Car changing drive modes itself while driving

The car will switch out of Eco or Power to EV and back routinely. EV largely means the engine if off at lights, going downhill or after letting up on the gas a little. It is integral to a hybrid's operation to save gas.

Switching to Power should not happen automatically but is easy to do inadvertently since the button is on the console next to your arm. It is possible a drink spilled into the button which "might" cause Power mode. I would look for it to happen again before spending money to replace it.

The real advantage of Eco mode is not the amount of gas your engine needs to keep you at a given speed, instead it reduces ac and electric heat draws on occasion to save hv battery energy, which then requires engine operation to recharge in most cases.

 

check the 12v battery and connections. it should not switch out of whatever mode you have set, even as it switches back and forth from hv to ev. the ev light should simply come on when in ev.

and consider cleaning the egr circuit if you haven't.

 

A v wagon switches in and out of EV following the motor running state. I would imagine a hatchback does the same.

 

yes, but not eco/normal/power modes. they only change with the button

 

Have you spilled soda or something else on the switch? My buttons were sticking in the down position, so I replaced the switch itself. Maybe some liquid worked its way unto the circuit board; just something to consider

 

excellent idea!^^^

 

Pepsi Syndrome...

 

Here's excerpt from a short writeup I did with the parts number:

1. For the console switch (84970-47020), I reference this video:

• This guy does a great job on how to clean the switches, but I knew for me, I wanted to replace them (in the interest of time and not potentially causing harm)
• If you too prefer to replace, you can skip the parts where he separates the silver piece from the black piece - it's possible and easy to remove the switch without removing any of the screws simply by spreading the cradle on both sides of one end and leveraging that end up, then repeating on the other to remove
• To summarize - pop out the cupholder section, disconnect the wire, remove the console switch by applying leverage to release from the tabs, place in the new part, plug it in, pop the cupholder section back in (and you're done)