Power button unresponsive in hot weather

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by DrowningInteger, Jun 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM.

  1. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    Howdy y'all. I have a 2006 Prius with 143k miles, and it doesn't want to start in hot weather. I see the door light on the dash but nothing else comes on when I push the power button. No instrument cluster, no MFD, no noises. Is there a good place to start for troubleshooting? The hybrid battery and 12v battery are less than a year old. The 12v battery is currently showing 12.3v on my multimeter. Disconnecting the 12v battery for a few minutes will allow the car to start after hooking it back up.
     
    #1 DrowningInteger, Jun 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    And when the car starts after hooking up the battery then do you have displays speed trans and gas,?????
     
    #2 Tombukt2, Jun 24, 2025 at 9:15 AM
  3. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    Yes, when it's working everything comes on and functions normally.
     
    #3 DrowningInteger, Jun 24, 2025 at 10:20 AM
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    You probably have a problem with your combination meter. The dash lights not turning on.
     
    #4 JC91006, Jun 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
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  5. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    That's what I thought too, but I didn't think the combo meter prevented the car from starting and driving.
     
    #5 DrowningInteger, Jun 24, 2025 at 12:06 PM
  6. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I think your car started, just you couldn't see any dash lights. You can try and press the start button and wait 10 seconds, see if the car turns on.
     
    #6 JC91006, Jun 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
  7. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    It didn't though. I couldn't shift and it wouldn't move. Plus the MFD wasn't on either. I took a look at the negative battery cable and it doesn't look like the right size for the battery, it just has some shims jammed in the connector. I'm going to try to find the right battery cable and see what that does.
     
    #7 DrowningInteger, Jun 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    It doesn't . Sometimes to start hold button till ya see check lite let go of button and drive.
     
    #8 Tombukt2, Jun 24, 2025 at 5:30 PM
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    if he can't see his fuel level, he might be out of gas
     
    #9 JC91006, Jun 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
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  10. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    Fuel level was above half the last time it was driven.
     
    #10 DrowningInteger, Jun 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
  11. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    I think it'll turn on. Just ice can start then off I gues or it'll spin .
     
    #11 Tombukt2, Jun 24, 2025 at 5:37 PM
  12. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I would add 3 gallons of gas in it and try again. Most no start issues with bad combination meters end up as out of gas situations.
     
    #12 JC91006, Jun 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
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  13. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    I fiddled with all the cables attached to the 12v battery until I was reasonably certain all of them were making a good connection and it started up again even though the weather was about the same as it was yesterday. I'm cautiously optimistic that was the only issue. But I guess I'll see over the next week or so since sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
     
    #13 DrowningInteger, Jun 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
  14. DrowningInteger

    DrowningInteger New Member

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    Nevermind it wouldn't turn on again today. It worked fine for about a week after an hour drive and then it sat for about a week so I'm wondering if it just needs to be taken on longer drives more often. I charged up the 12v battery with jumper cables and that didn't do anything. The immobilizer light comes on when I push the start button and the key is too far away, and the door open light is on when the door is open, but those are the only two lights that will show on the dash. I don't hear any beeping when the door is open, but it does beep when the headlights are on and the door is open.
     
    #14 DrowningInteger, Jun 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
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