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Energy flow while stopped

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Kuluz4Dayz, Jun 12, 2018.

  1. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    I have a 2016 Prius 4 Touring with 17.2k miles. I recently noticed when I’m in drive mode, completely stopped (foot on brake pedal), parking brake off and on an incline my energy flow screen is showing power going from the traction battery to the wheels.


    This only happens when front of car is facing up an incline, like on my 6° driveway. While on flat ground or while facing down a slope and stopped in drive mode the energy flow stops.


    Not sure why it’s doing it. Anyone else have this same issue or is it completely normal and I just didn’t notice it for two years until now? I don’t understand why electric power will be flowing while stopped.


    This occurs when air conditioning is off or on. I don’t think this is Hill Assist related since that function utilizes the friction braking system.


    Today I took the car into the dealer for my routine service and they found no error codes. Another appointment was made so they can further look into it.


    Thanks in advance for any feedback.
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Press the brake pedal harder. If you lightly (and I don't mean feather light), the car may be stopped but you're not pressing hard enough pass the threshold where the car cuts off the power from the battery to the wheels. What you're seeing can also happen on flat ground.
     
  3. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    I understand what you’re saying but even when I push it harder it still does it. And I’m pressing the break the same way I always did for the past two years. Hopefully it’s an easy sensor fix.
     
  4. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    This is me in drive with foot on brake on flat ground.
     

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  5. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    This is me in drive with foot on brake in my 6° driveway. Still sending power to wheels even when I press hard on brake and it only happens when on a hill facing upward. Doesn’t do it while on flat ground or while facing down the hill.
     

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  6. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    If you put the Energy Monitor on the main display does it agree? I never use that one on the radio (unless I want to entertain passengers).
    upload_2018-6-13_14-31-24.png
     
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  7. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    Yes the top display also shows energy flowing when stopped on a hill.
     
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  8. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    Could be the hill hold assist feature in Gen 4. It's designed to hold the car in position when you move your foot from the brake pedal to accelerator, keeping the car from rolling backwards.
     
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  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Nah. That just holds the brake pads for 1.3 seconds after you release the pedal. I don't believe it uses the drivetrain.

    That is weird... Hmm...
     
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  10. prius_deep

    prius_deep Member

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    same with gen 2; inclines up and or down, sometimes, not all the time.
     
  11. axle2152

    axle2152 Active Member

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    Ok here's what's going on. If you're in drive, foot is not on the brakes or on the accelerator the car will "creep" just like a regular car would with a automatic transmission... That is perfectly normal.

    If you led the Prius "idle" (for lack of better words) and allow it to roll down the road with no brakes or gas, you might get up to 3-6 MPH and you will see the animation on the energy monitor change from battery to wheels to nothing to wheels to battery.
     
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  12. Fester

    Fester Active Member

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    Using a ScanGauge my 2017 Prius 2 will report about .9 amps current drain when either stopped with brake or in park. Fairly typical for what I've seen reported.
     
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  13. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    Here’s a better view of what’s going on.
     

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  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Hmm, question. What if you were in normal mode. Does it make a difference? I have a theory that is contingent on your answer.
     
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  15. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    That's POWER MODE with the Red background
    upload_2018-6-15_10-43-17.png
     
  16. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    The 3 Mode colours:

    upload_2018-6-15_11-21-40.png

    upload_2018-6-15_11-20-14.png

    upload_2018-6-15_11-21-11.png
     
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  17. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    This is mine:
    FOOT ON BRAKE, facing UPHILL in DRIVE - [but same in REV, car facing downhill].
    upload_2018-6-15_11-28-56.png

    FOOT OFF BRAKE, facing UPHILL in DRIVE - [but same in REV, car facing downhill]
    upload_2018-6-15_11-31-29.png

    It is the same whether in PWR, NORMAL or ECO Modes.

    Have you ever had a MALFUNCTION with the Brake Light Switch? [I did and it affected all sorts of things, but was only a single activation at the time - was replaced under warranty.]

    The other possibility. There are vast differences between what TOYOTA does & supplies with Gen 4 PRIUSs in different countries. Maybe it's something to do with the models they send to your country.

    Check with someone else in Hawaii maybe.
     
    #17 alanclarkeau, Jun 14, 2018
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2018
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  18. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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    One morning I think in January I pressed the brake to slow down before approaching a curve and the malfunction triangle flashed and something in the display said something about brake pressure (I think). It went off so fast that idk exactly what it said. I used my Carista app and no error codes came up. Never got that warning again after that.

    And then this just happened last week. Idk if it’s related. I do have an appointment for it next week so I’ll follow up with you guys.
     
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  19. Kuluz4Dayz

    Kuluz4Dayz Junior Member

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  20. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

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    Mine was when she was only a few weeks old - iand was 5 months older when I too her for service and mentioned it had MALFUNCTION - she flashed a number or malfunctions but by the time I found something to write on they'd all disappeared. Service looked into the "Vehicle Data Recordings", and at that time there was a BRAKE LIGHT MALFUNCTION - which would have affected many aspects of the car, hence the multiple Malfunctions. They put a new Brake Light Switch on at the following service and it's never recurred..
     
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