Engine no stop but no battary recharge

[sszhangliu]

There is something wrong with my II Pruis. When I wait for the traffic light, the engine does not stop (99.9 L/100km) but the screen shows that no battary recharging happens (no any arrows on the screen). It happens sometimes but not always. The engine will not stop automatically unless I power my car off, then power on again. Then everything is OK. The result is higher consumption from 4.5 L/100km to 4.7. I am sure it has nothing to do with the A/C. It happens when A/C off.

My Pruis was bought in October 2006 and now it has already run just over 50,000 km. I am worrying I will have to pay to repair it because it is just out of the "50K km or 2-year" guarantee.

If it happens in winter, I can understand, but now it is the warmest season in a year, is it still normal? Please see these pictures. The first one is when it happens, and the second one is after I restart my car right away.

Who can tell me what happens to my car. Thanks in advance.

[Bob64]

Does this happen after 15 minutes of driving?

Do you have a scangauge or other utility to monitor your coolant temp?

How long does the engine stay idling? Do you have the A/C set to defrost or heat?

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by sszhangliu

... When I wait for the traffic light, the engine does not stop (99.9 L/100km) but the screen shows that no battary recharging happens (no any arrows on the screen). It happens sometimes but not always... Who can tell me what happens to my car.

Maybe the hybrid vehicle ECU thinks that the traction battery is fully charged (note that seven green bars appear in your photo), so it is spinning the engine to use up the battery charge.

• How frequently does this happen?
• Next time this happens, let the engine continue to spin, and see how long it takes for the engine to turn off.
• When the engine does turn off, what is the traction battery SOC as displayed on the MFD?

If you don't have any warning lights appear, there will be no error codes logged and it is unlikely that your dealer will be able to take any action.

It is unfortunate that your warranty coverage is only for two years or 50K km.

Good luck.

[patsparks]

I think if you have been on a long gentle down hill run with the engine off or, looking at the state of charge you are at the bottom of a hill and the engine is cold. It needs to fire up to heat itself and the cat converter.

[Kremtok]

Mine does the same thing intermittently and infrequently. I didn't think anything was wrong, but I'll pay more attention to it and report back.

[sszhangliu]

Originally Posted by Bob64

Does this happen after 15 minutes of driving?

Do you have a scangauge or other utility to monitor your coolant temp?

How long does the engine stay idling? Do you have the A/C set to defrost or heat?

Thanks for concern. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!

It happens right after every time I drive.

No any utilities to monitor the coolant temp.

The engine stay idling without stop (I did wait for its stop but no any hope for very long long time), unless I power my car off then repower it on.

I am 100% sure I do not set the A/C to defrost or heat. It is summer now here, the warmest season in the year.

[sszhangliu]

[quote=Patrick Wong;665258]How frequently does this happen?

• Next time this happens, let the engine continue to spin, and see how long it takes for the engine to turn off.
• When the engine does turn off, what is the traction battery SOC as displayed on the MFD?

If you don't have any warning lights appear, there will be no error codes logged and it is unlikely that your dealer will be able to take any action.

quote]

Thanks for concern!
Now it happens every time I drive. It keeps spinning if I do not power off.

[sszhangliu]

Originally Posted by patsparks

I think if you have been on a long gentle down hill run with the engine off or, looking at the state of charge you are at the bottom of a hill and the engine is cold. It needs to fire up to heat itself and the cat converter.

Thanks for concern!

No any hill in my city. Only very flat road. Now it is the warmest season and I do not think the engine need so long time to warm up.

[Patrick Wong]

Hmm, I have no idea why your engine doesn't turn off. However, if your fuel consumption was 4.5L/100 km and is now 4.7L/100 km, this is still quite outstanding. This is the equivalent of 52 miles/US gallon moving down to 50 miles/US gallon, which most US owners would find quite acceptable...

Unless you have any warning lights appear, I doubt that your dealer will be able to take action to help.

[Bob64]

Is there anything red flashing on the energy monitor screen? (perhaps your in inspection mode?)

Also, try using the A/C controls and set to auto and make sure that defrost and heat is not on.