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Unhappy 2010 Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by StansMyMan, Apr 5, 2015.

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  1. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    The battery tends to stay near the top, or a r notches lower. Obviously depending on city driving. When I'm just sitting with my car on in a parking lot (such as now), the battery icon remains full, and the car will kick on/off from time to time.
     
    #21 StansMyMan, Apr 8, 2015
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hard to see, looks like your glove box door is missing. did you have them replace the panel? they lower the glovebox door for cabin filter check, not sure what they're doing under the dash.merged.i could be wrong, but i thought the battery went to two bars when parked, and the engine comes on to keep it there. but if it's near the top most of the time, it's probably fine.
     
    #22 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 8, 2015
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I was checking cabin filter yesterday, and as far as I can remember, the lower panel looked just like your pics, ie: nothing is missing or loose. It has a little play, is utilitarian black.
     
    #23 Mendel Leisk, Apr 8, 2015
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks.^^^
     
    #24 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
  5. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    I feel like it's not supposed to hang like this...

    When I checked my friends Prius, hers didn't have that much play, lol. Is that the panel that I would remove when checking the filter?


    My biggest concern is that I'm driving 50 miles a day on this thing and it's just going to keep getting worse. Making the repair, which I still don't know what needs to be repaired, that much harder/costly.

    I remember when I first got the car, it would go down to 2 bars and then the engine would come on. It doesn't do that anymore; I can't remember the last time it went to 2 bars when I was parked. Which has concerned me, but with the dealer having checked the battery, I didn't think anything of it. It does while driving.
     

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    #25 StansMyMan, Apr 8, 2015
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, that's slightly disconcerting.
     
    #26 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
  7. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    That the bars don't decrease while parked? Or you know, my whole situation? ;)
     
    #27 StansMyMan, Apr 8, 2015
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes, tell us about the dealer checking the battery, i don't see that in your posts.mergedthat panel looks loose to me too, but i just checked mine, and it's a pretty cheesy, loose piece of plastic. yours might be missing a clip or something, but there's no way it blocks any engine noise. don't let your paranoia get you.:p
     
    #28 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2015
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    To check the cabin filter you pull out the lower glove box: it's in behind. That lower black panel is what it is I think, ours looks similar.

    image.jpg

    image.jpg
     
    #29 Mendel Leisk, Apr 8, 2015
  10. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    Haha. A little late for that! The cabin noise IS much louder, but if that's not the reason then I have absolutely no idea why. Lol.

    As far as the battery, it says on the invoice: battery condition and state of health is "checked and okay at this time". Though that does not tell me which battery now that I think about it.
     
    #30 StansMyMan, Apr 8, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    the engine running more and revving may sound louder on it's own. how are your mpg's?mergedyes, the battery health check on your sheet is likely the 12 volt. the hybrid is more complicated and unlikely to be a free or standard check.
     
    #31 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 9, 2015
  12. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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    this sounds abnormal.

    this is abnormal too. someone who knows what he/she is doing (this excludes the dealership) should have a look.
     
    #32 Former Member 68813, Apr 8, 2015
  13. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    driving home so I'll respond soon but...

    What about my heat? Could that be an indicator of anything? For example, it will not heat up right now. While earlier today, driving to work, it did. I can't catch a pattern for when it does and doesn't work.
     
    #33 StansMyMan, Apr 8, 2015
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thermostat?
     
    #34 bisco, Apr 8, 2015
  15. StansMyMan

    StansMyMan New Member

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    Could it REALLY be that simple? Nothing with this car since I got it has been that simple... ;)

    Well, I'm both glad and sad to hear this is abnormal.

    Should it be someone from a DIFFERENT dealer, or someone that doesn't work on them at all? I don't know anyone else that drives a prius (other than my work friend who wouldn't know if her life depended on her). My friend has a friend from church who is a mechanic at another dealership - would it suffice to take it to him (at the dealer)?

    Clearly, I'm worried. My first BIG investment in a car and then this happens. :(

    It is worth it to get this checked, regardless?

    On average, I've been getting 46-48 mpg of late. When I first got the car last summer, it was running around 49-52. I checked when I got out of my car this morning, and it was 45.8

    Hmm... they do look similar. Quite similar. It didn't look like that before, and my girlfriend's doesn't look like that, I think that's why I was confused. It's a nice, gray, raining today, but perhaps since you've told me how, I can check the filter after work/on break today anyway.

    Might you have any idea why the cabin noise got so much louder? I mean, to the point where it feels like my windows are down constantly (minus the wind).
     
    #35 StansMyMan, Apr 9, 2015
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  16. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you talked about paying $100. to have the dealer look at it. that's where i would start. it's important to check and see if there are any codes. merged. since they didn't replace your coolant, you need to find out why the heat is intermittent. that may be the source of all your problems. merged. just so you know, the cabin filter has nothing to do with any of this, and can be done at your leisure.

    your mpg's are appropriate for the time of year, so that's a good sign.

    you can check the 12v health yourself. you say you could maintain your oldsmobile, the prius isn't much different. do you have a dvm?
     
    #36 bisco, Apr 9, 2015
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