Camry Hybrid won't start!

[Jack Donaghy]

I got a 2009 TCH just a couple weeks ago. Just a couple days ago it refused to start for a few minutes. It did it again yesterday. And today it's done it 3 times. The last time it wouldn't start even after trying for 5 minutes or so.

The electrical system seems fine. When I get in the car and step on the brake, the green light on the POWER button lights up, indicating (I assume) the fob is in range and the car can be started. But pushing the button (and holding it for several seconds) will not start the hybrid system. It acts like I'm not stepping on the brake and only turns on the accessories.

There are no warning indicators other than, well, all the lights that light up when you turn on the accessories. And in the situations where the car did finally start up, there were no subsequent warning indicators or messages.

Obviously, I'll be calling the dealer tomorrow, but I wonder if anyone else has experienced a similar situation ... ?

[new echo owner]

Is there a 'Ready' indicator on the dash?

N.E.O.

[Jack Donaghy]

Nope, no "ready" indicator. That's what I'm looking for.

[new echo owner]

Do you mean you didn't see one when it was acting up? Maybe the auxiliary battery is weak?

N.E.O.

[Jack Donaghy]

Correct. No ready indicator when it's acting up.

I'll see if I can figure out the state of the aux battery.

[new echo owner]

The electronics on the car act real erratic when the aux battery is weak.

N.E.O.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Jack,

The next time this happens, have someone check to see if your brake lights are coming on at the rear of the car. It sounds like the brake light switch is faulty and not letting the computer see that you are on the brake. It will boot into accessory mode without a foot on the brake but will not start.

[new echo owner]

If the Power button light turns green that means the brake switch is working and the Hybrid system is seeing the signal; otherwise, it would have stay ember/orange.

N.E.O.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

N.E.O.,

My bad... I re-read the post and you are correct. I went right on past his statement about the green LED being on. If the aux. battery is OK, it looks like a trip to the dealer is in Jack's future...

[new echo owner]

I agree with the dealer trip, the car is only a few weeks old, too bad. The aux battery power most of the electrical system, if it is weak, they can act very strangely. Even if the hybrid battery is fully charged, it won't switch on.

N.E.O.

[Jack Donaghy]

Update:
Took it to the dealer. They said it was a "bad battery" which would have to wait for monday to replace, because it's a "special hybrid battery". Which makes me think that they're talking about the hybrid battery pack, not the 12 volt. Weird.

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Jack,

The 12 volt in the trunk is a special battery. It is an oddball size and not stocked at many places. They don't have a lot of reserve capacity as the traction battery took over the starting duties in a hybrid.

[ekpolk]

To echo what GH said, there isn't much demand on the 12v battery in the HSD cars. I've had my TCH for a couple weeks and haven't yet flipped open the compartment (right there in the trunk, shame on me...). I did see the one in my Prius, and in that car, it's little more than a motorcycle battery. Tiny.

[tharvey]

Actually the battery in the trunk is an AGM as opposed to a wet cell found in the majority of vehicles today. It is an extremely long lasting sealed battery which does not out gas allowing it to be placed in the passanger compartment without the fear of any gasses making it towards the occupants of the vehicle.

[new echo owner]

Yep to what they said.

N.E.O.