Latest Software Update Safety Recall Resulting in 8mpg less...

The dealer old me that a "hard reset" was just disconnecting the 12V battery. I did it and I am not really seeing any change (maybe 1-2 MPG better , but can't really tell and certainly not back to what it was before). The Hard Reset did reset the clock, environmental controls, trip sets, and the station the radio was on... but I didn't cause me to loose the paired phones or my preset radio stations, so it wasn't that bad to do. I still have the drop in MPG, and am looking for another solution. My dealer has not offered any ideas as to what caused it or how to fix it.

 

If a "hard reset" doesn't work, inquire if there is a software reset...basically reloading the software the messed with on the recall. Sometimes a glitch happens and you have to "repair" the install.

 

Thanks for that info!! Did you do the disconnect directly at the battery, or under the hood??

 

Directly at the Battery and I waited 3+ minutes. I have also sent Toyota Customer Service an email, but have not heard back.

 

They will not reload it without my paying for it and they said it won't change anything, since the recall was not related to MPGs. They claim there are no glitches and if the car passes a health check , it is working properly... and 38 MPGs is within range for the car, even though it had immediately lost 8 MPGs after the recall.

 

Are you still back to normal after they did the adjustments? Can you find out what they did? I have contacted Toyota Corp, and they said they don't know of any problems and referred me back to the dealership. I have asked them if it was normal for a Prius's to get less than 40 MPG (regardless if the recall didn't cause it or that I have another Prius that I drive the same way and it gets 5-8MPG better).

9/15/2014 - Toyota just referred the issue back to the dealer, which is still stating that there is nothing wrong with the car and the computer will identify any problems, so there are no problems. They are also back to saying this sudden in drop of MPGs does not exist. They offered to have me take it to a different dealer to run the diagnostics, but I don't know why that would make any difference. I believe it is something the health diagnosis can't find. They do not keep records on calls to them about your car, so they have no record of when I started complaining about the car.

 

Decided to get the recall done, reluctantly. I suggest everyone understand the consequences before you get yours done.

Early findings indicate it reduced my MPG by ~4 on average, but time and more fill-ups will render a more accurate result.

It increased my 0-60 uphill time test by an average of 5%. Prior to doing the recall, I ran many 0-60 tests on an uphill freeway on-ramp, all from a dead stop at exactly the same location. I used the "CT Speedometer Systems LITE" android app, which includes a GPS based 0-60 timer. Power mode, A/C off and WOT every time. After the recall detuning, the times went up by 5% on average.

This update detunes your car. The ICE runs more often, louder fan cooling noise, lower MPG, slower acceleration. For what??? So Toyota does not have to actually FIX the problem and reduce in warranty replacements, while the consumer gets less performance. Is there any attorneys out there that want to pursue a class action lawsuit? Toyota should be forced to properly redesign and replace the faulty parts to maintain the claimed product specifications, and not detune the car to prevent failures. At the very least, I should be given reasonable compensation for spending additional money for gas, and reduced enjoyment of the car through lower performance. Toyota, shame on you for taking the easy way out. This is clearly a recall for their benefit and not ours.

Several of you may have noted an increase in mileage, presumably from those who drive slow and live in areas without hills. I can see this happening, because the batteries are going through a deeper cycle and preventing a rapid full charge. This trick will allow more instances of regeneration and battery use on a low stress level. Consequently reduce battery life as well. For us normal drivers who often pass others, accelerate briskly on freeway onramps, and drive the vehicle like a normal car, we are penalized severely. Please consider realistically the kind of driver you are before doing the recall. Consider yourselves warned.

Read more: Who has done their recall? | Page 43 | PriusChat

 

Odd.

I had it done.

I live in a mountainous area (Appalachia) and hit the interstate going to and from work.

I'm getting over 55 mpg on average.

I've not done a tank 100% on the interstate, though.

 

I'm not disputing that, but it'd be more accurate to say: your ICE runs more often.

The post-update behaviours of various owners have been all over the map. FYI, with ours I found the car slipped into electric-only propulsion more readily. I hadn't mentioned this to my wife, and she out-of-the-blue said the same thing.

Bottom line: there seems to be something buggy with the update, some times it's fine, some times not.

 

You may want to start by sending a report to the NHTSA and the EPA about the reduced mileage observed. They can open an action, an investigation with Toyota. This in turn can lead to a change in the EPA MPG rating. Now when this happened to Ford, my understanding is they offered some compensation to the owners. I don't think it ever went to trial. Still, your protocol explains why I did not see it.

My Prius benchmarks are not at full-power (see below.) I have done one stretch of 100 mph 'testing' and remember it was ~22-23 MPG. But since I seldom operate our Prius at max power, I just don't have any before data. But those who regularly floor the accelerator could notice the reduced MPG and performance at those power settings. Here are my benchmarks:

The car was not at full-power at 80 mph.

