2004 Prius engine runs when when screen says it's off

[GaryK]

Ever since I took my 2004 Prius in for a recall, the engine has continued to run at times when the screen shows it should be off. I had the service people take a took at it, and they ran tests, but claimed they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Has anyone else had this experience, and if so, was there a cure?

Thanks,

Gary

[cwerdna]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GaryK @ Mar 4 2007, 06:53 PM) [snapback]400102[/snapback]</div>

Ever since I took my 2004 Prius in for a recall, the engine has continued to run at times when the screen shows it should be off. I had the service people take a took at it, and they ran tests, but claimed they couldn't find anything wrong with it.
[/b]

There is NO indication on the MFD showing whether the ICE is on or off. There's no "cure".

[Tideland Prius]

It's an "Energy Monitor"

so.. if the engine isn't charging the battery, then it won't show the arrows.

[GaryK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Mar 4 2007, 10:00 PM) [snapback]400105[/snapback]</div>

It's an "Energy Monitor"

so.. if the engine isn't charging the battery, then it won't show the arrows.
[/b]

So why is the engine running then, and why didn't it do this before the recall? The engine now tends to run while coasting to a stop, and then only stops when I step on the accelerator. That does not seem normal to me.

[DFWPrius]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GaryK @ Mar 4 2007, 11:07 PM) [snapback]400114[/snapback]</div>

So why is the engine running then, and why didn't it do this before the recall? The engine now tends to run while coasting to a stop, and then only stops when I step on the accelerator. That does not seem normal to me.
[/b]

If your recall was updated software, their have been a few cases where Prius shut down on the freeway.

The fix was to program the ICE to run a bit longer or to run at times in the past it would have shut down.

I have not seen a posting on shut down on the freeway since the update to software.

Of course take mechanic for a test ride to confirm would be a good idea.

[GaryK]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DFWPrius @ Mar 4 2007, 10:30 PM) [snapback]400123[/snapback]</div>

If your recall was updated software, their have been a few cases where Prius shut down on the freeway.

The fix was to program the ICE to run a bit longer or to run at times in the past it would have shut down.

I have not seen a posting on shut down on the freeway since the update to software.

Of course take mechanic for a test ride to confirm would be a good idea.
[/b]

Interesting. That was the reason for the recall I took it in for, although I had never had the engine stop on me. The same day I brought it back, it ran for 5 minutes after I put it in park. I was told that the ICE had lost "my" driving habits, so I once it "learned" how I drove, things would be back to normal, but it's been about 15 months now and still does not work like it used to. I used to get 60 plus mpg on nearly every tank, but now it's usually 55 mpg at best.

[Tideland Prius]

Hmm... I can't say it hurt my mileage after I did the recall since I was still in the break-in period.

I have heard about the 'learning' bit but again I can't give you my experience since I took the car in for the recall pretty much a year after I bought it and I was learning how to drive the Prius efficiently at that time.

[sebapisa]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GaryK @ Mar 4 2007, 08:07 PM) [snapback]400114[/snapback]</div>

So why is the engine running then, and why didn't it do this before the recall? The engine now tends to run while coasting to a stop, and then only stops when I step on the accelerator. That does not seem normal to me.
[/b]

I've noticed that too with my non-recalled '07. I understand that the MFD is an energy monitor but if the ICE is not charging the battery or moving the car it's not going to show any arrows, which is ok.
However I think you have a point because IF the ICE is not charging or moving the car then WHY is it on? The smart computers in the car should turn it off.
An answer I can think of, and take this from a new onwer, is that the ICE is running to stay warm.
Hope it helps.

[Ari]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GaryK @ Mar 4 2007, 10:07 PM) [snapback]400114[/snapback]</div>

So why is the engine running then, and why didn't it do this before the recall? The engine now tends to run while coasting to a stop, and then only stops when I step on the accelerator. That does not seem normal to me.
[/b]

Is your battery fully charged when you observe this? I can induce the "engine running" condition on a daily basis by going over a big hill on my way to work. At the bottom of the hill there is a STOP sign and 99% of the time my battery will be full. At that point the computer forces the engine to turn over to drain excess battery power.

It's a "feature" not a bug

[hill]

My 04 does the same thing . . . prior to & after ECU upgrades. I'm guessing it does it sometimes because the smog crap feels the ICE ought to be warmer, as it tends to be happening below 70 degrees (of course if the batterys aren't full charged, that does it too). How I cure it: When you roll up to a stop, just prior to stopping I throw it in 'N'. Then as soon as it stops I throw it in 'P'. ICE stops. Then I just throw it back into 'D'.

Well it's corny, but it works . . . or I just let the dang ICE thing do it's thing, if other folks are in the car . . . so they won't know how OCD I am.