Should I wait to have the recall done?

That is not quite true. It's clear most people will not notice a difference. Only couple of % of users who push the car to the max or are OCD will notice initial decreased electric assist in full or near full throttle acceleration.

 

When I took it to the dealership for a totally unrelated issue, they performed the recall update without giving me a choice. I didn't even know there was a recall at the time.

 

Beware of the placebo effect. Until someone has measurable data, I'm not sure I believe the anecdotal reports about changes in performance.

 

I have similar concerns as the OP. Living on the coast my car lives more of a sheltered life as far as hills that may stress the Boost Converter more. So I am not concerned from a safety standpoint to have mine done any time soon. I also have a wait and see attitude to see what real affects others see in performance over a longer period of time.

Call me OCD but I have a much more critical opinion of this software update than most. I believe, from what I have heard from others that have completed the update, that this update is detuning the system and takes away some of the performance features that were sold as advantages of the Gen III over the Gen II.

A couple of the features that I particularly like are the acceleration ability when passing at highway speeds. My commute takes me from a 4-lane highway to 2-lane for the last couple of miles. We have a lot of logging trucks going to the mill and I can pass on the 2-lane road with confidence. Another feature is the tight control of the cruise control especially on downgrades. These are two of the features that most have commented on as having been negatively affected by the update.

Toyota, in my opinion, is masking the real problem with the Boost Converter IGBT's overheating by detuning the software rather than addressing the real problem and replacing the Inverter/Converter module unless damage has already occurred. What happens if our Inverter/Converters fail some time after having the update? This is not a lot different than Honda decreasing the use of their HV batteries in order to extend the life. I checked the price of the Inverter/Converter module. It is in the $2500 range. Not much difference than the price of the HV battery.

I have spent a lot of time analyzing, SGII first and now Engine Link, PID data to try to learn what "normal" looks like on my car so that I will be better prepared to help troubleshoot when something becomes abnormal. I have monitored Voltage after Boost and have a good idea of what the current Boost Converter and HV battery operation looks like. I have yet to hear from anyone that can monitor the Voltage after Boost and HV battery performance and comment after having the software update.

I for one will continue to hold off on the update until I better understand the affects.

 

Are all Prius effected by the recall?

 

I say for the third time, all GIII Prius from 2010 to present are to get the update to the firmware. Only exception is production of the last few months, which got it in the factory.

 

Yes, but this type of driving puts you at risk of failure. I would not risk it. One thing I enjoyed in my Prius before the update was very fast left turns while yielding upcoming traffic. However, even I have to admit there was too much torque for the LRR tires to handle generating wheel spin and traction coming in fighting it. None or little of that is present after the update. While the left turns are slightly less quick or spectacular, there is a whole lot less stress on the hybrid system and drivetrain now.

 

Yes I understand the risk of passing now that the safety alert has come out. One of the reasons that I am bummed with Toyota for fixing this with software rather than fixing the real problem.

 

Just take your car in for the recall and don't worry about it.

 

I haven't received the letter and I scheduled the recall for tomorrow.

 

This is ridiculous! Do the recall. I've had it done and notice no difference whatsoever. I bet you almost 100 out of 100 who have had it done would say the same.


iPad ? HD

 

Getting it done or not is a question for you only, but what if you don't and then the inverter fails. Will Toyota try and wriggle out of paying out? Probably not, but despite the pro's and con's of the recall, I'm still glad I got my car done.

It's now as Toyota want it - regardless.

 

I just had the update done. After reseting the seat, putting the aircon to a human tolerable temp compared to the Lo setting, i.e. below 17C and finding the trip computer, with 850km up had been pushed up 0.1l/100km, I can't tell any difference. Obviously the dealer got my car to run the aircon flat out and took the car for a good thrashing to test the update, or just the apprentice gave the beast a good thrashing as they do.

I was a bit concerned it might upset the economy a bit but no need. Car feels the same.

 

The other exception is the Plug-in Prius.

 

It is weird, really. Sometimes the car feels slower post update and other times it feels faster. Sometimes it seems like it gets worse mpg post update and other times it seems like it gets better mpg. But, at the end of the day, after an entire tank until the last pip is blinking, my overall mpg is pretty much the same. Last tank before I had the recall done, I ended with a 51.4 mpg average over 492 miles on the odo and the other day after driving a tank after the recall, my overall mpg was 52.1 with 483 miles on the odo before filling. Pretty much the same.

 

Go on the Interstate and run thru a whole tank going no slower than 68 mph except for any stops you would normally do. Be interesting to hear the mpg number. I drove for over 1600 miles this week doing that in 40-50 temps and averaged upper 30's mpg The same car in urban <65 mph driving gets 50 mpg's averaging over approximately 200 miles driving in the same outside air temps. This is in a 2013 Prius Two running the tires at ~44 psi give or take based upon outside air temps. The tires were set to 44 or 45 psi (I don't remember which) in 20 something outside air temps last Sunday.

Mike