Engine runs most of the time 2012 PiP

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Brad Riordan, Jan 12, 2015.

  1. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    We have 2012 Prius Plug In, 21,500 miles. Starting several months ago it would upon start up have the engine kick in after initial start up, usually about 5 feet in reverse out of our heated garage with a full charge. It runs at I guess 1200+ rpm as if auto choke is on. Even at stops engine still runs, then after awhile rpm drops but engines stays on. At some point with miles still on charge it drops into electric only mode. You can park, shop come out 10+ minutes later, repeats the issue. This happened once then several months everything okay, By early December 2014 it started doing this everyday. We have a Leviton 220 Charger in the garage.

    Took it to dealer and was floored when their "Hybrid Expert" said this was normal in cold weather (avg. winter mid 30s to mid 40s), Showed me in manual where when running in cold weather in EVO the engine "might" kick in. I said BS. Car ran fine for 2 years even when we went to Great Falls, MT at -15 (we had bought new 2007 Prius put 85,000 miles on it when we traded for this, 2007 ran flawlessly) !

    The regional "expert" is coming 1/14 and will review. Has anyone any experience with this? Thanks. Brad
     
  2. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Lots of possibilities......starting with "You like the cabin warmer than in previous years"........and probably ending with the Traction battery having a problem when it's cold.

    My guess at the most likely cause, and the cheapest and easiest to try, is get a new 12 V battery; yes, even if the present one "tests good".
     
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    hey brad, welcome to priuschat. i think we need more details regarding your experience.

    how long have you owned the car? how has it changed in that time frame and when?

    are you saying that the engine runs more? louder? when you think it should be in ev?

    what are your charging habits? why are you comparing it to a 2007 lift back, didn't the lift back engine come on when backing out of the garage?

    what state are you in? how do you use the climate control system?

    the nature of your post is confusing, i'm not exactly sure what problem you're trying to address.

    i have had my pip since new, april, 2012, and it hasn't changed in any way, except that cold weather operation has always been different as far as the engine coming on.

    thanks for any clarification you can give us.
     
    #3 bisco, Jan 12, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 12, 2015
  4. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    "auto choke?"
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ya, it replaced the old manual pull type i had in my '72 fiat. :p
     
  6. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    We have had this car for 2+ years. Several months ago, the engine started up within seconds of start up even in our heated garage at about 1200 rpm as if auto chke is on. It runs when the car stops as well. This can go on for several minutes as you drive or stop. At some point it drops into elec. only mode. Go shopping, come out 10+ minutes later, it will repeat the issue. All this activity takes place with charge on the car. We have a 220 Leviton Charging unit in the garage.

    I took it to the dealer and their "Hybrid Expert" said this was normal winter behavior. I said BS. The car ran fine for over 2 years. It ran fine even when we were in Great Falls, MT. at -15 F. We had a 2007 Prius put 85,000 miles on it and it ran flawlessly. The regional Technical support will be here 1/14/15. Has anyone heard of this problem?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you already posted this. please see my response in your other thread. when you say, 'with charge on the car', how many miles is the ev battery estimate showing? do you have the temp setting above 'low'?
     
  8. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    First of all - Thank ALL of you for your responses! We love the car.

    We purchased the car with 86 miles on it at the dealer in early 2013.
    There was literally no change in characteristics till about 5 months ago when the first of these episodes happened.

    Engine speed. The two things we never experienced was 1. hearing the engine this loud, Running at higher rpm I am guessing around 1200 rpm. Shocked us the first time we heard it. And it has always performed in EV with available charge on it and only went to engine under stress of hills or sudden acceleration.

    Charging habits: Every time we get home we plug in the charge unit.

    The comparison to the 2007 Prius was only to state we understand the fundamental characteristics of Prius cars. The PiP runs very pretty much the same, except for when available charge keeps it in EV mode. Stop, start etc.

    Don't know what "lift back engine means". When I start the car and reverse out of garage, it has a charge available and normally always just runs in EV mode.

    We live in Walla Walla, WA. Climate control stays 100% in EV/EVO positions.The climate is always in Auto mode, temp at 68 F.

    Warm months Battery will charge to average 11 and in winter 9.3 -9.6 miles available

    Interested to know what your different cold weather operation is from rest of year. My key frustration is it ran fine till recent. If it did what it does now when I took delivery I would have taken it back.

    To the Fiat comment. If this was a regular car and you start it the engine would initially run at higher rpm even if only for a short time than drop down to it normal rpm range usually 800 - 900 rpm. That is exactly what this car is doing now. I had Healys, Triumphs and MGBs back in the day (I am 67) and the only car more difficult to get electrical work done on was a Fiat.
     
  9. Easy Rider 2

    Easy Rider 2 Senior Member

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    Given everything you said, I think it is likely that something is wrong.

    Be prepared, however, to argue with the Service Advisor when they try to tell you that nothing is wrong without even looking.

    It could be something as simple as low coolant level in one of the loops, or a bad temp sensor somewhere.

    It SHOULD be fairly simple to see what is not as it should be IF they will hook a full scanner to it and then start it up cold.
    Getting them to actually DO that might be like pulling teeth though.
    Let's hope not.
     
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  10. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    When I took it in to dealer in early December they ran a diagnostic scan. Said these scans are done in Torrance, CA and watched by the pros and seemed everything was okay. When I picked up the car. It did exactly what I told you. I drove around to the Bay doors in front, got the Service Mgr.,& the Expert out side and with 9.6 miles on the charge and the car sitting there in park and the engine running like a singer sewing machine, the expert pulled out the service manual and showed me the statement that cold weather driving in EVO with auto on could cause this to happen. I was slack jawed.
     
  11. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    There's a variety of reasons the ICE turns. Check the manual.

    My first thought is you have the HVAC on. If you have it on with a temperature higher than LO, then the ICE will come on every time until it comes to operating temperature. I'm typically annoyed by the ICE coming on when I need to use the defroster (feet and windshield setting) and temperature was set above LO last time it was used.
     
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  12. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    "Engine running most of the time" is harder to quantify than loss of fuel efficiency. That's the angle I'd be pursuing.
     
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  13. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    I will put the car into LO and see what happens.

    To the question of fuel efficiency.... I have not seen a noticeable drop. It appears about the same. I assumed it would drop, had to quantify. Thank you.

    The car goes out of warranty in March.
     
  14. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    The Prius is designed to achieve the best possible fuel economy. Engine-running-time is irrelevant to that end. Trust the software; the engine runs when it has to.
     
  15. rxlawdude

    rxlawdude Active Member

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    Hey, in balmy SoCal, when we had a "cold snap" (temps in the 40s), if my climate control was set for 70, the engine went on as you describe. Was "several months ago" = The start of Cold Temps in your area? Or not?

    Turn off climate control. Use the seat heaters. See what impact that has.
     
  16. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    will try that. Thank you!
     
  17. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    No amount of incremental fuel-economy gain could compel me to drive my Prius in the winter without heat.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    uh, dude, you've had the car for two years, and you don't know that the temp gauge fires the enginewhat does that have to do with owning an '07 for 85,000 miles and it running flawlessly?o_O
     
  19. Brad Riordan

    Brad Riordan New Member

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    Do me a favor don't comment on my posts
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    request granted.(y)all the best.(y)