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Is there anyway to check 12 Volt battery health with a OBDII Adapter ?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Markee, Jul 6, 2015.

  1. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Just wondering if theirs a app or maybe Torque plugin that will allow me to check and or monitor the 12 Volt battery health on my newly purchased 2013 Level 4 Prius ?
    My gas millage is not looking right to me
     
  2. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    You'll have better luck with scangauge II because it displays the 12v voltage even when the car is off. You can use it to monitor a lot of other parameters as well. I have 3 daisy chained. You can also use the radio display to monitor the 12V voltage by going into the diagnostic menu. If you want to replace the 12V battery, you can modify the stock battery tray and install a group 25 battery instead of the wimpy 46B24R.
     
  3. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Thanks for the reply
    I'm trying to work with what I have on hand I don't have a Scangauge II I just have one of those OBD adapters
    The battery thing sounds interesting but whats the benefit what does it buy you ?
    Better gas millage?
    At this point my vehicle is still under warranty so maybe not a great idea to do any extreme battery mods

    Anyways you sound like you know whats what much better then me
    maybe you can look at the millage issue I'm having and chime in on what you think

    Instead of explaining it all over again please just check my other thread below
    MPG Issue | PriusChat
     
  4. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    It doesn't get better gas mileage. it's a more powerful battery so it doesn't quickly die on you from leaving the dome lights on. I just saw that thread. You have more issues than just the battery. In fact, if you can start your Prius without a jump, chances are your 12v battery has nothing to do with your poor mileage.
     
  5. Markee

    Markee Member

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    I have no problems starting ever if the battery is not up to its prime health i don't see any real symptoms other then when I'm not driving waiting at a like a drive-thru for more then maybe 5 mins with A/C cranking the battery bars will start bottoming out is that normal ?

    So you say other problems like what ? I have no clue
    How would you handle it ?
     
  6. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Your AC uses the HV pack not the 12V. If you drain the HV pack down to 2 bars due to AC, it will result in poor mileage. The gas engine will kick on to recharge the HV pack. AC will use 20% more gas than no AC. Your poor mileage could be from using AC while not moving.
     
  7. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Whats the HV pack?
    Anyways I'm not doing anything different with this Prius then i did with my previous Prius but this ones getting much worse MPG
     
  8. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    HV=high voltage pack. You really need to get an OBDII reader that can read the Prius parameters so you can see why your Prius is using more gas than your previous.
     
  9. Markee

    Markee Member

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    I have a OBDII reader i just don't know how to use it to to get the reading i would need ?
     
  10. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    What kind of OBDII reader is it? Diagnostic code readers won't work. You need one that can be custom programed such as Scangauge II. This is my setup.
    Scangauge.jpg
    RPM - engine revs per minute
    BHP - brake horse power so I know how much horse power the engine is putting out
    MPG - instant MPG
    AVG - trip average MPG
    SOC - high voltage state of charge
    BV+ - HV battery voltage
    BRK - mechanical brake, any number higher than 0.0 means the brake is active.
    Amp - HV current draw positive number means current draw, negative number means regen
    XCL - accelerator pedal position 0-100 100 means completely floored
    FWT - coolant temperature
    GAL - fuel level in gallons measures 11.4 for full tank to .7 for empty
    fIN - Inverter coolant temperature in Fahrenheit. This one gets switched out with VLT so I can monitor the 12V battery voltage
    If you only have 1 scangauge, I would use SOC, BRK, Amp and RPM. With these 4 parameters, you can monitor if your engine is running, battery charge level, current draw and regen amperage, and whether your mechanical brake is active or not. If you have these info, you can see in real time why you're using so much gas. Also have you done your recall on your 2010? Many people have reported that the recall resulted in lower MPG. I'm sure that the 2014 had the recall done. I also noticed that after the recall is done on my car, the regen is not as much as before. I used to constantly get -90amps of regen. After the recall, I noticed a lot lower regen amperage, around -60amps. Now, the only time I see -90+ amps regen is when the battery temperature is cool like within the 10 minutes of driving. Once the battery gets warm, it drops down to -60 to -30amps regen. When it gets really hot like 100+F, I lose regen completely and only mechanical brake.
     
    Priusguy78213 likes this.
  11. cyclopathic

    cyclopathic Senior Member

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    I think it is reported there in Torque parameters, and you can graph it too. At least it is there on C, have done it in the past. I'll check if Gen3 lists it when I get a chance.
     
  12. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Heres my Torgue Test Results Have no idea what any of the stuff means
     

    Attached Files:

    #12 Markee, Jul 6, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 6, 2015
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you'd be better off buying a ten dollar digital volt meter on amazon.
     
  14. Markee

    Markee Member

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    I can just go right over to Walmart and buy one instantly just not exactly sure how to test it goggled around for some kind of video walk thru on how to check a Gen 3 12volt battery couldn't find even one for the Gen 3 just a bunch for Gen 2

    I did figure out how to get into maintenance-mode for Gen 3 below link I posted with pictures if anyone knows how to get around once in there to check the battery stats please chime in I'm afraid I might mess something up in there that i can't undo

    How to get into maintenance mode on a 2013 to check the 12V Battery ? | PriusChat
     
  15. Markee

    Markee Member

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  16. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Service Menu > Function Check/Settings > Vehicle Signal
    To exit, just turn off the car.
     
  17. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Don't get too hung up on the 12V battery. It's not what's causing the poor MPG. AGM batteries almost never fail within first 2 years.
     
  18. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Ok i hear you on that so what you think I should hit up the dealer ?
     
  19. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Have you tried pulse and glide method just to see if you can get the mileage up? I have stock 17's. If I drive without P&G and without AC, I get about 55mpg on an 11 mile trip including initial warm up. Same method, same route, same warmup but this time with AC, I get 49mpg. If I P&G, no AC same trip same warmup, I get between 60 and 65mpg. All reading from MFD. If I P&G with AC, I get about 51MPG. The AC just drains the battery where even when I glide, the ICE stays on to charge the battery. I pulse to 45mpg and glide down to 35 at 0 regen and repeat.
    bottom line is something is keeping your ICE running more than it should or using more gas while it's running. Without driving it myself and do an exact A and B comparison personally, I honestly don't know what to suggest.
     
  20. Markee

    Markee Member

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    Yeah I've done pulse and glide method on both it helps to increase the mpg but its too annoying always watching the gauges while your driving making sure your gliding and not burning fuel gave up on that mess get killed watching the gauges and not watching the road

    Just did a 15min drive to the mall and I got like 28 avg mpgs

    Isn't the dealer obligated to fix this under warranty ?