Energy Monitor arrows dont show while in gear!

[reesdude]

Everytime I put my car in DRIVE, REVERSE, or NEUTRAL the energy arrows that indicate the recharging of the battery by the engine do not show up at all. However, when Im in PARK, the arrows reappear, then if I shift to DRIVE, for example, the arrows disappear. This occurs during startup and normal driving, never indicating the charging of the battery by the engine? Has any had this problem before? and would this be covered by the 3yr warranty? Thanks

[efusco]

covered by the 3 year warranty? You through me there.

Anyway, this is pretty much normal. There are times when the ICE will run and clearly the energy is going somewhere, but rather than have people always asking why they see arrows when they're not going anywhere they choose not to show them.

Now, your question is not completely clear to me as it sounds like you're talking about when you're stopped, foot on brake, not when you're moving. You do realize that there are times your battery won't show any charging or drain...there are even times, when moving, with ICE turning, that there will be no arrows at all.

Don't sweat the arrows. If you're unsure what's going on switch to the consumption screen and drive with that for a while seeing how you can do pumping up your mileage. When you think you're pretty good and have some sense of what the car is doing at various points in time and under various conditions switch back to the Energy screen and see if what you predict matches with what is being shown...and how much more improvement in mpg you can squeak out of your car.

It's questions like this one that I wish I could briefly 'beem' myself to the inquisitor's location and demo or directly explain what's happening.

[efusco]

BTW, you should not see any arrows at all when you're in neutral.

[efusco]

Geez, ok, I re-read your question. You're saying you can drive under any condition and never ever are there arrows going to the battery....is that right? That's not normal if that's the case...and weird... I can't think what could/would cause such a thing.

[reesdude]

yes in all cases the arrows do not show battery recharging by the engine, however, only when in PARK does it show the arrows that indicate the recharging of the battery. Thanks for your help I will most likely see my local dealer.

[NuShrike]

What happens when you move the car? Does the battery charge when you brake, coast, driving at 50mph on flat ground?

If you don't get charge arrows in those above instances, then something is wrong.

These are the normal times the battery charges, but the battery doesn't charge all the time. The park in P is a special case.

It sounds almost like you're just flicking the lever around and seeing what the energy monitor is doing when the car is not in motion.

[reesdude]

I am in serious need of a Prius specialist right now... I finally took my car to the shop with the problem stated above (no energy arrows from engine to battery in gears other than park) and rented a car for the 3 days it was there for. I get a call from them mon. saying there is no problem with the fact that the arrows from the engine to the battery will show only in Park and disappear in any other gear. Its mon. afternoon right now and they are rechecking the problem. I am CERTAIN this is not normal operation because i tested a new prius on the lot that did show the arrows charging the battery even when not in Park gear. I do not know what i am going to do with the $120 rental car bill, if they somehow deem it this problem to be normal. If someone can please tell me exactly what, even with the most technical terms, is going wrong with my car I would highly appreciate it because I do not know how else to tell these service people that this is not normal operation an so should no way be liable to pay rental.

[DanMan32]

If you still have access to a prius on the lot, show them! There are times however, especially during warmup, when there is no energy flowing from ICE to battery or MG2.

[reesdude]

I did show them... with a brand new prius next to mine, and they're excuse was that it is a brand new car and not yet had the "experience" of being charged and recharged as my car has, and so there lies the difference. I have even told them that it did not do this when i first got my car...I've told them, I've shown them. I do not know what else I can do except show and explain somemore...I need to know the technical terms of everything involved so maybe they won't be so doubtful about whether it is a problem or not.

[NuShrike]

If the Toyota dealership is explaining it as "not having the experience" which is as non-technical handwaving BS voodoo that's inappropriate from a knowledgable and reputable dealer, you could try going to another dealship to ask about it, or calling Toyota customer service directly.