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    If that really IS a tender versus a full sized charger, it might take up to 12 hours to get a usable charge in it.
    Spending ~ $10 on a multi-meter would be a good investment.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Jul 29, 2021
  10. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I had to take it out as I needed an outlet...charged it overnight,it's ready. we are installing now...wish us luck...and thanks y'all.
     
    #10 krisd, Jul 30, 2021
    bisco likes this.
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    111,656
    50,849
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    did you get a reading?
     
    #11 bisco, Jul 30, 2021
  12. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    forgot to do that...but it started on second try and we drove it around for awhile. Won't get to it until tomorrow night, we'll get that reading. I think my husband wants to buy a new optima battery because we think it's 6 years old. thanks everybody.. now he is gaining some confidence to check the fan and clean, we drive with a crazy beagle so we want to keep an eye on our fan.
     
    #12 krisd, Jul 30, 2021
    bisco likes this.
  13. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,130
    4,143
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Don't buy an optima, just buy the OEM or aftermarket S46B24R AGM. You might find the OEM is cheaper than the optima into the bargain.
     
    #13 dolj, Jul 31, 2021
    krisd likes this.
  14. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,798
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Optima seemed like a good battery in the beginning.
    Then several years ago, they sold out to another company and their quality went right in the dumper.
    NOT recommended any more.
     
    #14 sam spade 2, Jul 31, 2021
    krisd likes this.
  15. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    thanks on the optima battery tip much appreciated.
     
    #15 krisd, Aug 1, 2021
  16. krisd

    krisd Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2021
    11
    3
    0
    Location:
    Seattle
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    so we tested 12 volt car diagnostic and it registered 12.2 and then when we tried a load with power 2nd time and dash came on and it was at 11.9. I think we can wait a little on replacing. Retracking our steps as we've only had the car for 3 weeks, I was leaving the doors open a lot to clean upholstery and vacuum out a bunch and I think the radio was on often as it took me a minute to see power button and was also probably turning it on accidentally when cleaning. Oh and a lot of short trips.
     
    #16 krisd, Aug 2, 2021
  17. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,798
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    And I think you should NOT wait.
    11.9 is a tad more than half dead.
    Things with a Prius start getting flaky around that point.

    At the very least, you need to thoroughly charge it and then test again.
    But it likely is on the way OUT.
     
    #17 sam spade 2, Aug 3, 2021
    dig4dirt likes this.
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,130
    4,143
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    And I think you certainly can afford to wait. It really depends on how badly the battery has been abused. If it has had a lot of deep discharges or sat at low charge for a long time, then maybe. Charge it and see how it responds then decide if it "is on the way OUT."
    Good advice here.
    You (and others) keep saying this, but as an actual owner of a Gen 2 that actively monitors my 12 V on a daily basis, I have not found this to be true as have other members here. I have researched and have not found any credible source that confirms this statement to be true.

    As you keep making this statement, I presume you have some documented source to back it up – please supply the sources of your information.

    If you haven't, can you please stop making unsubstantiated claims?
     
    #18 dolj, Aug 4, 2021
  19. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2018
    7,035
    2,798
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    It is not a "claim" and is not "unsubstantiated".

    It depends on what the load was like when the measurement was taken.
    If it reads 11.9 with NO LOAD, then it is highly suspect in any application, Prius included.

    Saying that is merely stating another possibility.
    I have a bit over 50 years of training and experience in electronics so most of my statements are not just wild guesses.
    Mistakes do happen occasionally though.......but THIS is not one of them.
     
    #19 sam spade 2, Aug 4, 2021
    Another likes this.
  20. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    8,130
    4,143
    0
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You claimed that
    and to date, you have been able to state how you know this other than it is a hunch based on 50 years of electronic experience. Is that accurate?

    I'm saying that based on my and other member's actual real-life experience with this model car, the claim is unproven.

    So, can you please stop making unsubstantiated claims?
     
    #20 dolj, Aug 4, 2021
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2