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EU centric noob questions about my Gen 2 T4

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by Bassmingo, Jan 9, 2022.

  1. Bassmingo

    Bassmingo New Member

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    2008 Prius
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    Some of you may have seen my other thread here about taking ownership of my Dad's Prius. Rather than post my questions there, I felt they warranted their own thread. If this was in error, mods please let me know.
    As this forum tends to skew US, I'm hoping more EU owners could chime in and confirm some things, as I have done some searching and can't seem to get concrete info. For context, I'm coming over from a VW Golf Mk5 1.9L TDi.

    Car is a 2008 Gen 2 T4 spec with approx 130k miles/209k km

    So here goes:

    1. Can someone confirm that my fuel tank is NOT a bladder, and what its capacity is? I'm guessing about 40 litres. That being the case, can I further assume that with my fuel gauge having 10 blocks, each block is approx 4 litres?
    2. This being my first hybrid/automatic, one thing I'm missing coming from a 1.9 TDi is that pickup in the acceleration, I know I won't get that in the Prius but what weirds me out a bit is when the auto transmission decides to change up seemingly at high revs. I've kinda had the habit in manual cars to change gears at 1000 rpm marks (3rd at 3000 and so on) so is this high RPM change typical?
    3. An extension of Q2. I get the feeling that I'll have to change my driving style in order to reap the benefits of Prius ownership and with it both being a hybrid/auto I won't get the satisfaction of the quick pickup that a turbo-diesel/manual brings....but surely I won't have to drive like my Dad? I'm no boy racer but I'm also not a Grandpa.
    4. I don't have a reverse camera, but I'm interested in fitting one. I've found a used OEM part for sale locally for €30 and considering grabbing it, but I've seen conflicting info regarding the wiring harness being present in an EU Gen 2 2008 T4. I have no interest in fitting the camera if the harness isn't present. If I remove the boot door panel what do I need to look for to see if it's there?
    5. I miss not having Bluetooth audio/phone. I can get by temporarily with a BT adaptor in the Aux port, but I've got a single din Pioneer BT stereo that I could replace the stock head unit with, but will it play nicely with the JBL amp, MFD, steering wheel controls, and camera should I fit it?
    6. Fuel economy: I have only driven the car for a few days and I'm averaging 5.5 to 6 litres per 100 km (47 to 50 imperial mpg) and that's driving sedately. this seems to be no better than my Golf. is that typical?
    7. Is there any way to check the capacity/health of the HV battery? at 130k miles should I be worried about its lifespan?

    Thank you for indulging me!
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    europe never got a bladder.

    should be around 12 gallons. if you don't have an owners manual, they are available online.

    ignore number two, it's a prius. it is what it is. you'll get used to it, or sell it.

    yes, but you can drive like your grandma if it's preferable

    7) dr. prius app
     
  3. Bassmingo

    Bassmingo New Member

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    Thanks! That's a good start at least!
     
  4. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Because the Prius transmission is continuously variable, you're not guaranteed to hear it "change up" at all. If you think you are hearing shifts, that can be an artifact of the way you are driving or the way the terrain changes.

    A lot of the time, the sound of a Prius will be more like that of an airplane or boat, where the engine will just wind up to the right RPM for the amount of power you've requested, and just hold that engine RPM rock steady while the speed of the car continuously climbs. Sometimes, as a way of getting used to the car, it is useful to go drive it that way on purpose, just push the go pedal down and think about keeping the engine note steady while the car's speed just smoothly climbs up. You don't have to drive that way all the time, but it is good for giving you an in-your-bones understanding of what it is to have a continuously-variable transmission.

    The Gen 2 Prius engine produces its maximum power at 5000 RPM, its maximum torque at 4200 RPM, and achieves its best efficiencies in the range around 2000 to 4000 RPM when about 20 to 40 kW of power is being requested.

    Because the HV ECU knows those characteristics of the engine, and it knows it can use the variable transmission to match any engine speed at all to any road speed at all*, it will generally just calculate how much power you are asking for, and send the engine straight to the best RPM for that amount of power, and let the transmission match that to the wheels.

    It knows what it's doing. :)

    [​IMG]

    There's a lot of useful information where that image came from.

    * within some broad limits imposed by how fast some other bits of the transmission can spin
     
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  5. Bassmingo

    Bassmingo New Member

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    2008 Prius
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    Brilliant post Chapman!

    Now if I can get more info on my reverse cam harness. I think that's next on my to do list.
     
  6. Bassmingo

    Bassmingo New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
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    Just bumping this thread in case anyone can help me with below:

    4. I don't have a reverse camera, but I'm interested in fitting one. I've found a used OEM part for sale locally for €30 and considering grabbing it, but I've seen conflicting info regarding the wiring harness being present in an EU Gen 2 2008 T4. I have no interest in fitting the camera if the harness isn't present. If I remove the boot door panel what do I need to look for to see if it's there?