Summary of problems reported on Prius 2010

Cold feet, hot head? Uneven heat distribution...

Love the A/C in the car, but the heat leaves me with cold feet and a burning up head!

In "Auto" setting at any temp or A/C and recirc setting, the default air direction is down to the footwells. But some air is also directed to the side face vents. The upper part of the cabin seems to stay much warmer than the footwells.

I've tried all kinds of combinations of settings, but it seems that the "Auto" setting should be the most equal.

Maybe I'm too used to US cars' climate control systems...

Comments welcome!

 

Civic, thank you!

ISSUE: ABS not what I expected?

I got Red into the snow for the first time yesterday and got to experience both traction control and ABS response (I've had experience with Honda and Chrysler ABS, never TCS). Traction control was about what I thought it would be but the ABS seemed to be pretty lame. I didn't experience the shuddering pulsing as in our Honda and Dodge, but instead slow pulses every couple seconds. I slid through a couple stops until I figured out how to compensate.

What's everyone else experiencing?
Thanks!

 

I actually had something similar happen to me a couple times. It occurs randomly, but when it does, it feels like I have no control over the Prius when backing out. Before I thought it was just the way I was braking, but when I tried releasing the brake very slowly, the same thing happened. I felt a jerking motion every time I stopped because I was scared I would just roll onto the street and hit something. If anyone else knows anything, please let me know.

 

fuel flow indicator shows zero - engine still running - Prius 2010

Purchased my third Prius (2010) in August 2009. Since early November (we're two hours north of Toronto) I've been observing what appears to be a bug in one of the two Prius hybrid system computers. Generally when it is below 0 Celsius, or the car has not fully warmed up, I observe the fuel flow indicator (which I'm always working to keep at its lowest) to fall to zero (disappear). However, the engine continues to run. If I maintain power below mid-point on power bar display, the fuel flow can stay at zero - until engine actually stops - or until I push pedal to move power bar above mid-point, at which time fuel flow indication resumes. Has anyone else seen this, or is this a problem specific to my own 2010 Prius (Canada - base model).

 

Thanks again, Civic - where should I put these new threads?

 

UPDATE: I had the dealer check the ABS and they reported all is well. Since we have packed snow and ice (and water on top of packed snow and ice) right now, I took Red to a nearby parking lot and exercised both the traction control and ABS.

I'm more comfortable with them now. The ABS definitely FEELS different than in our Dodge, but seems to be working, as I can steer while coming to a stop.

I guess that comes with being on the uphill side of the learning curve with such a different vehicle!

 

UPDATE: Closing the face vents, or at least directing them toward the window (or over my my shoulder) seems to help. Closing the vents directs a TINY bit more air to the footwells, though it could still be better.

This may be generic to Toyotas, as I borrowed a Yaris this morning while Red was being looked at and it was very similar.

 

Done as suggested.

New thread posted.

Mike

 

Last night I was in a car queue to get a ticket to board a ferry and as the cars were moving slowly I selected "Park" each time I stopped. After doing this about 6-8 times when I selected "Drive" nothing happened, the car stayed in park.
I tried several times and even selected all other setting to no avail.
I solved the problem by turn the power off with the power switch and powering on again.
I will make further tests today to see if I can reproduce the fault.

 

Drop in mpg in cold weather. Averaging in mid-to-high forties, drops to thirties in cold weather.

 

Normal, I am getting 43 to 45 here in Maryland right now. Drops to high 30's after fill-up until have driven about 20+ miles.

 

I would agree, my mileage drop due to winter is about the same as it was with the Gen2. Actually not to much different than with non-hybrids I have owned or driven. The biggest differences seem to be on short trips, long highway trips are not much different than summer.

 

That is what I should have added. Getting out on the highway gets me back close to 50. It's the short 2-7 mile jaunts from my house to the city and not getting out on the highway. Even long periods of driving thru town, stop light to stop light helps to get the mileage up again. We'll be ok come spring. Besides, here we are complaining about 40's mpg. What a great problem!

 

My car is a type V with a 9/09 build date. In addition to the above, the GPS POI database sometimes provides the right address, but goes to the wrong location - usually within a 1/4 mile of the right spot. It is definately almost useless in accurately locating an input address, and provides the wrong address (sometimes non-existant) when asked for current location.

 

No offense, but this is right up there with the poster who complained their mileage goes down in cold weather, and the posters who refuse to accept the way ABS works.

As has been discussed over many years in many threads, this is just the way GPS navigation systems and maps work. While the Garmin enthusiasts sometimes claim that Garmin somehow does it better (even though everyone is using the same 2 or 3 map providers), it is rare or non-existent for specific addresses to be mapped to precise GPS coordinates. The tech guys can correct me if they like, but my understanding is that it boils down to averaging a range of addresses over a given distance or block.

 

Re: Shaking Prius 2010

Just bought new Prius 2010 IV three wks ago; shakes on highway 65-70mph; had tires balanced three times but to no avail... anyone else had this problem? Dealer has no clue as to the cause...