...or so says the ad. More specifically, "Starts fine for 3 or 4 times, then won't start and a few lights flash. Then its starts just fine." This is for a 2006 RX 400h AWD with 209K offered for $3499.

Looking around on the interwebz, and having owned a Prius the past year, I'm inclined to think it may need a new 12v battery. I asked the salesman for the trouble code, but he did not have it available. I left him my name and # and asked him to call next time it gives a code so I can know better what I would be getting myself into.

If it turns out it just needs a new 12v, spending $200 to save $2.000 seems like a pretty good deal.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/ctd/d...859677241.html

 

I want you to know the 12volt battery only turns on the computers in the car, the engine is started by the hybrid battery. I would definetly want to know if there are pending codes. The 12 volt battery could cause the ready indicator to not come on if it were real low and didn't fire up the start sequence. Boy I almost would want to bring a battery, throw it in and see what happens.

 

I was driving for a few months with a failing 12v battery. One time I drove for about 15 minutes, shut the car off to go into a store, and came out and it wouldn't start. I let it rest for a few minutes and got it started. Next day replaced the 12v battery finally. Whatever electronics are needed to have power before the hybrid battery triggers mg1 to turn over the motor must be very sensitive to voltage drops, or put a good size load on the 12v system before the ICE is running.

 

TY for the responses

During a test drive, this is what came on the dash. The text read out also would say, "check VSC system."

At Advance, they hooked up an OBD2 reader, but there were no codes.

As I do some of the work on my Prius, I had an inkling as to what it could be. Sure enough, with the vehicle in READY, and checking the inverter coolant reservoir, I saw none of the usual turbulence. Consequently, I suspect the inverter coolant pump needs replacing.

Checking this forum, I see that at least one time, it seems someone else was experiencing a similar issue, replaced the pump, and was fine after that. There could be other issues, as well.

At this point, I suppose the question is whether it's worth it to me to take it to a hybrid mechanic to attach whatever the Lexus equivalent of a Techstream is :: shrugs ::

 

definitely run back to advance and get your 12v battery tested! I would suspect if that was failing it could cause all sorts of issues, maybe even not running your pump. It is only rated at 450-500CCA, mine was tested at 250CCA and still ran the car for a month or two before I replaced it, at which point I suspect it was less.