Lost all Power going up mountain passes

wileec · 07-31-2007, 03:03 PM

I have searched and must have missed in my wording so here it goes... We live in CO over the weekend headed up to the mountains and on ANY hill over a few minutes long we lost allability to keep up with any trafic except for the 18 wheelers crawling along the shoulders. Even whe we started a hill with full battery on the MFD with in a minute or two it was gone and we were barely moving.
We ave had the Prius for almost two years now and are very pleased.
Is this going to be normal for us or is something wrong? If there is what do we need to tell the dealer to get it fixed correctly.

The info I did see in the searches had more to do with MPG than performance. I know driving up 8-10 miles of 6-8% grade will totally jack my MPH but I would like to do so at a reasonable speed.

**efusco** · 07-31-2007, 03:26 PM

Most people who live in your area feel that the Prius does pretty well on those mountain roads. If you're traveling at speeds in excess of the speed limit you'll drain the battery faster and end up on an ICE only low power condition much sooner than if you're staying at the speed limit.

Also, heavy loads in the car will require more power and drain the battery faster as well with the same result.

So, if your 'reasonable speed' is the speed limit and you're still doing this I guess you'll just have to live with it. If you're trying to go 80 on I70 up the mountain then yea, you're probably going to manage to go fast for a while then end up going slower than the rest of traffic.

David Beale · 07-31-2007, 03:33 PM

Check your air filter. Dirty air filter will severely drop power. I had no problem at 110 km/hr (close to 70 MPH) on an 8% grade highway. Not at high altitude though. I was passing SUVs (and they were not happy

).

wileec · 07-31-2007, 03:34 PM

We have noticed that the ICE low power seems to come on almost right away. Sunday when coming back to Denver from Georgetown. After regening most of the way down we started Floyde Hill with all bars in the green and with in a mile or two were stuck in ICE low power.

If I could be close to the speed limet on 70 I would be happy.

BTW filter is less that 5k old but I will check.

subarutoo · 07-31-2007, 03:35 PM

Never had a problem with my 06 on hills, Baker Grade to Vegas, 99 highway Grapevine, coastal mountain ranges. Not Colorado, but up to 4,000 + feet. I go over several long hills every day, no big deal. I set the cruise at 70, and it just zooms right up. Slowing for SUVs and 18 wheelers loses momentum, but it catches up. If this is a recent happening, get to to the dealer. If its been gradually over 2 years, maybe the battery is dying, not likely. How many miles on the car? Many Prius drivers drive too slow, and have no momentum when the hill comes up. Like I said, criuse at 70, and it should go right up.

wileec · 07-31-2007, 03:56 PM

30K on the car My thought was also the battery but seems like many more would have reported problems like this if that were the case. I can not beleive that elevation would effect the Prius that much. My old Honda civic will run 70-80 up the same hills no prob.

oldtown · 07-31-2007, 04:37 PM

Cracked spark plug wire insulation can cause a loss of power under heavy load, IFF you have a variable voltage ignition system. I am not sure if the Prius does or not. There the voltage increases when you are "bogged down" to get better ignition. This can cause marginal spark plug wires to short out to the block. Rodents sometimes chew on the insulation as well and may cause intermittent high voltage leaks. High voltage leaks get worse at higher altitude, too, because of less dielectric constant in the air mainly due to less water vapor.

I had a Saturn that wouldn't go up steep hills but ran all right on the level. I did all the filter stuff and found out about the spark plug wires by watching the engine running on a dark night while someone rev'd it. Just like lightning! A set of spark plug wires is a cheap fix.

Also, solid state ignitions can have HV leaks, too. Not a cheap fix. They s

hould cause a fault code, though.

qbee42 · 07-31-2007, 04:56 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wileec @ Jul 31 2007, 03:56 PM) [snapback]488252[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

30K on the car My thought was also the battery but seems like many more would have reported problems like this if that were the case. I can not beleive that elevation would effect the Prius that much. My old Honda civic will run 70-80 up the same hills no prob.
[/b]

Is this a new problem? Another poster asked this same question, but you didn't answer it. It's extremely important from a diagnostic standpoint.

Tom

priussweetie · 07-31-2007, 05:01 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jul 31 2007, 02:56 PM) [snapback]488285[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Is this a new problem? Another poster asked this same question, but you didn't answer it. It's extremely important from a diagnostic standpoint.

Tom
[/b]

Wileec's wife...This problem has only occurred twice, but we have only taken it into the mountains twice.

richard schumacher · 07-31-2007, 05:12 PM

Did you keep the gas pedal in the same position as when you were on a mild grade, or did you floor it?

