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Energy Monitor arrows dont show while in gear!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by reesdude, Mar 17, 2005.

  1. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    Everytime I put my car in DRIVE, REVERSE, or NEUTRAL the energy arrows that indicate the recharging of the battery by the engine do not show up at all. However, when Im in PARK, the arrows reappear, then if I shift to DRIVE, for example, the arrows disappear. This occurs during startup and normal driving, never indicating the charging of the battery by the engine? Has any had this problem before? and would this be covered by the 3yr warranty? Thanks
     
    #1 reesdude, Mar 17, 2005
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    covered by the 3 year warranty? You through me there.

    Anyway, this is pretty much normal. There are times when the ICE will run and clearly the energy is going somewhere, but rather than have people always asking why they see arrows when they're not going anywhere they choose not to show them.

    Now, your question is not completely clear to me as it sounds like you're talking about when you're stopped, foot on brake, not when you're moving. You do realize that there are times your battery won't show any charging or drain...there are even times, when moving, with ICE turning, that there will be no arrows at all.

    Don't sweat the arrows. If you're unsure what's going on switch to the consumption screen and drive with that for a while seeing how you can do pumping up your mileage. When you think you're pretty good and have some sense of what the car is doing at various points in time and under various conditions switch back to the Energy screen and see if what you predict matches with what is being shown...and how much more improvement in mpg you can squeak out of your car.

    It's questions like this one that I wish I could briefly 'beem' myself to the inquisitor's location and demo or directly explain what's happening.
     
    #2 efusco, Mar 17, 2005
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    BTW, you should not see any arrows at all when you're in neutral.
     
    #3 efusco, Mar 17, 2005
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Geez, ok, I re-read your question. You're saying you can drive under any condition and never ever are there arrows going to the battery....is that right? That's not normal if that's the case...and weird... I can't think what could/would cause such a thing.
     
    #4 efusco, Mar 17, 2005
  5. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    yes in all cases the arrows do not show battery recharging by the engine, however, only when in PARK does it show the arrows that indicate the recharging of the battery. Thanks for your help I will most likely see my local dealer.
     
    #5 reesdude, Mar 18, 2005
  6. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    What happens when you move the car? Does the battery charge when you brake, coast, driving at 50mph on flat ground?

    If you don't get charge arrows in those above instances, then something is wrong.

    These are the normal times the battery charges, but the battery doesn't charge all the time. The park in P is a special case.

    It sounds almost like you're just flicking the lever around and seeing what the energy monitor is doing when the car is not in motion.
     
    #6 NuShrike, Mar 18, 2005
  7. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    I am in serious need of a Prius specialist right now... I finally took my car to the shop with the problem stated above (no energy arrows from engine to battery in gears other than park) and rented a car for the 3 days it was there for. I get a call from them mon. saying there is no problem with the fact that the arrows from the engine to the battery will show only in Park and disappear in any other gear. Its mon. afternoon right now and they are rechecking the problem. I am CERTAIN this is not normal operation because i tested a new prius on the lot that did show the arrows charging the battery even when not in Park gear. I do not know what i am going to do with the $120 rental car bill, if they somehow deem it this problem to be normal. If someone can please tell me exactly what, even with the most technical terms, is going wrong with my car I would highly appreciate it because I do not know how else to tell these service people that this is not normal operation an so should no way be liable to pay rental.
     
    #7 reesdude, May 2, 2005
  8. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    If you still have access to a prius on the lot, show them! There are times however, especially during warmup, when there is no energy flowing from ICE to battery or MG2.
     
    #8 DanMan32, May 2, 2005
  9. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    I did show them... with a brand new prius next to mine, and they're excuse was that it is a brand new car and not yet had the "experience" of being charged and recharged as my car has, and so there lies the difference. I have even told them that it did not do this when i first got my car...I've told them, I've shown them. I do not know what else I can do except show and explain somemore...I need to know the technical terms of everything involved so maybe they won't be so doubtful about whether it is a problem or not.
     
    #9 reesdude, May 2, 2005
  10. NuShrike

    NuShrike Active Member

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    If the Toyota dealership is explaining it as "not having the experience" which is as non-technical handwaving BS voodoo that's inappropriate from a knowledgable and reputable dealer, you could try going to another dealship to ask about it, or calling Toyota customer service directly.
     
    #10 NuShrike, May 2, 2005
  11. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    There are several Toyota dealerships in the San Fernando Valley. Try a different service department. The car is under warranty. Toyota will pay any of its dealers to perform the requisite repairs.

    Just as a public service to others, who is the incompetent dealer?
     
    #11 IsrAmeriPrius, May 2, 2005
  12. KTPhil

    KTPhil Active Member

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    Which dealer gave you that load of crap? I live and work in the area and I will stay away from that den of ignorance.

    Go to another dealer, call the Toyota 800 line and ask for your rental fee reimbursement. None of this should cost you one penny.
     
    #12 KTPhil, May 2, 2005
  13. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    Its the end of the day now and I ended up paying the rental bill as there was nothing else I could say without them feeding me more BS. Im going to another dealership by the weekend. The dealership was northridge toyota, and particularly tony milano, for anyone who cares and thanks everyone for your replies
     
    #13 reesdude, May 2, 2005
  14. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    Does your battery have charge in it? Even if the arrows aren't showing, as long as the battery is being charged it's not interfering with the operation of the car. That's my guess on why they're not taking you seroiusly, they're only liable for things that are going to let the car break down.

    Let us know what the next dealer says. I could be wrong, but some dealers are like that- interested only in doing the minimum service needed to get a customer out of there. Find a place that is concerned with every little detail. Also ask how many Prius techs they have. It's good to find a place with 2 or 3 so there's one working every day and they can consult with each other. Two heads are better than one.
     
    #14 galaxee, May 3, 2005
  15. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    It doesn't sound right, but it is possible, I would have had to see the SOC of both cars' batteries. At the very least, they could hook up the scantool and observe the actual current going into or out of the battery.

    Does this happen after the car is warmed up? As I stated before, the car may not charge the battery if it is warming up. I had done a loose observation of charging after using EV in the park complex going to the bank also in the complex. When I parked, there did seem to be a distinct shift in RPM between strictly warmup idle and charging idle. If I remember right, the battery was not at 6 bars yet, so a charge was still in order.
     
    #15 DanMan32, May 3, 2005
  16. karmavore

    karmavore New Member

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    reesdude,

    I've experienced behavior at least similar to yours, and possibly the same. There was no problem for me.

    As efusco notes, the engine can be on with no energy arrows going anywhere. I interpret this state as "energy is going to warming up the engine". I have seen the following happen at a drive-up ATM:

    I am driving on a cold day, and have just left work. The engine is warming itself up, as above, and I'm merrily tooling along at about 25 mph. I see no arrows to the battery. When I pull up to the ATM, I shift into park. Now, the engine continues, but the "extra" power (seeing as how energy is no longer needed for movement) goes to the battery. Shift the drive, lose the arrows; shift to park, arrows return.

    I want to reiterate what galaxee has said: if there's no actual problem with the car or the battery charge itself, there is no problem. This may be another opportunity to "just drive it."

    I hope, for your sake, that this is the case. Good luck!
    Brad
     
    #16 karmavore, May 3, 2005
  17. IsrAmeriPrius

    IsrAmeriPrius Progressive Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(reesdude\";p=\"86662)</div>
    I have yet to hear anything positive about that dealership.

    Try Hamer in Mission Hills or Keyes in Van Nuys. Those are the two closest ones to Northridge and both have quality service departments.
     
    #17 IsrAmeriPrius, May 3, 2005
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