Weird issues after getting the recall update?

If you can get their attention... Go ahead!

 

Bob Wilson said he was going to do some analysis on his car before and after drinking the Koolaid

Mike

 

I was referring to a major crash caused by the decrease in power post-update. Sort of the opposite of unintended acceleration.. .maybe inadequate acceleration.

 

I bit the bullet and had my recall done yesterday (on my 2013 Prius IV). So far I am pleased. The gas mileage is better than I normally see and acceleration is good. Maybe I had one of the inferior software versions before. I also used to have hesitation accelerating on a cold engine. Have not noticed that but maybe the conditions have not been the same. Since there were reportedly two different software versions for the 2013, that could skew any measurements that try to see what's changed. Just my report.

 

Well, that's exactly what takes here to get media's attention. Somebody has to die. Any volunteer?

 

Question, when you turn on your car in ECO Mode and your are in the Hybrid System Display (the one showing your accelerations from EV to ECO to PWR), if you switch to D but you still pushing the brake, is the ECO icon (in the right of the EV icon) on that same screen ON or OFF? Also, the line dividing the EV area from the ECO area on that screen does not it disappears from time to time (I think that's right when you turn on or put the car in P).

Does anyone have noticed these things?

 

"Tombstone" mentality is a post-mortem attention getter.

 

My recall / software update completed 3/15

First commute to work results since -

27.5 miles round trip, gage reset in morning
57 mpg on gage
28 mph average
63 Farenheit at end of commute, 54 in morning
SF Bay Area, dry, flat roads except for small overpasses
38 psi front / 36 psi rear, car is all stock, 22,300 total miles.

I cannot tell any difference in how it drives at this point.

 

I just read off Toyota's site that this update recall is voluntary, not mandatory

Toyota Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Toyota Prius, RAV4, Tacoma and Lexus RX 350 Vehicles | Corporate

Mike

 

Voluntary in that Toyota voluntarily initiated the recall, instead of the Feds mandating the recall.

 

Only Kalifornia requires the update or they will not issue license tabs. The other states don't demand it to be done.

Mike

 

The 0-60 time may be reported as the same but the Prius is probably just a smidge faster, considering that both cars have the same engine but the Prius is lighter and more aerodynamic. With that said I would guess that the Lexus would "feel" peppier because it probably has a more aggressive throttle mapping, but if both pedals are pushed all the way to the floor I would expect the Prius to have a slight edge.

 

Is the Lexus getting the updated software?

Mike

 

I'd be cool to have a drag day for Toyota & Lexus Hybrids

Mike

 

In tuning my past vehicles I learned that modern computer ECUs generally will adapt and change fuel and timing mappings over time based on certain conditions. This is generally a good thing because while the cars all have the same mapping coming out of the factory, the ECU will be allowed to adjust based on things like elevation, temperature, etc. so that the car can perform ideally under many conditions.

This adjustment doesn't necessarily happen immediately. Rather (again, speaking for past vehicles here), what happens is the ECU will make adjustments to what is called a "short term fuel trim", which are basically small real-time adjustments to fuel mappings to try to match current conditions. Over time, if the ECU is constantly making these small adjustments, it then copies them to a "long term fuel trim" table where they are basically stored in memory.

I have a feeling that what we are seeing is that with this software update, the trim tables are getting reset and the car needs to relearn its mappings. I've already read a few reports of people saying the car starts to drive more normally as more time passes after the update, which makes me think that this may be what we are seeing here.

 

I fully understand what you are saying. I drove 2k miles last week and the car was a turd throughout those 2k miles

Mike

wanderin around on my phone

 

Mine seems ok now. Either I've got used to it OR it's settled down.

BUT

the top end is still flat. The car doesn't seem to pull up hills as easily and utilises the engine more, causing the car to sound harsh; like hammering a 1.0 litre hatch up the same hill. Overtaking is down a little too as previously reported. Economy seems to be creeping up a little, but that could be the warmer weather.

Is all this a major problem to me? Nah. Would it be nice to have that smooth, quieter acceleration again? Sure. Do I want my inverter to go pop again. No. Am I as happy as I've ever be? Yeah.

 

I took these while driving I95 today. Outside temp was 59 degrees and had cruise set to 75 mph most of the drive, although had to slow down twice due to roadside construction. I was worried about my mpg after the update since it uses the gas engine more, but can't complain with these results.

 

Here is the thing. The difference (ie less electric assist) is only felt during the first seconds of WOT acceleration and conversely MAX regeneration is reduced.

There will be ZERO impact on steady state driving (ie flat hwy) or ECO style driving with mild to moderate acceleration.

We need to make this clear, because it's confusing some readers here.

 

How are tank averages running 70 sumthin?

Mike