Don't be afraid to mash the pedal to the floor whenever necessary; the engine will roar, but this is normal, and the computers will not allow it to over-rev.

07-31-2007, 03:26 PM	#2
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 14,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 1 Time in 1 Post TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 24	Most people who live in your area feel that the Prius does pretty well on those mountain roads. If you're traveling at speeds in excess of the speed limit you'll drain the battery faster and end up on an ICE only low power condition much sooner than if you're staying at the speed limit. Also, heavy loads in the car will require more power and drain the battery faster as well with the same result. So, if your 'reasonable speed' is the speed limit and you're still doing this I guess you'll just have to live with it. If you're trying to go 80 on I70 up the mountain then yea, you're probably going to manage to go fast for a while then end up going slower than the rest of traffic. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD Seaside 04BC9/OEM EVb/NAV & auto-BT/XM Radio, CAN-View, Shark Fin, BT Stiff. Plate, Skid Plate & Strut Support

07-31-2007, 03:35 PM	#5
subarutoo Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chatsworth, CA Posts: 1,063 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Never had a problem with my 06 on hills, Baker Grade to Vegas, 99 highway Grapevine, coastal mountain ranges. Not Colorado, but up to 4,000 + feet. I go over several long hills every day, no big deal. I set the cruise at 70, and it just zooms right up. Slowing for SUVs and 18 wheelers loses momentum, but it catches up. If this is a recent happening, get to to the dealer. If its been gradually over 2 years, maybe the battery is dying, not likely. How many miles on the car? Many Prius drivers drive too slow, and have no momentum when the hill comes up. Like I said, criuse at 70, and it should go right up. __________________ Chatsworth, CA 06 Prius, White, Option 6, Visual Garage Shark Fin Antenna, BT Chassis Plate, BFG G-Force Sport 205-60 15 NO trim rings, Scangauge II. Other cars: '96 Subaru Outback, '00 Subaru Impreza RS

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07-31-2007, 03:03 PM	#1
wileec Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have searched and must have missed in my wording so here it goes... We live in CO over the weekend headed up to the mountains and on ANY hill over a few minutes long we lost allability to keep up with any trafic except for the 18 wheelers crawling along the shoulders. Even whe we started a hill with full battery on the MFD with in a minute or two it was gone and we were barely moving. We ave had the Prius for almost two years now and are very pleased. Is this going to be normal for us or is something wrong? If there is what do we need to tell the dealer to get it fixed correctly. The info I did see in the searches had more to do with MPG than performance. I know driving up 8-10 miles of 6-8% grade will totally jack my MPH but I would like to do so at a reasonable speed.

07-31-2007, 03:33 PM	#3
David Beale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,551 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Check your air filter. Dirty air filter will severely drop power. I had no problem at 110 km/hr (close to 70 MPH) on an 8% grade highway. Not at high altitude though. I was passing SUVs (and they were not happy ).

07-31-2007, 03:34 PM	#4
wileec Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	We have noticed that the ICE low power seems to come on almost right away. Sunday when coming back to Denver from Georgetown. After regening most of the way down we started Floyde Hill with all bars in the green and with in a mile or two were stuck in ICE low power. If I could be close to the speed limet on 70 I would be happy. BTW filter is less that 5k old but I will check.

07-31-2007, 03:56 PM	#6
wileec Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	30K on the car My thought was also the battery but seems like many more would have reported problems like this if that were the case. I can not beleive that elevation would effect the Prius that much. My old Honda civic will run 70-80 up the same hills no prob.

07-31-2007, 04:37 PM	#7
oldtown Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 9 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Cracked spark plug wire insulation can cause a loss of power under heavy load, IFF you have a variable voltage ignition system. I am not sure if the Prius does or not. There the voltage increases when you are "bogged down" to get better ignition. This can cause marginal spark plug wires to short out to the block. Rodents sometimes chew on the insulation as well and may cause intermittent high voltage leaks. High voltage leaks get worse at higher altitude, too, because of less dielectric constant in the air mainly due to less water vapor. I had a Saturn that wouldn't go up steep hills but ran all right on the level. I did all the filter stuff and found out about the spark plug wires by watching the engine running on a dark night while someone rev'd it. Just like lightning! A set of spark plug wires is a cheap fix. Also, solid state ignitions can have HV leaks, too. Not a cheap fix. They s hould cause a fault code, though.

07-31-2007, 05:12 PM	#10
richard schumacher nacreous lacquer Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4,126 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Did you keep the gas pedal in the same position as when you were on a mild grade, or did you floor it? Don't be afraid to mash the pedal to the floor whenever necessary; the engine will roar, but this is normal, and the computers will not allow it to over-rev.