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Engine revving up, High MPG

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Stephan Richard, Dec 2, 2014.

  1. Stephan Richard

    Stephan Richard New Member

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    I've gone through the forum but haven't found anything about the problem I'm currently experiencing. I noticed that the engine will start to revv up even without pressing the gas pedal. This happens even when the battery is fully charged. Driving slowly after the light just turned green and the MPG indicator has already peaked to its highest level. I powered the car off and on again and the problem seemed to have disappeared. Then the next time, it did it again. Any thoughts?
     
    #1 Stephan Richard, Dec 2, 2014
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    probably just warming up. did you just buy it? getting cold up there in scoshie?
     
    #2 bisco, Dec 2, 2014
  3. Stephan Richard

    Stephan Richard New Member

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    Second Prius. Owned this one since 2010 and never experienced that. I tested it with AC on and off, heat on and off. Problem is still there. My average consumption for the last 30km is 7.4 L/100km. This is way above normal.
     
    #3 Stephan Richard, Dec 2, 2014
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I think saying "high mpg" is going to confuse people.

    Check with dealership?
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Dec 2, 2014
  5. Stephan Richard

    Stephan Richard New Member

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    I'm getting it checked at the dealership next but was hoping to find some clues beforehand. I agree it's hard to explain the gauge at the right of the speed indicator that shows L/100km... anyway that indicator is often all the way up despite not having my foot on the gas pedal. Even when the engine revvs to recharge the battery, that indicator doesn't move.
     
    #5 Stephan Richard, Dec 2, 2014
  6. tankyuong

    tankyuong Senior Member

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    normal as the car is trying to release energy to prevent over charging
     
    #6 tankyuong, Dec 2, 2014
  7. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    How many miles on her?
     
    #7 dorunron, Dec 2, 2014
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    does she suddenly accelerate as she rev's up?
     
    #8 bisco, Dec 2, 2014
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  9. CR94

    CR94 Senior Member

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    Yes. High fuel consumption (i.e., high amount of fuel usage per unit distance) is LOW mpg.
     
    #9 CR94, Dec 2, 2014
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  10. Stephan Richard

    Stephan Richard New Member

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    She's got about 135,000km.

    No, the car doesn't accelerate. When you release the gas pedal it slows down but you can hear the RPM staying high... and then it drops. If you look at the picture below, where the MPG 100-50-0 gauge is, mine looks like that when the car is idling. Then the bars come down with maybe 3-4 bars showing. Normally, when idling, I would not see any bars there.

    By the way, this is not my car model. It's an image I took from the web.


    [​IMG]
     
    #10 Stephan Richard, Dec 2, 2014
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Maybe a hybrid battery problem? High revving and poor fuel economy.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Dec 2, 2014
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  12. dorunron

    dorunron Senior Member

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    I agree with Mendel, sounds like a weak traction battery to me. It would help if the OP would post a actual pic of the HSI display of his car while it is doing what he describes. If it is the battery, there are alternatives. Still not enough data to really diagnose it properly here on PC.
     
    #12 dorunron, Dec 3, 2014
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