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Tire alignment diagnosis help

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by F8L, Jul 7, 2011.

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  1. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'm not well versed in alignment lingo so if anyone can help me determine if my "before alignment" specs were potentially hurting my fuel efficiency I would be grateful. :)

    Attached is a photo of the data sheet. Not the change in Toe.
     

    Attached Files:

    #1 F8L, Jul 7, 2011
  2. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Your after front toe numbers should help economy a bit. Whether or not it's big enough change to see in your gas mileage is another question.

    You might also notice a bit more highway straight line steering stability and a bit more reluctance to bite into a corner. Cornering capability shouldn't be effected, but it probably won't seem as eager to start into a corner.

    Note the differences on the specs other than front toe. Any difference between before and after on those is variation in their measurements. Actually, it looks like they did pretty good on repeatability.

    Which shop was that? I like the fact that the got the toe numbers so close to nominal
     
    #2 xs650, Jul 7, 2011
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Thanks for the interpretation!

    I was hoping the alignment was off which explain my poor mpg. I hope it's not a battery issue.

    I had the alignment done at Magnusson Toyota in Auburn. They have provided the best service of any dealer I've ever used.
     
    #3 F8L, Jul 7, 2011
  4. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    Have you noticed any differences driving it?
     
    #4 xs650, Jul 7, 2011
  5. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    have you replaced the 12v battery?
     
    #5 V8Cobrakid, Jul 7, 2011
  6. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    No really difference in driving feel and mpg is still really low. Doing 70mph the instant mpg sits around 35mpg to 40mpg. At 55mph the instant was between 38 and 50mpg. Something just isn't right. The SOC seems to always start off in the low to mid 50s then takes a really long time to reach 60. It used to charge up to 65% quickly and stay there during freeway driving.

    The 12v battery was replaced 2 yrs ago or so with an Optima yellow top.
     
    #6 F8L, Jul 7, 2011
  7. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Set up your Scangauge to monitor the HV battery block high voltage and low voltage, and see if there are times when the difference is more than 0.2V.
     
    #7 seilerts, Jul 7, 2011
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I'll monitor that on my 45min commute tomorrow morning. It's 98% freeway. Would that make a difference?
     
    #8 F8L, Jul 7, 2011
  9. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    There should be some improvement in straight line stability. My SWAG is that it will be noticeable, but wheel alignment vs feel isn't always predictable, particularly when a human driver is involved. You might feel a little more steering input required to execute a lane change.
     
    #9 xs650, Jul 7, 2011
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    The car does feel like it tracks straighter and wanders less now. I have not tested it in the corners yet. :)
     
    #10 F8L, Jul 8, 2011
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Do you know the codes for that? All I see is for HV Battery volts but not high and low codes.
     
    #11 F8L, Jul 8, 2011
  12. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    I'm sorry, I thought there was an X-Gauge for those. Try cell soc delta instead. It should be zero under normal conditions.

    You may not see much happening unless you head east on I-80 towards Donner pass, or otherwise take a route that will get you down to 1 bar SoC on the MFD.
     
    #12 seilerts, Jul 8, 2011
  13. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Ok and what should I be looking for?
     
    #13 F8L, Jul 8, 2011
  14. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    A significant deviation from zero. I think 60% triggers the "Battery Block Becomes Weak" DTC for replacing the hybrid battery.

    Also, just look for driveability problems. Did you formerly zip over passes at 70 mph, and now you are crawling over at 40 mph with full throttle? If so, my assumption is that the equivalent of the Honda negative recal is happening, where the battery is demanding current to try to rebalance the pack, at a time when the ICE is least able to power the MGs to generate it. That's why monitoring cell soc delta and BTA might be informative.
     
    #14 seilerts, Jul 9, 2011
  15. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Thank you for your help with this, seilerts.

    when I was at the dealer they measured my 12v battery voltage and it was 12.1 and passed. To my mind that is too low. I checked it this morning after sitting for over 12 hours it measured 12.4 volts at the battery terminals.

    I 'mgoing to my storage unit to pick up the battery charger then I'll start watching the SOC variance.
     
    #15 F8L, Jul 9, 2011
  16. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    12.4 is good! What about those new Michelin tires. They may be the problem. You went with a 50 series did you not. I think too wide for a g2 if you want good FE. Hal
     
    #16 Hal W, Jul 9, 2011
  17. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Hi Hal. The new tires are the same size as the old ones, 215/45/17 and they should be broke in by now. :)
     
    #17 F8L, Jul 9, 2011
  18. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    F8L, try pumping your tires too about 80 psi, then check your FE. Those are a excellent tire you purchased so you would not think you would take a hit with them, but you never know! I do know that the 185/65/r15 is a good match for the car when it comes to economy but not the greatest for appearance! e-brake not set on the tight side by any chance? You warn't driving up hill again by any chance, where you? <grin>Hal
     
    #18 Hal W, Jul 10, 2011
  19. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    No abnormal hills, Hal. : p This is just my normal commute which does have a 1200 ft. elevation gain but I could still manage 50-53 mpg with the 15" tires.

    Do your guys think that adding shims to the rear to bring the toe to the lower end of Toyota specs would help FE?
     
    #19 F8L, Jul 10, 2011
  20. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    If you need/want to borrow a TIS cable and use the Toyota software for a couple days, let me know. I can help with the cable, I'll even swap it for my completed harley projector retrofit ;)
     
    #20 wick1ert, Jul 10, 2011
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