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Consumption Screen Oddity

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by jsquareg, Feb 8, 2009.

  1. jsquareg

    jsquareg New Member

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    2009 Prius
    2009 Prius Package 2.

    Let's see if I can explain my problem regarding the Consumption screen on
    the Touch Screen.

    We often drive about 25 miles down the interstate with about 5 minutes on
    each end of the trip on city streets. After about the first 5 minutes the
    screen shows a little more that 25mpg in the first bar. Once we get on the
    interstate, the second bar(5-10) begins to fill and after a short time it
    gets to little more than 25mpg. As time goes on duing the second interval,
    the first bar (0-5) jumps up to a little less than 50 mpg and the second bar
    stays around 25 mpg. This sequence continues as time passes and the
    remaining bars fill and the preceding bar jumps up to almost 50 mpg as did
    the first bar during the second interval. The overall average at the bottom
    of the screen usually shows between 45 mpg and 48 mpg for the total trip
    which seems about right.

    It is strange that the preceding bar would change after its time frame had
    passed. What in the software would account for that?

    I will appreciate any insight into this.

    Thank you very much.
     
    #1 jsquareg, Feb 8, 2009
  2. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    The 1st bar should continually move leftward at each 5 min segment and never change. Same with following 5 min bars. There's a problem, take it to the dealer.
     
    #2 andyprius, Feb 8, 2009
  3. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    jsquareg,

    I notice that you have a 2009. From various reports here on PC, it is
    apparent that over a model's sales period, Toyota makes subtle changes to
    the operating software/algorithms without any public announcements --
    they are very secretive about the inner workings of the control systems.

    So far, there haven't been any reports of any special conditions/features of
    the HSD or MFD displays that are particular to the 2009. But as more 2009s
    are in daily use, it won't surprise me to hear of some tricky little changes.

    If I had to guess, it sounds like the computation of the "fat yellow bars" may
    have changed. It sounds almost like there are two overlapping computations
    going on with averaging across the 5 min. segments. Sounds strange, but by
    doing so, it would at least look like that you're getting better MPGs as the
    car gets through the initial warm-up period.

    Then again, as andyprius suggests, something may be amiss. :confused:
     
    #3 Rokeby, Feb 8, 2009
  4. Genoz World

    Genoz World ZEN-style living

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    yes, i agree, the first 5 minutes are exactly that, it's gone in time and we can't travel back in time to change it. sounds like a dealer fix here.
     
    #4 Genoz World, Feb 8, 2009
  5. jsquareg

    jsquareg New Member

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    Thank you very much.

    That could well be the answer. I thought the progression of the bars was the opposite of what you described and I will take a close look the next time we we take the trip which will probably be next Wednesday. My old, faltering memory of what has been happening says you have the provided the answer.

    Thanks again.
     
    #5 jsquareg, Feb 8, 2009
  6. jsquareg

    jsquareg New Member

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    Didn't make it to next Wednesday. We went on another short trip the other way on the interstate and found your explanation of the progression of the bars answered my question.

    Thanks very much.
     
    #6 jsquareg, Feb 8, 2009
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