1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

HV battery effecting engine performance??

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by MeGuinness, May 9, 2017.

  1. MeGuinness

    MeGuinness Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2013
    217
    78
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hi guys,so my quest in to find why my Prius as become sluggish continue...
    Can a HV battery on his way out make the engine feel like driving a slag? I'm using power mode all the time to try alleviate my pain !
    Even when the engine starts it feels like it is slow (the engine starting procedure isn't as zippy as it was when new )and i do get different humming noises depending of the charging state of the battery when not moving at idle!
    For sure some of the HV cells aren't up to the job ,i been checking them while driving with a smartphone app and i can see that 7 8 9 are the fastest to loose voltage when on EV mode , the car suddenly loose speed with a evident cogging feeling and then the engine starts.....Sluggish !!
    CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM comes up sometime too (Toyota got no idea why)
    Any suggestions appreciated before it driving me completelyinsane,thanx
     
    #1 MeGuinness, May 9, 2017
  2. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    The answer is yes. I presume outside warranty? If you're using EV a lot, you're abusing the HV battery (extra wear and tear).
     
    #2 Former Member 68813, May 9, 2017
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2013
    16,470
    8,383
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    II
    When the battery soc is depleted, the car's performance is usually pretty bad. That is pretty normal. You'll have to wait until the soc recovers and the car's performance will return.

    Have you checked your engine oil level lately?

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #3 JC91006, May 9, 2017
  4. MeGuinness

    MeGuinness Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2013
    217
    78
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Engine oil is good ,level is slightly down ,still clean after 4k from last change,200k on the clock.
    What the SOC should be ?
    Thanx

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #4 MeGuinness, May 9, 2017
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,694
    38,233
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    This is an ongoing battle. No warning lights? I can't recall.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, May 9, 2017
  6. MeGuinness

    MeGuinness Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2013
    217
    78
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    No warning lights...only sometimes the CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM error.
    Is there a way to stop the inverter to charge the HV ? If I stop the the charging load I may see how the engine perform.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #6 MeGuinness, May 10, 2017
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,694
    38,233
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    There's some maintenance modes, that prevent engine from shutting down. Not sure if they also prevent charging; they make the engine run "conventionally"? If you've got "check hybrid system" displayed I would think there's codes stored. Maybe dealership can check?
     

    Attached Files:

    #7 Mendel Leisk, May 10, 2017
  8. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2008
    1,268
    860
    0
    Location:
    Monument, CO
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You realize Power Mode only changes the throttle mapping, it does not add any real power...
    When we had our 2005 Gen 2 at the end of its "life" we would experience rapid swings from Full to Empty on the SOC, but when there was good SOC, the total power was as good as ever and the average MPG was still up there. At 200K, have you ever had the engine tuned up? Spark plugs, air filter, throttle body clean, MAF clean, etc? Part of the problem might be a poorly performing ICE.
     
    #8 FuelMiser, May 11, 2017
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)