AC quits when parked with motor running

[Roger3125]

I asked this before and still am not sure if I understood the replies I received.

This was my experience. I parked the Prius with motor running and left the AC on. It was 98 that day.

Being a little concerned about using up the battery I kept an eye on the bars. After about 20-25 minutes the bars were gone and although the fan was still pushing air it was not cold air. It was like the AC quit.

I let it sit for a bit and restarted it and again no air. I pushed a few buttons on the Climate display and the air went on again.

So now I wonder is there something wrong with my Prius system or was the little brain telling the Prius components to concentrate on one thing and ignore what is perhaps less import...such an the interior comfort. Or maybe I accidently hit something that turned off the air.

Can someone tell me if this is they way it should be and if so what is the reasoning for desgning the Prius tthis way.

Also can someone suggest a better way to have AC while parked.

Thanks all

[glenhead]

Did you have it fully on, that is, could you have flipped it into drive and driven off? If yes, then I can't help - mine keeps cycling the gasoline engine as needed to keep the batteries happy. I've sat (twice now) in 100+ degree weather for more than a half hour waiting for my ex-wife to get to bring our daughter to our meeting place at the end of her weekend, and it's kept me nice and cool with no problems.

[efusco]

Probably the reason you didn't understand the answers is b/c we kept asking for clarification of some things that you didn't explain well.

In this case you make reference to "the bars went away"--what does that mean? How many bars were you seeing on the Energy display?

Then you mention "restarting it" after a bit...did you shut the car off and the start back up in ready mode?

You mention "pushed a few buttons on the Climate display"--what buttons? What adjustment did you make?

Here's my take...the system is working normally. In Auto mode, the AC system will decrease output when you're stopped in order to conserve the battery as much as possible. It will not shut off completely but may let the temperture wander upward a bit higher than it would during normal driving.

If you were uncomfortably warm and wanted it cooler then simply adjust the temperture setting downward a few clicks...ie if you were on 78 when you stopped and started feeling too warm and feel the AC isn't cooling enough drop the temp setting to 76. The AC will kick out cooler air. It'll probably force the ICE to start up to recharge the battery more often and for longer time periods, and it will decrease your fuel economy, but your comfort is important so do it.

Alternatively, if you want full control, just set the temp where you want it and the fan where you want it thereby taking in out of Auto mode and it will run at that temp and fan speed the whole time and start and stop the ICE to charge the battery as needed.

[ken1784]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Sep 6 2006, 11:16 AM) [snapback]314924[/snapback]</div>

I parked the Prius with motor running and left the AC on.[/b]

Which motor are you talking about?
Are you in READY mode or IG-ON mode?
Where was the shift position? (P, N, D, B, which one?)

Ken@Japan

[hdrygas]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 5 2006, 08:38 PM) [snapback]314978[/snapback]</div>

Probably the reason you didn't understand the answers is b/c we kept asking for clarification of some things that you didn't explain well.

In this case you make reference to "the bars went away"--what does that mean? How many bars were you seeing on the Energy display?

Then you mention "restarting it" after a bit...did you shut the car off and the start back up in ready mode?

You mention "pushed a few buttons on the Climate display"--what buttons? What adjustment did you make?

Here's my take...the system is working normally. In Auto mode, the AC system will decrease output when you're stopped in order to conserve the battery as much as possible. It will not shut off completely but may let the temperture wander upward a bit higher than it would during normal driving.

If you were uncomfortably warm and wanted it cooler then simply adjust the temperture setting downward a few clicks...ie if you were on 78 when you stopped and started feeling too warm and feel the AC isn't cooling enough drop the temp setting to 76. The AC will kick out cooler air. It'll probably force the ICE to start up to recharge the battery more often and for longer time periods, and it will decrease your fuel economy, but your comfort is important so do it.

Alternatively, if you want full control, just set the temp where you want it and the fan where you want it thereby taking in out of Auto mode and it will run at that temp and fan speed the whole time and start and stop the ICE to charge the battery as needed.
[/b]

Set the system and it will do what is necessary. If it is too hot, and it may be sitting in the parking lot stopped, decrese the temp request the car will take care of the rest. It will turn the ICE on or off as needed and run the AC as needed. All of this cooling will cost you but you will be good.

[bradysplace]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Sep 5 2006, 09:16 PM) [snapback]314924[/snapback]</div>

I asked this before and still am not sure if I understood the replies I received.

This was my experience. I parked the Prius with motor running and left the AC on. It was 98 that day.

Being a little concerned about using up the battery I kept an eye on the bars. After about 20-25 minutes the bars were gone and although the fan was still pushing air it was not cold air. It was like the AC quit.

I let it sit for a bit and restarted it and again no air. I pushed a few buttons on the Climate display and the air went on again.

So now I wonder is there something wrong with my Prius system or was the little brain telling the Prius components to concentrate on one thing and ignore what is perhaps less import...such an the interior comfort. Or maybe I accidently hit something that turned off the air.

Can someone tell me if this is they way it should be and if so what is the reasoning for desgning the Prius tthis way.

Also can someone suggest a better way to have AC while parked.[/b]

Hi Roger, your explanation appears to be a bit vague and that may explain why the replies haven't been as clear as you might like. Let me tell you how my 06 prius works. When waiting - put the car in park and leave everything alone. Period. As the batt. discharges the ice will start up to recharge as necessary and then stop. That will continue to repeat itself over and over as long as your just sitting there. The air cond. will continue to work just fine in either the recir. mode or outside air mode. If your car is not reacting in this manor - take it to a dealer. Toyota made this thing for the weakest link - so let their expertise work for you.

[eak354]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Roger3125 @ Sep 5 2006, 09:16 PM) [snapback]314924[/snapback]</div>

Being a little concerned about using up the battery I kept an eye on the bars. After about 20-25 minutes the bars were gone and although the fan was still pushing air it was not cold air. It was like the AC quit.

[/b]

sounds like you weren't in READY mode. the engine will automatically kick in when SOC goes down to 2 bars. likewise, when not in READY mode the A/C won't work, the fan will, but it won't cool.

[kDB]

did you have it on auto with a temp above 75? maybe the a/c was on auto and started blowing at max, then when it got near the temp set on the mfd it started turning itself down.

[tduescher]

I also recently found that the A/C will cause the ICE to automatically start, recharge the HV battery and continue to cycle through charging the battery. Ran it this way for about 1/2 hour. Seeing the purple bars does make me nervous but it cycled this way without problem.

I also noticed that if you press the accelerator while it is in ready mode and Park but the ICE is not running that the ICE will start and accelerate but does not appear to charge the battery in this mode. Can anyone explain why the engine starts when pressing the accelerator in Park but does not Charge the HV battery.

What makes this different from the computer telling the ICE to start and charge the battery?

[fphinney]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(eak354 @ Sep 6 2006, 04:48 AM) [snapback]315068[/snapback]</div>

sounds like you weren't in READY mode. the engine will automatically kick in when SOC goes down to 2 bars. likewise, when not in READY mode the A/C won't work, the fan will, but it won't cool.
[/b]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
WAIT A MOMENT!...
Are you saying that, "...the A/C won't work, the fan will, but it won't cool." I thought the A/C was operated by an electric motor - - which means that it is NOT dependent on the ICE!

Think about this way. Get the battery well charged (like after descending a long hill). Shut down the car. Go back a few hours later (or the next day), get the car in the "Ready" mode, & leave it in "Park". Operate the A/C. I contend that you will get cold air in a moment or two, & the ICE will have not started!

Correct me, if I'm wrong -