99.9 MPG?!

JamieS · 03-11-2007, 02:26 PM

Right, so you all are probably going to hate me for starting one of these lame newbie topics, but we just got a Prius and I'm a tad perplexed...

Why does the display frequently say "99.9 MPG"? There's no way we're getting that. Also, we've driven a good 90 miles and the fuel gauge still reads completely full. It was the car that the dealer used to drive about in, so it already had 900 miles or so on it [not on the same tank of gas, obviously]. I have no clue about the package number on it, but when it says like MP3 compatible, what exactly does that mean?

We have that whole smart key thing; does it have anything to prevent you locking it in the car? If it's in the car, is it close enough for the door button to lock the car? I guess if it is, then it's close enough for the handle sensor to unlock it, right? Did I just answer my own question? Lol.

I guess that's it for now...thanks a lot!

[Oh, and she needs a name. My friend has dubbed her Pricilla, but I don't know how much I like that. Primavera [Spanish for spring] is pretty and she's silver pine mica so sort of a spring-esque color, but that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.]

Jim1eye · 03-11-2007, 02:56 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rainydysandmondys @ Mar 11 2007, 02:26 PM) [snapback]403806[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Right, so you all are probably going to hate me for starting one of these lame newbie topics, but we just got a Prius and I'm a tad perplexed...
Why does the display frequently say "99.9 MPG"? There's no way we're getting that. Also, we've driven a good 90 miles and the fuel gauge still reads completely full. It was the car that the dealer used to drive about in, so it already had 900 miles or so on it [not on the same tank of gas, obviously]. I have no clue about the package number on it, but when it says like MP3 compatible, what exactly does that mean?

We have that whole smart key thing; does it have anything to prevent you locking it in the car? If it's in the car, is it close enough for the door button to lock the car? I guess if it is, then it's close enough for the handle sensor to unlock it, right? Did I just answer my own question? Lol.

I guess that's it for now...thanks a lot!
[Oh, and she needs a name. My friend has dubbed her Pricilla, but I don't know how much I like that. Primavera [Spanish for spring] is pretty and she's silver pine mica so sort of a spring-esque color, but that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.]
[/b]

Let's see....HATE...nope. A lot of this stuff you can find out by doing a search on the forum. But, I'll indulge you.

Sure you can get 99.9, when the electric motor is running exclusively. Actually, you're getting a gazillion MPG on electric, the readout just goes up to 99.9 (Now I'm sure someone will pipe in here and say that isn't true because you have to replenish the battery, but you're also not going to get 99.9 miles on the battery in one shot)

MP3 compatible means that you can play MP3s in your cd player. (If you don't know what an MP3 is...*sigh*)

You can't lock a powered up smartkey in the car, at least not by using a smartkey. I don't know the science, you just can't. You can do it with a physical, metal door key.

The fuel gauge debate rages on here at PriusChat. Suffice it to say that the guage is for guesstimation. I usually get about 100 miles before losing the first pip. It's all downhill from there. Just make sure you gas up once in a while. I usually do it with 2 pips remaining. For some reason everyone's pips vary.

ENJOY the Experience!

jrfaris · 03-11-2007, 03:03 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rainydysandmondys @ Mar 11 2007, 10:26 AM) [snapback]403806[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

1.Why does the display frequently say "99.9 MPG"?
2.when it says like MP3 compatible, what exactly does that mean?
3.We have that whole smart key thing; does it have anything to prevent you locking it in the car? If it's in the car, is it close enough for the door button to lock the car? I guess if it is, then it's close enough for the handle sensor to unlock it, right? Did I just answer my own question? Lol.
[/b]

Edit: Little slow on my post. Jim1eye has the right answers.
1.Whenever you are moving and the engine isn't running you get infinite MPG since no gas in being used. 99.9 is just the way it is displayed.
2.It will play CDs that you make using songs in MP3 format. Believe you have to have the upgraded 6 CD system.
3.You can't lock the fob in the car unless you turn off the smart key system. The follow on questions don't apply.
You can search to find the answers to most of your questions since they've been asked many times before.

JamieS · 03-11-2007, 04:47 PM

I saw some things on the 99.9 thing but I didn't know if it was normal to see it most of the time.

I thought most cars would play CDs with MP3s on them so I thought it was referring to the MP3 player, for which there was no cord included [erm, yeah]. I don't think we have the 6-CD changer, if that's what you mean.

Right. Thanks for the answers!

daniel · 03-11-2007, 06:47 PM

When the car is calculating MPG, it does not take into account the electricity being used. So it "calculates" infinite mpg and displays 99.9. It will show 99.9 any time the actual instantaneous mpg is over 100. CAN-View displays up to 250, so I sometimes see numbers between 99.9 and 250, for example, when coasting at engine idle.

The early model years of the Prius would not play MP3 CDs.

There may be ways of locking the key fob in the car, but it would require trying. If the car detects the fob inside the car, you cannot lock it using the smart-lock button on the door handle. You can only lock it using the fob itself or the metal key, and in either case you have that with you. And if you disable SKS (using the button under the dash) then the smart-lock button won't work.

I admit I do not know if you can manually lock the door while it's open using the inside lock button, and then slam it closed and locked, as you could do from the passenger doors of my 1989 Civic.

