2020 Prime. ICE started itself while plugged in (in the garage!).

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by Reliable, Feb 7, 2020.

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  1. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    My apologies if this has been answered elsewhere.

    I got my 2020 Prius Prime LE in December of 2019. No surprises, absolute satisfaction until yesterday.

    My routine is to plug in the charger (110 wall outlet) each evening when I return home. I park in my attached garage.

    Yesterday I was home all day. In the early afternoon, it dawns on me that I hear a motor running. I went into the garage to investigate. The gas engine was running and the garage was full of exhaust smoke. All three blue charge indicator lamps on the dashboard were flashing in unison. I got everything turned off, opened the garage door to ventilate the smoke, and started hunting in the manual to figure out what happened.

    The best I can figure is that I put the key fob in my pocket and inadvertently pressed the remote A/C starter.

    But, in reading the manual, I think I understand that it is supposed to only use the battery to power the A/C for that function.

    The manual seems to only address use of the remote A/C starter in conjunction with a level 2 charger, but again I am using a 110 wall outlet. I think I understand that the dealer can disable the remote A/C function, which looks like a good idea. Can any of you help me understand what I might have done?

    I'm not finding an explanation for why the gas engine might start in my closed garage. I think I should invest in carbon monoxide alarms before I invest in a Level 2 charger.

    Thanks for your advice.
     
    #1 Reliable, Feb 7, 2020
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Was there an aftermarket remote engine start installed instead (different from the remote A/C you mentioned).

    Alternatively, there’s a small chance you never turned the car off when you parked.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Feb 7, 2020
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  3. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    Thank you for the ideas.
    Nothing aftermarket on the car.
    I will experiment to see if the car will let me plug it in to charge without turning it off first.
     
    #3 Reliable, Feb 7, 2020
  4. noonm

    noonm Senior Member

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    This is surprisingly easy to do and I've found myself doing several times since getting my Prime.

    I pretty much use the start button as my "park", so when I do actually use the park button, I often forget to actually turn the car off!
     
    #4 noonm, Feb 7, 2020
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  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    ...and that's why there's a full ban on pushbutton-start cars inside my garage, thanks! They're welcome to sleep outside.
     
    #5 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Feb 7, 2020
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    this is a common issue, and nothing to be concerned about
     
    #6 bisco, Feb 7, 2020
  7. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    Oh, that might be a useful habit to cultivate. I know that the car goes into park automatically when you turn off the power.
    It's possible I could have made that mistake, but I'm not certain--I am so interested in seeing my driving score that every time I stop the car I look for my number...also, it was parked for more than 24 hours before the engine turned on.
     
    #7 Reliable, Feb 8, 2020
  8. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    Can you elaborate on your response?
     
    #8 Reliable, Feb 8, 2020
  9. Jon Bloom

    Jon Bloom Member

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    But doesn't the car beep at you if you close the door with the car on and the fob outside the car? Several times that's the only thing that has kept me from leaving the thing turned on in the garage.
     
    #9 Jon Bloom, Feb 8, 2020
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  10. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    It does and it's saved me a time or two, but many of us, including me, have still managed to phase out and do it anyway. Leaving the car in READY and plugging it in is the only plausible explanation I've ever heard of or can dream up other than the possibility of a remote start. But I gather this is a new car, so that wouldn't be a surprise to the owner.

    And when you do that, the car will not charge the battery.
     
    #10 jerrymildred, Feb 8, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2020
  11. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    If the car was left on, shouldn't the instrument panel be all brightly lit?
     
    #11 El Dobro, Feb 8, 2020
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    if the car is plugged in, can the engine start?
     
    #12 bisco, Feb 8, 2020
  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I think so, if it was already in READY mode. The charger will not charge in Ready mode, so the traction battery will gradually lose charge. Eventually, it will get low enough that the engine will have to run to protect the battery.

    If the car was off and it was plugged in, I can't see how the engine could start unless the whole system got over ridden by some after market remote engine start device as @Tideland Prius mentioned.
     
    #13 jerrymildred, Feb 8, 2020
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    a lot of us forget to shut down our cars. fortunately, there is very little toxicity to primes exhaust.

    your description of 'the garage is full of exhaust smoke' is disconcerting though. you may want to have the engine and pollution control system analyzed at the dealership.
     
    #14 bisco, Feb 8, 2020
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  15. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I do that stuff, too. :D

    It could easily take that long depending on the state of charge.
     
    #15 jerrymildred, Feb 8, 2020
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  16. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    It's not that big of a garage...
     
    #16 Reliable, Feb 8, 2020
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  17. Reliable

    Reliable New Member

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    I appreciate all this information, everybody.
    I've just had a chance to experiment and see if I could replicate this situation.
    I put it in park and left it turned on. When I got out of the car and closed the door, an alarm sounded (maybe it's a new feature--it is a good idea!). So, I don't think that's the solution here.
    For the next experiment, when I get the chance I will try to activate the remote A/C with the key fob and see if it turns on the ICE after awhile.
     
    #17 Reliable, Feb 8, 2020
  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    ICE should not start with remote A/C. The strange thing is that you had a charge indicator lit while ICE is on. This should never happen.
     
    #18 Salamander_King, Feb 11, 2020
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  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    They weren’t lit. They were all blinking in unison. That implies some sort of error.
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Feb 12, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
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  20. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    OK, so it is not the indication of "charging in progress" nor "charging complete". Humm, I have never seen mine does that. What does that indicate?
     
    #20 Salamander_King, Feb 12, 2020
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