Purple Bars

FJRCRAZED · 06-23-2006, 01:09 PM

I was stuck in traffic the other day stop and go deal. Outside temp is 93, had the AC set to 68. I notice the bars where dropping fast. When they got to the last 2 I turned off the air an opened up the window. Very slowly they came back up. I noticed as soon as I hit the gas, even at a crawling speed the engine would come on then shut off as soon as I took my foot off the gas. At no time during the 20-30 minutes of stop and go did the engine seem to come on just to charge. Do I have a problem? or is that normal?

TheForce · 06-23-2006, 01:14 PM

Sounds normal to me. I go down to 2 bars a few times a week. I've never got it any lower than that and i've tried but i'm sure it can be done.

FJRCRAZED · 06-23-2006, 01:16 PM

Thanks, so next time I'm not turning off the AC

**efusco** · 06-23-2006, 01:17 PM

Totally normal, your car is working as designed. Just leave the AC on and drive normally. The ICE will keep the battery charged to a nominal level when necessary, it will never let it drain to a dangerously low level.

john1701a · 06-23-2006, 01:18 PM

All new owners experience the 2 bars. Sometimes it's from extreme hot. Sometimes extreme cold.

None of the time is it ever a problem.

Though first-time gitters do fill you with anxiety. It's perfectly normal behavior for a "full" hybrid.

barbaram · 06-23-2006, 01:18 PM

What about no bars on the consumption screen?
Stuck in traffic. Segment before normal-about 40or 45 mpg, then a blank , then 100 mpg segment! Battery never went below 4bars.

ScottY · 06-23-2006, 01:20 PM

That's normal. With help of CAN-View, I can see when the SOC approach 40% (less than 45%), the engine will charge the battery whenever it has a chance. Meaning that once the car starts to move, ICE will run to move the car and charge the battery at the same time (your case). When SOC is dropped to 40%, the ICE will run to charge the battery no matter what the condition is (car moving or not).

christianaggie07 · 06-23-2006, 01:31 PM

Has anyone ever charged the battery fully? I have gotten it to seven bars. I was just wondering if it is possible and if so, what color are the bars?

Also, what color are the bars when it gets to 1 bar?

FJRCRAZED · 06-23-2006, 01:44 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mr. Clean @ Jun 23 2006, 01:31 PM) [snapback]275882[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Has anyone ever charged the battery fully? I have gotten it to seven bars. I was just wondering if it is possible and if so, what color are the bars?

Also, what color are the bars when it gets to 1 bar?
[/b]

Going down a long hill. I could then hear it dumping? power.

NoVaSnow · 06-23-2006, 01:51 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(barbaram @ Jun 23 2006, 01:18 PM) [snapback]275875[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

What about no bars on the consumption screen?
Stuck in traffic. Segment before normal-about 40or 45 mpg, then a blank , then 100 mpg segment! Battery never went below 4bars.
[/b]

Also totally normal. I experienced that once, asked about it here, and was told not to worry.

You Prius is smarter than all of us put together.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FJRCRAZED @ Jun 23 2006, 01:09 PM) [snapback]275862[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I was stuck in traffic the other day stop and go deal. Outside temp is 93, had the AC set to 68. I notice the bars where dropping fast. When they got to the last 2 I turned off the air an opened up the window. Very slowly they came back up. I noticed as soon as I hit the gas, even at a crawling speed the engine would come on then shut off as soon as I took my foot off the gas. At no time during the 20-30 minutes of stop and go did the engine seem to come on just to charge. Do I have a problem? or is that normal?
[/b]

Glad to see somebody talking about purple bars. Whenever this subject has come up before, people always talk about pink bars. I was beginning to think I had a color perception problem.

Is purple new for 2006? New for Gen II?

06-23-2006, 01:09 PM	#1
FJRCRAZED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: S.E PA Posts: 100 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I was stuck in traffic the other day stop and go deal. Outside temp is 93, had the AC set to 68. I notice the bars where dropping fast. When they got to the last 2 I turned off the air an opened up the window. Very slowly they came back up. I noticed as soon as I hit the gas, even at a crawling speed the engine would come on then shut off as soon as I took my foot off the gas. At no time during the 20-30 minutes of stop and go did the engine seem to come on just to charge. Do I have a problem? or is that normal? __________________ Born OK the 1st time

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06-23-2006, 01:14 PM	#2
TheForce I Plug-In My Prius Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wheelersburg, Ohio Posts: 2,104 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 7 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 17	Sounds normal to me. I go down to 2 bars a few times a week. I've never got it any lower than that and i've tried but i'm sure it can be done.

06-23-2006, 01:16 PM	#3
FJRCRAZED Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: S.E PA Posts: 100 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Thanks, so next time I'm not turning off the AC

06-23-2006, 01:17 PM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,050 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 23	Totally normal, your car is working as designed. Just leave the AC on and drive normally. The ICE will keep the battery charged to a nominal level when necessary, it will never let it drain to a dangerously low level.

06-23-2006, 01:18 PM	#5
john1701a Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,683 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: Pioneer #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 3	All new owners experience the 2 bars. Sometimes it's from extreme hot. Sometimes extreme cold. None of the time is it ever a problem. Though first-time gitters do fill you with anxiety. It's perfectly normal behavior for a "full" hybrid.

06-23-2006, 01:18 PM	#6
barbaram Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trenton, NJ Posts: 721 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	What about no bars on the consumption screen? Stuck in traffic. Segment before normal-about 40or 45 mpg, then a blank , then 100 mpg segment! Battery never went below 4bars.

06-23-2006, 01:20 PM	#7
ScottY Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,245 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	That's normal. With help of CAN-View, I can see when the SOC approach 40% (less than 45%), the engine will charge the battery whenever it has a chance. Meaning that once the car starts to move, ICE will run to move the car and charge the battery at the same time (your case). When SOC is dropped to 40%, the ICE will run to charge the battery no matter what the condition is (car moving or not).

06-23-2006, 01:31 PM	#8
christianaggie07 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 12 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Has anyone ever charged the battery fully? I have gotten it to seven bars. I was just wondering if it is possible and if so, what color are the bars? Also, what color are the bars when it gets to 1 bar?