Dr. Prius and OBD Experiences?

Welcome to Prius Chat.
I’m using Hybrid Assustant, so cannot comment Dr. Prius. I suggest to use HA, if you have Android device to be used. (I use that one with clone dangle.)
Regarding dongles I see the following options:
- Cheap chinese clones with free apps: you will need to have luck to get a working one, but when it’s working, it’s OK. (It happend that this dangle made a Prius Christmas tree - error codes everywhere.
- Better dangle: like OBDLink, VGate iCar3, etc. (someone may complete the list) They are more expensive, but it may work the first time.
- TechStream with mini VCI: best solution, but official cable is expensive. Installing the software can be complicated if you don’t have the good version - I have no experience, but sure you will find topic on it.

 

Here is the link to the Dr Prius app webpage

On that page is a link to obdii bluetooth scanners the Doc recommends a few

I went with the Panlong from Amazon --- roughly $10

To be able to use some useful features of the app, it does require you to purchase
the upgrade for $12 for 3 vehicles or possibly $20-30 for unlimited -not sure on those numbers currently.
And also that is for android, iphony is more

I have a scan gauge so I do not use the Doc for codes, but have used it for testing batt health.
Not much I can say about the app, other than it served its purpose intended and I plan to use it
every 6 months or so to test batt health on both my prius

 

Excellent and needed post. I have about 95k miles on my '13 Prius v, so I will be getting more and more interested as my wagon nears it's warranty period.

Thanks for starting this thread.

 

I'm using the Carista dongle with Dr. Prius with an iPhone 5, works fine. Says "Carista OBD Adapter for iPhone/iPad and Android New". Only done the "static" assessment, haven't done any of the car-on stuff.

 

I have used both Hybrid Assistant and Dr. Prius. I like Hybrid Assistant fro everyday monitoring of hybrid system status and Dr. Prius for battery capacity and health tests. For one vehicle I think the test license in Dr. Prius is about $6. I use the OBDLink adapter

You might be interested in another thread that was started on PriusChat a couple of days ago by the developer of Dr. Prius. He is working on developing a Lithium battery replacement for the gen 2 and 3 Prius. If he can actually pull that off, it will be a big deal. We'll see.

Here is a link to the thread: Rainbow Prius Hybrid Powered by Lithium! | PriusChat

If you have questions about Dr. Prius, he would most likely respond to a private message.

 

I downloaded Dr. Prius today. You can see a readout of your pack module info (which is meaningless unless you know something about how batteries work - I dont really).

I ran the test (a bit confusing at first - kept making me repeat step 1/3) and it showed my HV pack on a car with 100,000 miles is at 80% remaining life, which is reassuring. However I have no idea how accurate these results are. I bet they are within ballpark range.

The one thing I hated about the Dr. Prius app was you had to floor the gas pedal with the brake down at the same time and hold it there. As someone who likes to be easy on his vehicles I really hated this test, it made me cringe - I'd never floor my vehicle like that in normal life. I'm guessing the engine can handle it but it made me worried I was going to throw a rod just sitting there with the engine floored in a parking lot.

 

some feller performed the tests 3 back to back to back times and posted the results on here. They were way off from each other, some even posted 105%

 

From what I understand, the drive by wire system means that when you floor it with the brake depressed, it doesn't actually go full throttle. Based on my couple times doing it when test driving, I don't even think it's putting power to the transmission. I've drag raced conventional cars, even dinky ones, enough to know what it feels like when you high rev in gear with the brakes held.

 

Right ... the ECU sees the accelerator and brake depressed and simply says "aha, I see that the owner would like me to force-charge the battery."

 

Makes sense. I could definately tell that there was no power going to the wheels. Glad to know that its probably not bad for the engine to run this test.

 

shocked that you weren’t pummeled by the PC safety police members that you didn’t engaged the parking brakes prior force charging

 

I had the parking brake engaged, wheel chocks installed, 15m of emergency lurch clearance zone delineated by DOT certified flagging tape around my vehicle, and 3 certified flaggers wearing full reflective PPE to redirect pedestrians and traffic around the test site ensure that the entire diagnostic procedure was a safe operation. I was also wearing a helmet, had a roll cage installed, and racing seatbelts.

 

I was gonna suggest wheel chocks, looks like you’ve got it covered, lol.

so far with dr Prius I’ve just done the static test.

 

no orange cones nor lighted torches?!