1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

ICE runs more on one prius vs the other

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by PriusGuy32, Sep 13, 2012.

  1. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I was going to buy a 2008 Prius Level 2. I test drove it twice. The ICE didnt fire until ~30mph and the traction battery almost always showed all bars but the top one. And it never started the ICE when I turned on the Prius. Turns out that car was rebuilt and in 2 serious crashes so I passed on it but thats a different thread altogether...

    Tonight I drove a 2007 Level 5 with less miles, better physical shape, no accidents. The traction battery started out at 3 bars from the top and was dropping as I test drove it :mad: The ICE kicked on every time I turned on the Prius and as soon as I hit 10mph or so.

    I had no accessories on at all - no a/c, no radio, no lights on either of the cars on either test drives. I kept it quiet so I can hear whats going on.

    Im new here so be gentle. But why would one pri not run the ICE much at all, and the other run it what seemed to be much more frequent? I committed to buy the 2007 tomorrow but wanted to check first before I got myself into trouble (the only warranty that still exists is the remainder 8/100k). Thanks.
     
    #1 PriusGuy32, Sep 13, 2012
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    108,822
    49,435
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    i would buy the 07, sounds normal. the 08 maybe fine and perhaps you didn't notice the engine starting? if it's cold, it should start within a few seconds. did you try to drive them similarly?
     
    #2 bisco, Sep 13, 2012
  3. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    So the 2007 sounds normal? I thought the ICE would hold out (stay off) until at least 30mph.. but no matter how light I feathered the gas it would kick on around 10mph. I guess I shouldnt complain - I reset the mpg average and by the time my 20 minutes test ride was over it was averaging 58mpg and thats with me giving it a little juice a few times to 'test it out' :D

    And I guess you raise an interesting point- the first car I drove on a busy road, speed limit 55mph. The 2o07 I drove today was mostly residential with a brief 45-50mph sprint on a main road. So I guess I didnt drive them in a similar manner...
     
    #3 PriusGuy32, Sep 13, 2012
  4. nh7o

    nh7o Off grid since 1980

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2011
    1,686
    338
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    II
    A quite small change in the battery state of charge can make a very noticeable difference in how the ICE behaves. If the SOC is 7 bars, I can get EV mode more easily than if the SOC is 6 bars, and much more easily than if it is 5 bars. ICE turn on depends on how much demand you make from the go pedal, not how fast you go. The bottom line is MPG, so if you can get 50+, things are likely OK.
     
    #4 nh7o, Sep 14, 2012
  5. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    The first prius may have just had the engine pre-warmed before you drove it. The higher initial SOC will also make a difference to your experience in a short drive.

    To set you mind at ease before you buy the 07 I suggest you take it for a longer test drive that let's the engine properly warm up and the SOC (state of charge) to reach it's nominal value of 6 bars. It may also benefit from letting it warm up (idle) with the transmission in "P" for about 45 to 60 seconds before driving.

    BTW. Did you notice if the seller of the first Prius had just driven it immediately before handing the wheel over to you? A smart seller my have warmed and coaxed it into hybrid stage 4 (a carefully guarded secret state in which the Prius performs best) before handing it over.
     
    #5 uart, Sep 14, 2012
    HaroldW likes this.
  6. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    510
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Not normal. Should be 5 ~ 6 bars.
    Not normal. Should have ~ 1 minute stage one warm up even if the engine is hot.
    That explains it. Good move to avoid it.

    It shouldn't drop once you start driving it. Where did it drop to? 2 bars? 1 bar? If you are sure about this then it is not normal.
    Duh I didn't see the "from the top". As long as it stays around 5 ~ 6 bars it should be OK. In the warm up stage the engine gives zero power and large currents are drawn from the HV battery to provide power. So it is likely you may see drop in SOC in the first minute or two.
    Normal.
    From Toyota or some unknown insurer?
     
    #6 2009Prius, Sep 14, 2012
  7. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks for the clarification(s)!!! I need all the help I can get, Im a noob to the Pri...lol.

    The 8/100k remainder is from Toyota. Im not sure if Im still covered under the 5/60k (depends on when they took delivery of the car - Ill have to ask tonight).

    I pulled the service history on the Toyotas owner site and its impeccable. Oil changes every 5000 miles, recall performed, something about the HID being replaced under a recall, a fog light burnt out, transmission fluid change at 50000 miles per customers request (right now Im at 53500 miles), brakes replaced on customers request.

