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Odd Battery Charging Behavior

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by bobh3501, Dec 27, 2006.

  1. bobh3501

    bobh3501 New Member

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    After installing the factory EV switch I have noticed some alarming battery charging behavior. It seems that the HV battery is used less, even during acceleration, and is always getting "topped off" into the green zone by the computer. Before I installed this switch the energy screen showed the battery hovering around the middle and was blue; it rarely showed green except on long downhills and hardly ever in day-to-day driving. My milage has dropped about 3mpg too so I am pretty sure I am not imagining this. The only other mod that may be affecting the ECU is a Tom's exhaust that may be affecting the performance of the ICE - though I have not seen a post that mentions this. Any ideas? I find myself staring at the energy screen like I did when the car was brand new ....
     
    #1 bobh3501, Dec 27, 2006
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    No reason a properly installed EV switch would or even could cause that effect....make sure it's in the right pin slot, if it is you can eliminate that possiblity b/c it does nothing until it is momentarily grounded.

    I do not know anything about the Tom's exhaust...is this just a chrome accent or does it somehow affect the exhaust system? I can tell you that just about anything that affects the exhaust system is likely to cause a drop in mpg and potentially adversely affect the behavior of the HSD.
     
    #2 efusco, Dec 27, 2006
  3. bobh3501

    bobh3501 New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Dec 27 2006, 02:23 PM) [snapback]367398[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for the reply, Evan .. I assume the EV switch is installed properly since it works. The Tom's exhaust is a complete replacement for the the stock exhaust and may the culprit here - though I know from postings that others have installed it, nobody has mentioned this issue.
     
    #3 bobh3501, Dec 27, 2006
  4. Cheap!

    Cheap! New Member

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    I have more green bars now then when I first started too. However, I think it is because of learning how to Warp-stealth from 60 mph to 20 mph as I enter downtown each day. My MPG have improved overall. Now I just coast off the freeway pressing slightly on the accelerator pedal, thereby preventing the regen from happening. I coast a long, long way to the red-light and I get all green bars most every day now at that point of my drive.

    I suggest you don't over use your EV button as over use could lower you MPG, but once you learn proper use, you can see a slight benefit from it. Sometimes I can even make it all the way across down town on EV, then park with the battery being at the half way mark on the screen. I guess I use it twice going to work and twice on the way home. First I use it to get to the main road without the engine running, then I use it the last part of my drive so I get to my destination with the battery still being at the half way point.
     
    #4 Cheap!, Dec 27, 2006
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