Traction Battery Strange Charge/Discharge

FAS · 10-12-2009, 07:23 PM

I have a 2009 Touring that has just turned one year old. It has 7,500 miles on it. My driving patterns are rather consistent - mostly short trip and one long trip per month to the same place. I would say they I know they battery recharge pattern of this car very well.

During the past month, the charge indicator has shown the pink/purple area several times. I did not even know it had a pink area. The first time was after I drove the car and had it valet parked for 6 hours. When I left the garage, I saw the pink, and the engine was racing. It got in the blue rather quickly and then went all the way to green within a few miles. The pink happenned again during the month once or twice. It always recovered.

This weekend I want on the long trip, which has some steep road climbs, followed by a long period of down-grade. For the first time in a year, the indicator went pink on the up-grade. It also went green on the down (just like before). When I got home, the average mileage was about 10% less.

My question is: What is going on? Is there a defect or is this some "settling" of the battery to its normal state? I called the dealer the first time the pink came on, and they said that as long as the battery recharges, everything is fine. Now after a month of this, I am going to call again. I live in LA, so the weather is normal this time of year (not hot or cold).

Thank you.

richard schumacher · 10-12-2009, 07:30 PM

The valet didn't shut the car completely OFF and the battery is still recovering. Otherwise, draining the battery that far on a long hill is normal; just press the gas pedal as much as is needed and keep going.

FAS · 10-12-2009, 07:40 PM

Richard

That was my exact first thought. I did that once myself early on. My only concern is that I am seeing the pink this past month a few times, when I never saw it before. The return trip yesterday also was troubling becasue of the pink. I have made the same trip 12 times in the last month, and although the bars gat low (2 I think), never the pink. I think I am going to the dealer this week. Thank you again.

richard schumacher · 10-12-2009, 07:48 PM

Please let us know what they find. Good luck.

10-12-2009, 07:23 PM	#1
FAS Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Traction Battery Strange Charge/Discharge I have a 2009 Touring that has just turned one year old. It has 7,500 miles on it. My driving patterns are rather consistent - mostly short trip and one long trip per month to the same place. I would say they I know they battery recharge pattern of this car very well. During the past month, the charge indicator has shown the pink/purple area several times. I did not even know it had a pink area. The first time was after I drove the car and had it valet parked for 6 hours. When I left the garage, I saw the pink, and the engine was racing. It got in the blue rather quickly and then went all the way to green within a few miles. The pink happenned again during the month once or twice. It always recovered. This weekend I want on the long trip, which has some steep road climbs, followed by a long period of down-grade. For the first time in a year, the indicator went pink on the up-grade. It also went green on the down (just like before). When I got home, the average mileage was about 10% less. My question is: What is going on? Is there a defect or is this some "settling" of the battery to its normal state? I called the dealer the first time the pink came on, and they said that as long as the battery recharges, everything is fine. Now after a month of this, I am going to call again. I live in LA, so the weather is normal this time of year (not hot or cold). Thank you.

10-12-2009, 07:30 PM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,510 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Traction Battery Strange Charge/Discharge The valet didn't shut the car completely OFF and the battery is still recovering. Otherwise, draining the battery that far on a long hill is normal; just press the gas pedal as much as is needed and keep going.

10-12-2009, 07:40 PM	#3
FAS Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Traction Battery Strange Charge/Discharge Richard That was my exact first thought. I did that once myself early on. My only concern is that I am seeing the pink this past month a few times, when I never saw it before. The return trip yesterday also was troubling becasue of the pink. I have made the same trip 12 times in the last month, and although the bars gat low (2 I think), never the pink. I think I am going to the dealer this week. Thank you again.

10-12-2009, 07:48 PM	#4
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,510 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Traction Battery Strange Charge/Discharge Please let us know what they find. Good luck.

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