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Toyota Aqua losing power when in high rev.

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by BlueSoap, Jun 7, 2018.

  1. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    I have tried to do a google search, but the answer eludes me as I really don't know what I'm searching for.
    My problem is a little difficult to explain.

    After driving a little bit too hard, it sort of goes into this "high rev mode".

    High rev mode:
    At a stop, I have to step down on the accelerator more than halfway down before the power comes in.
    Throttle feels slow and sluggish.

    Is this because the engine is overheating and the car is telling me to let it rest?
    Anyone has any ideas?

    Thanks.
     
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    More detail needed.
     
  3. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    Hmm, flooring it for a few seconds and driving at semi-high speeds.
     
  4. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    OK. Probably just drained the battery down so the engine is trying to both propel the car and recharge the battery at the same time. If it was also hot (Singapore), then the battery may also be protecting itself by not allow as much electrical power to flow from it as normal.
     
  5. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    Is this normal?

    The hybrid battery level was still at half when this happened. Also, it was 7am in the morning. Yes Singapore may be hot but it this happens early in the morning then I have a feeling the engine will have more problems if I'm driving for long distances in the afternoon.

    If what you say is correct, is it the engine or the hybrid battery that is overheating?

    Sorry for the bombardment of questions. :p
     
  6. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Yeah, it's clearly using less of its electrical capability. I can't tell you if it's because something overheated, or perhaps the battery is temporarily depleted and it needs an hour of normal driving to catch up.

    It sounds as though the gas engine is working normally and doing all of the work at the moment.

    I would let it cool down a couple hours, then take it out for an ordinary drive if I were you.
     
  7. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    I experience that when it's hot inside the car. Usually in stop and go and I need to go for some reason (pulling out from a long line of cars to a side road that has fast moving cars for example). It'll settle back down in a second. I usually just roll the windows up and turn the air on for a minute or two.
     
  8. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    So it's really about the heat? Well that sucks.. It's always hot in Singapore.
     
  9. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    What if it is the cabin heat that matters? The battery is vented to the cabin under the back seat. Maybe if you use more air conditioning the battery can tolerate more spirited driving?
     
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  10. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    Exactly, I only experience it when driving with my windows down. When I turn the AC on and roll em up, it quits after the cabin cools.
     
  11. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    I recently went to a hybrid specialist and that's what they told me too. Has anyone here modded their fan under the rear passenger seat? The stock one doesn't seem to be doing much work.

    I have the AC on at 22 degs whenever I'm driving.

    Will try removing the entire rear seat and putting a battery powered fan aiming at the battery. :censored:
     
  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    You can try buying a cheap OBD2 device and pair it with Torque pro which allows you to set the fan at full blast;).

    That would be the simplest way to have the cool air circulating :).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  13. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    That was my first thought, but I already have a pro racing OBD installed and I really don't want to remove that. :D
     
  14. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Hah... how pro is it if it doesn't account for battery cooling?
     
  15. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Does this pro racing OBD have the ability to pair with apps:whistle:?

    I have a kiwi2 that sends a WiFi signal to my iPhone and allows me to access dash command to view the basic information. I also have Techstream for the more in depth detail required ;).

    If so, download an app (Torque Pro for Android users) and you now have a great tool for diagnosing problems with your Prius :).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  16. wigmann

    wigmann Junior Member

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  17. wigmann

    wigmann Junior Member

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    Its a Prius. why are you driving it hard? try driving normal or get another kind of car.
     
  18. BlueSoap

    BlueSoap Junior Member

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    Don't think it does. But I'll try. Thanks!

    Feels like I can't answer this properly without offending anyone. But why not?

    Why would someone in a ferrari be road hogging on the overtaking lane?
    Would you ask him/her to try driving fast or get a camry? :D
     
  19. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    There's a fine art to driving a slow car fast. I took my turn at it a long time ago. It's not what we got our C for, but I can certainly understand someone else wanting to have a go at it.
     
  20. dubit

    dubit Senior Member

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    Had this happen to me today! Sadly we couldn't get the genny to start at the RC flying field, and we charged batteries off my car all day. (Car obviously in ready mode to keep the 12v charged).

    But when I left? Wow that was a weird experience. We all know the "C" isn't the quickest thing out there, but having to floor it to get to highway speeds was a bit discerning. When I finally made it back to town and hit a light, the cars engine didn't shut off but continued to run to charge the HV battery. Even at a dead stop the engine's RPM's were at a "sorta" high RPM. Weirdest was when letting off the pedal hearing the engine RPM's increase instead of decrease like normal.

    It was 96 degrees out there today - no wind. (I'm burned to a crisp). Did drive the car on out of town as it seemed the HV battery just wasn't gaining any charge. So I hit the back roads and just drove around until it got charged back up. Everything seems normal again now. My gas mileage on the display showed a whopping 21 mpg. LOL

    Makes me wonder how these people you hear of here who use the Prius as a home Emergency generator or go camping in them all the time deal with it. I'd think it has to be seriously hard on that HV battery. (btw, cleaned that filter on my fan again this afternoon - still amazed at the junk that gets stuck on that screen. I keep my "C" pretty clean and have no idea where all this dirt and lint is coming from. Think I may go to a 3 month rotation on this instead of every 6 months)