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EV Not Available Low Battery

Discussion in 'PriusChat Website Questions' started by 2013priuSID, Jun 14, 2016.

  1. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    I have noticed that my 2013 Toyota Prius is starting-up in gas engine mode only even if I have 5 or more bars of energy available to use. So when I drive and my foot is not even on the gas, the mpg monitor reads that I'm getting 1-2mpg. Then if I turn the car off and then turn it back on, I only have 2 bars left... Then if I press EV mode the car says "EV Mode Not Available Low Battery". Has this happened to anyone else? How to fix?
     
  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Not really sure what your problem actually is....
    So what you think is happening is that your battery level gauge isn't reading correctly, or showing the actual charge unless you turn your vehicle off and then back on?

    IF...it is showing near a full charge, but then you turn the vehicle off and turn it back on, and it's instantly updated to show a significantly lower charge, then I'd think there might be a problem with your display and how your gauge is updating.

    If it's showing a fuller charge but behaving as the charge is lower? Also might be a problem.

    How is your overall gas mileage, on a tank to tank basis?
    Any codes or dash lights?

    I'd probably just voice my concerns to the dealership. If they are at all competent they should be able to ascertain pretty quickly if your vehicle is behaving normally or not.

    I feel confident in saying this isn't a common problem. But admit it is vague and complicated one.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how many miles on her?
     
  4. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    37,790 miles as of today
     
  5. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    I have noticed that gas mileage is literally the same or better. It's just annoying how I must sit around for the Prius to "heat up"? -even though it's not cold outside at all. If I just turn the car on and once it says "ready" just start driving my car goes into gas only engine. If I wait for a while *ex: 2-4mins* then everything seems fine. So I guess I'm just dealing with a wierd Prius huh? I got almost 60mpg on my way home from work regardless...
     

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  6. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wait, that's how they all work. did you just buy it?
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  8. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    I bought it a couple of months ago. It never used to do that. It all started when I was driving through a pothole infested road way and my Prius hit a big one. Once it came out of it, there was a slight buzzing sound. So like right now when I drove out of the parking lot here at Wal-Mart. I let it warm up and then took off. All of a sudden the car comes out of energy mode and goes into gas engine only mode. I feel like every single time I go out for a drive that I must have some stop signs to gain my cars energy all over again. I think the main problem is - is that my Prius isn't holding a charge. Even if I just drove and collected several bars of energy in my last trip which was only an hour before my next trip... it sucks.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    definitely sounds like something was damaged. have you put it on a lift for a look see? also recommend having toyota check for codes, unless you are a diy'er.
     
  10. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    Yea I bet I did damage something. I just called a Toyota dealership close by and they said that the good thing is that the car is capable of building up energy again for trips. He said that it's a real problem when the battery can't build up energy for trips. He also said that with his many years of experience that no two hybrid vehicles are the same. They all do things differently. He said that my Prius is kind of an donkey but it's working. I don't know, maybe I just need to use it as is. It just sucks that per each new trip I have to start with a tiny bit of energy and build up more energy to use on the highway.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    agreed. i don't know how you can stand it, i couldn't live with it operating like that. amazing your mpg's are improving, i'm not sure i'd want to fix it, in that case. you might be on to some new engineering principles for gen 5.
     
  12. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    I'll keep you up to date on everything. I appreciate your input. I plan to get the auxiliary battery checked tomorrow just incase that's the problem for some reason. Anyways, I'll let you know :)
     
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    thanks, good idea. it's always worth checking the 12v. btw, welcome to priuschat!(y)
     
    #13 bisco, Jun 14, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2016
  14. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    My mileage seems to be getting better with this wierd condition my Prius is in. Today's trip home I got a little above 64mpg... I'm still going to have my battery checked out "12V" and I'll give another update after that.
     

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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    perhaps it was not operating correctly before, and this is the way it's supposed to be.
     
  16. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    Phrehaps you're right Bisco. I took my Prius to the Toyota Dealership where they ran a health test and ended up informing me that my car has no problems at all. I asked the mechanic if it was normal for my car to loss the energy built up from my last trip. He said "Yes, it is." Hey added "haven't you noticed how simple it is to regenerate energy at stops?" And then he suggested if that was the problem. I informed him that no, and that I had noticed how quickly the car regenerates power. Oh well, I guess that's it. Thanks for the suggestions Bisco!
     

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  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    being energy efficient is not intuitive to my simple mind.:cool:
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    @2013priuSID I've got a hunch your car's just fine. It is normal for the gas engine to run at start up; I would not sit around waiting on it to shut down: just start and go.
     
    #18 Mendel Leisk, Jun 16, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2016
  19. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    OP is in Humble. As in Humble Texas (houston)? If so, the OP whose a new owner is experiencing hot, humid weather operations for the first time. HEAVY a/c use pulls the battery down quickly and yes it's common for a warm/hot battery sitting in warm conditions to lose a few or several bars over time.
     
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  20. 2013priuSID

    2013priuSID New Member

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    Thanks for your suggestion.
    That seems to explain alot FotoMoto. Thank you for pointing that out :)