Bob Wilson

 

I had the software update applied last month. Usually I get 55 mpg b4 the update without a/c and 50 mpg with a/c but lately it has been unbearable with the summer heat. I used the a/c and my mileage has been a disgusting 40 mpg. Highway mileage is now 47 mpg without a/c

I went back to the dealer to complain about the software update and low mileage I am now getting. They said the software update adjusted things because the ethanol in gasoline is making the engine run hotter thereby causing the battery to run hotter and wear out faster. Regardless. I asked them to revert the software update back and they replied that they could not.

Does anybody know how I can revert back to previous version before this new update. I want my mileage back.

 

Find a crashed ZVW30 Prius before the upgrade and swap in the HV ECU. However, there may be other things needed to get the car to recognize and use the HV ECU and match to the keys. But this is not the only solution.

Drive the car like those who have not observed a decrease in mileage. This is not hypermiling but just efficient driving. Then you might try effective complaining.

Contact the NHTSA and EPA and document your problem. Then for good measure, send a letter to your Congress-critters with a request for help. Send a courtesy copy to Toyota USA and their Quality Center. Be polite, precise, and let them 'earn their pay.'

• Report Environmental Violations | Enforcement | US EPA
  
• File a Safety Complaint | Safercar.gov | NHTSA

Source: EPA Investigation Prompts Carmaker to Correct Inflated Mileage Claims| Fuel Economy | US EPA

Bob Wilson

 

How do you run the A/C? What temp setting? Do you use AUTO or manually set things?

AUTO works to conserve power consumption. The lower you set the temp, the longer it has to work the A/C. I have mine set at 72 year-round, but on real hot days, I'll bump it up to 75 until the system balances out the cabin air.

 

battery heat... and engine heat are not connected.....
these service centre must think we are stupid!...

quote this also when your complaining

 

How about telling folks how to complain:

EPA Investigation Prompts Carmaker to Correct Inflated Mileage Claims| Fuel Economy | US EPA

Make this your signature and/or make sure every time you post more umbrage that you share HOW to complain. Understand, I can't because I can not find any evidence of a mileage problem.

In May 2009, I tested mileage of our 2010 Prius:

At 80 mph with the defroster on, the brand new, not patched, 2010 Prius go 40 MPG indicated with the defroster on which runs the air conditioner all the time to dry the air.

Bob Wilson

 

I find the defroster is more efficient if you set the temp lower and avoid things that add excess moisture to the cabin air like talking, singing along to the radio....breathing......

 

I didn't notice the defroster was still on until I was well into that benchmark. Normally, I don't use it except for exceptional days and then only until the engine coolant is hot enough to blow warm-air. Still this accident has a happy outcome.

The A/C part of the defroster stands in for the poster(s) who claim the patch 'problem' showed up when they are running the A/C. Funny how my benchmark at 80 mph with the defroster on appears to match their complaints of low mileage.

Still, we should do everything possible to point the complainers to where their concerns will receive the care and attention it deserves:

• 'please email your questions to [email protected].'

I can not replicate the complaints and so far, only one has posted credible before and after data. The rest failed to benchmark their cars before the patch and afterwards. I did and could not find any significant change.

Bob Wilson

 

"Benchmark their cars"??? Oh yeah ... why didn't I think of that??? I think that's a little far fetched! I've been checking my mileage every fill up for the last three+ years, and can pretty accurately state that we were averaging 44.5 mpg local driving Orlando, Fl. A/C always on and set at 70°F. Since the update over 4 mo. ago, MPG has been just about 40. I noticed the drop immediately after the update. "Benchmarked" or not, I am convinced it was the update. Wish I had known about this controversy before I took it in for the update.

Ed

 

The first miles in both or our Prius were mph vs MPG benchmarks. I share them with anyone so they can document the problem:

Benchmark protocol:

• Drive car for ~15-20 minutes to warm it up.
• On a flat road, set your cruise control to a speed.
• Reset a tripmeter
• Drive 10 miles
• Record the MPG and speed
• Turn around and repeat the test in the reverse direction
• Average the speed and MPG
• Check against the chart

Understand I've seen only one credible alternative in this thread that involves a pedal-to-the-metal acceleration test. And what I recommended to him, the same I recommend to you, complain to the EPA. Guess what will happen?

The EPA numbers are generated by a set of five BENCHMARKS. It costs ~$250,000 for a full test but once run, game over. Or you could re-run my benchmark on your car and see if there is a problem.

Now there have been reports that doing a power-on-reset by disconnecting the 12V battery ground for a couple of minutes might give some relief. Certainly I have no problem with trying it and at the same time, fully inflate the tires. But it has more credibility if a benchmark is run before and after the reset.

Bob Wilson

 

My 2010 had the update at 60k. It has 74k now. I avg 51-50.8 computer generated don't know true as of yet but I am assuming it is correct. I've gone 315 miles and have 3 pips left