How to restart a second generation Prius

Nobody wants their car to suddenly stop working. Unfortunately, Toyota has recalled about 75,000 of its 2004 Prius vehicles due to some technical issues that caused them to stall. This can be caused by several different failures in the car's system.

Not every Prius will stall, but if you have a 2004 model, this can be a common occurrence. If you cannot start it again, you may need to tow it. However, before calling a tow truck, try the methods below to restart your Prius after it has stalled.

• Attention: The 2004 Prius often lags when first accelerating, which can make it seem like the car is temporarily stalling. However, in this case, the car is running normally and you do not need to restart it or troubleshoot the system.

Method 1 of 4: Restarting your Prius

Sometimes the Prius just refuses to start normally. This is the result of some sort of power failure that causes the car's computer to not boot. If you find that you cannot start your Prius, you may need to simply restart your computer, similar to how your computer freezes and you need to turn it off and then restart.

Step 1: Press and hold the Start button. Hold the Start button with your index finger for at least 45 seconds.

Step 2: Restart the machine. Start the car normally after rebooting the system by applying the brake and pressing the start button again.

• FunctionsA: If you are trying to restart your Prius and the dashboard lights come on but dimly flash, you may have a problem with the 12V battery. In this case, you may need to replace the battery or jump start (see Method 2).
  
  

Method 2 of 4: Jump start your Prius

If you are trying to start your Prius and the lights on the dash come on but are dim and flashing, you may have a problem with the 12V battery. You will need to start it if possible and then have the battery checked at an auto parts store.

Required material

• Set of connecting cables

Step 1: open the hood. To open the hood, pull the hood release lever. You should hear it release and open.

Step 2: Connect the positive jumper to the battery.. Connect the positive (red or orange) cable to the battery of the stalled Prius.

Leave the negative (black) cable clamped to a piece of metal or to the ground.

Step 3: Connect the second pair of jumper cables. Connect the other positive and negative cables to the vehicle with the battery working.

Step 4: Charge the battery in a stalled car. Start the vehicle with the battery running and let it run for about 5 minutes to recharge the dead battery.

Step 5: Restart your Prius as usual. If the same happens, your vehicle may need to be towed and the battery replaced.

Method 3 of 4: Resetting the Signal Lights

Another common occurrence with a 2004 Prius is that it suddenly loses power while driving and all warning lights on the dash come on, including the Check Engine light. This is because the system is running a "fail safe" mode that disables the gas engine.

Step 1: Pull over. If your Prius is in emergency mode, then the electric motor is still running and you can stop and park safely.

• FunctionsA: Often the keyboard will be locked if it is inserted into the dashboard holder. Don't force it. You will be able to uninstall it after enabling failsafe mode.

Step 2: Press the brake and start button.. Apply the brake while holding down the start button for at least 45 seconds. The warning indicators will remain on.

Step 3: Keep the brake pedal depressed. Release the start button, but don't take your foot off the brake. Wait at least 10 seconds with the brake pedal depressed.

Step 4: Release the brake and press the start button again.. Release the brake pedal and press the start button again to stop the vehicle completely. Remove the keyboard.

Step 5: Restart the machine. Try to start the car as usual, using the brake and the "Start" button. If the vehicle does not start, have it towed to the nearest dealer.

If the car starts but the warning lights stay on, take it home or to the dealer to check for error codes.

Method 4 of 4: Troubleshooting a hybrid synergy drive system that won't start

Sometimes the start button will turn on the lights on the dash, but the hybrid synergic drive system won't start, so the driver can't shift into either forward or reverse. The synergic drive system connects the motor and gears using electrical signals. If they don't work, you will need to follow the steps below to turn your Prius back on.

Step 1: Press the brake pedal and start button.. Apply the brake and press the "Start" button.

Step 2: Park the car. If you can't shift into gear, keep your foot on the brake and press the P button on the dashboard, which puts the car into park mode.

Step 3: Click the Start button again. Press the "Start" button again and wait until the car starts.

Step 4: try to turn on the transmission. Shift the vehicle into forward or reverse and continue driving.

If the steps above do not work and you are unable to engage the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, call a tow truck to take the vehicle to a repair shop.

If your Prius discharges while driving and there is no gas in the tank, the Prius will not be able to start the gasoline engine. It will try to turn on the gas engine three times and then stall immediately, which will trigger a trouble code. A technician will need to clear this DTC before the Prius can start the engine again, even if you add gas to the gas tank.

• Attention: The Prius may stall for reasons other than those listed above. For example, if any debris gets into the MAF filter, the car will stall or not start at all.

For 2004-2005 Prius models, the above methods are some of the common solutions to a stalled engine issue. However, if you don't know how to deal with stopping your vehicle, you can always call a mechanic for quick and detailed advice from one of our certified technicians. If you've tried the above car restart methods and they don't seem to work for you, be sure to have a professional mechanic like AvtoTachki inspect your Prius to determine why it's malfunctioning.