    I just got back from my credit union and closed on the loan. Im going to pick up my Prius at 2:30pm today (y)
     
    #7 PriusGuy32, Sep 14, 2012
    usnavystgc likes this.
  8. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Hi PriusGuy. I just noticed (from your second post) that you did actually take this Prius from a fairly long test drive. Surely after it was warmed up the state of charge increased back to it's nominal 6 bars (2 from top). In your opening post you only mentioned it 3 down and falling so I assumed you only took it for a short test and never got to see it recover. Can you clarify what happened after about 5 minutes of so?
     
    #8 uart, Sep 14, 2012
  9. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Sure. Thanks for replying.

    This is for the car I drove last night that Im buying at 230pm today :D

    When I showed up to the owners house, I popped the hood (before even getting in the drivers seat) and checked the oil level, coolant levels, etc. The engine was warm - not hot - but warm like it had been driven in the last 4-6 hours. The owners wife said she went and got groceries with it.

    Got in car, went through start sequences, after about 5-10 seconds the ICE kicks on. The car was located DEEP within a huge subdivision with many stop signs and yields. I then drove (and subsequently got lost trying to find my way to a main road, LOL) for about 10 minutes and noticed that the ICE would shut off when coasting and stopping, of course, but as soon as I accelerated to 10 mph it would come back on. I could not hear it come on, but the info center said it did. I got to a main road and drove about 40mph for a mile or so, one time dropping the hammer to make sure the CVT and ICE were noise/problem free. Came to a red light (a long one, geesh), turn, hit 10mph, ICE back on.

    Maybe I didnt drive it long enough to get through all of the stages. Either way, Im buying it tonight so I hope nothing is wrong with it :confused:
     
    #9 PriusGuy32, Sep 14, 2012
  10. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2009
    2,705
    510
    63
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Glad to be able to help and this site is great for info about Prius. I wish I had known about this site before I bought the car.

    With the good service record, low but not too low mileage, and Toyota warranty, you've got a good buy. Good luck!
     
    #10 2009Prius, Sep 14, 2012
  11. usnavystgc

    usnavystgc Die Hard DIYer and Ebike enthusiast.

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2011
    3,159
    989
    0
    Location:
    Tucson, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    This Prius is running normal. The ICE is needed most when gaining speed above 10mph. It is very (and I mean very) hard not to start the ICE above 13 mph when accelerating. You must remember that the Prius is primarily a gasoline engine car with electric assist. Its real advantage is the HSD system that stops/starts the ICE. This is why city driving nets better mpg than hwy. This sounds like a good car that has been well taken care of.
     
    #11 usnavystgc, Sep 14, 2012
  12. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Ok picked it up at 230 and drove it back to my work 15 miles in moderate traffic, the ICE is now (as you guys promised!) not kicking in all of the time. My MPG's are about 48-49 average but I think the tire pressures need to be adjusted a little, the front tires "look" low.

    Thanks for all of the help! :)
     
    #12 PriusGuy32, Sep 14, 2012
  13. uart

    uart Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2009
    4,215
    1,200
    0
    Location:
    Australia
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Run the tires at a pressure (Font/Rear) of at least 40/38 psi.

    Setting 40/38 seems to be a pretty good compromise between comfort and fuel economy. Personally I'm using 42/40 and some members here are using even higher.
     
    #13 uart, Sep 15, 2012
    HaroldW likes this.
  14. HaroldW

    HaroldW Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2012
    716
    95
    0
    Location:
    Grand Forks BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Good luck with your new Prius PriusGuy32. Is this the car without auto head lights? Sounds like a nice car. H
     
    #14 HaroldW, Sep 15, 2012
  15. PriusGuy32

    PriusGuy32 Prius Driver Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2012
    1,417
    510
    0
    Location:
    Harrison Township, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Yeah. Its a level 5. From what Ive read, only Canadian Prius got the auto headlamps. US ones did not. I searched the site and found several good writeups on installing an aftermarket "auto headlamp" unit. Im going to do that.

    Im LOVING the Prius. I dont miss my Envoy at all, and I owned it for a little over eight years. Im already enjoying driving around more knowing that Im getting 45+ mpg. Plus its comfy, relatively quick, and loaded with fun stuffs that make sure I dont get bored easily (im a nerd) lol :D
     
    #15 PriusGuy32, Sep 15, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)