And we're always happy to help newbies here. Asking questions about the car will not get you hated. (Some people will tell you to do a search... others will be happy to share what they know.)

redrockprius · 03-11-2007, 08:39 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rainydysandmondys @ Mar 11 2007, 01:47 PM) [snapback]403875[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I thought most cars would play CDs with MP3s on them so I thought it was referring to the MP3 player, for which there was no cord included [erm, yeah]. I don't think we have the 6-CD changer, if that's what you mean.

[/b]

The earlier suggestion that MP3 capability comes only with the 6-CD changer is incorrect. I have Package 2 which does not have a multi-CD player but will play MP3 CDs. If you are referring to using an MP3 player (like an iPod), there is an audio port at the front (inside) of the center console where the device can plug in and play through the car's audio system. You do have to provide your own cable (which, I guess, is what you meant by cord).

JamieS · 03-11-2007, 08:46 PM

Indeed it is. Cable, cord...meh.

I guess there's no cigarette lighter in the Prius, is there? I'll have to remember that when looking for an iPod cable. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good one?

Thanks for all of the answers everyone.

cwerdna · 03-11-2007, 08:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rainydysandmondys @ Mar 11 2007, 05:46 PM) [snapback]403961[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Indeed it is. Cable, cord...meh.

I guess there's no cigarette lighter in the Prius, is there? I'll have to remember that when looking for an iPod cable. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good one?
[/b]

Sure there are. There are two power outlets in the Prius. As for iPod cable, if you have a package that includes the audio input jack, then any standard male to male 3.5 mm stereo cable will do. Don't go wasting your money on something really fancy.

As for preventing you from locking your key in the car, someone else already addressed it. Go ahead and try it. You'll hear a long beep and the car will refuse to lock. If you're really worried, make sure you have the other key somewhere accessible or hold onto the emergency manual metal key. My dealer demoed this to me the day I picked it up. Sounds like your salesman didn't bother to.

JimN · 03-11-2007, 09:31 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rainydysandmondys @ Mar 11 2007, 07:46 PM) [snapback]403961[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Indeed it is. Cable, cord...meh.

I guess there's no cigarette lighter in the Prius, is there? I'll have to remember that when looking for an iPod cable. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good one?

Thanks for all of the answers everyone.
[/b]

As stated there are 2 aux power ports, 1 in the dash, 1 in the center arm rest. The cigarette lighter itself is an accessory sold seperately.

03-11-2007, 02:26 PM	#1
JamieS Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Right, so you all are probably going to hate me for starting one of these lame newbie topics, but we just got a Prius and I'm a tad perplexed... Why does the display frequently say "99.9 MPG"? There's no way we're getting that. Also, we've driven a good 90 miles and the fuel gauge still reads completely full. It was the car that the dealer used to drive about in, so it already had 900 miles or so on it [not on the same tank of gas, obviously]. I have no clue about the package number on it, but when it says like MP3 compatible, what exactly does that mean? We have that whole smart key thing; does it have anything to prevent you locking it in the car? If it's in the car, is it close enough for the door button to lock the car? I guess if it is, then it's close enough for the handle sensor to unlock it, right? Did I just answer my own question? Lol. I guess that's it for now...thanks a lot! [Oh, and she needs a name. My friend has dubbed her Pricilla, but I don't know how much I like that. Primavera [Spanish for spring] is pretty and she's silver pine mica so sort of a spring-esque color, but that doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.] __________________ <div align="center">2007 Silver Pine Mica Prius Philbert Pedro Paco Sunshine Rainbow Earthchild VII Oh, it is love. </div>

03-11-2007, 06:47 PM	#5
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 9,148 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	When the car is calculating MPG, it does not take into account the electricity being used. So it "calculates" infinite mpg and displays 99.9. It will show 99.9 any time the actual instantaneous mpg is over 100. CAN-View displays up to 250, so I sometimes see numbers between 99.9 and 250, for example, when coasting at engine idle. The early model years of the Prius would not play MP3 CDs. There may be ways of locking the key fob in the car, but it would require trying. If the car detects the fob inside the car, you cannot lock it using the smart-lock button on the door handle. You can only lock it using the fob itself or the metal key, and in either case you have that with you. And if you disable SKS (using the button under the dash) then the smart-lock button won't work. I admit I do not know if you can manually lock the door while it's open using the inside lock button, and then slam it closed and locked, as you could do from the passenger doors of my 1989 Civic. And we're always happy to help newbies here. Asking questions about the car will not get you hated. (Some people will tell you to do a search... others will be happy to share what they know.) __________________ Daniel ---------------------- Primary car: Zap Xebra SD: 100% electric car. 1.9 cents per mile, using electrons generated from water power. (The Prius is my gas guzzler, used when I have to travel farther than 35 miles in a day.) "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

03-11-2007, 04:47 PM	#4
JamieS Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I saw some things on the 99.9 thing but I didn't know if it was normal to see it most of the time. I thought most cars would play CDs with MP3s on them so I thought it was referring to the MP3 player, for which there was no cord included [erm, yeah]. I don't think we have the 6-CD changer, if that's what you mean. Right. Thanks for the answers!

03-11-2007, 08:46 PM	#7
JamieS Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 74 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Indeed it is. Cable, cord...meh. I guess there's no cigarette lighter in the Prius, is there? I'll have to remember that when looking for an iPod cable. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good one? Thanks for all of the answers everyone.