Prius low hybrid - not accelerating at stop/red light.

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Diddy182, Jun 15, 2023.

  1. Diddy182

    Diddy182 New Member

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    Hello. Appreciate any replies.

    I have a 2016 Toyota Prius. 106k miles.

    The problem: After driving for a few hours when I come to a stop the car will not accelerate and the hybrid battery will be at one bar. After pressing hard for a bit I believe it activates the ICE engine and then it moves. This does take 10-15 seconds. It seems to take a few extra minutes to charge back to 3 or so bars after this. Then it seems like it’s normal. Keeps charge when parked. Doesn’t have less of a charge after starting it up overnight.

    it seems like regenerative breaking and accelerating when driving doesn’t charge it enough. After a few hours of driving.

    This has happened twice over the past 4 days of driving.

    No lights on dash.
    No codes from OBD reader.
    Nothing wrong with v12 battery.

    I have a diagnostic appointment with Toyota but it’s a bit of time away.

    Has anyone experienced this problem before or have any idea what’s happening?
     
    #1 Diddy182, Jun 15, 2023
  2. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    I’d check the hybrid battery air filter. If it hasn’t been cleaned it could be restricting air flow, causing the temperature of the hybrid battery to be too high, which will prevent the system from charging it like it should.
    EDIT: Do you have something blocking that air filter? You mentioned traveling for a couple hours and I’m wondering if you have something sitting in front of it blocking the air flow.
     
    #2 Doug McC, Jun 17, 2023
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2023
    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller likes this.
  3. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    It should be pretty obvious when the ICE actually starts.......and that should happen within a few seconds of starting out.
    Or while stopped if the HV battery is low enough.

    And how EXACTLY do you know that the 12 V system is OK ??
     
    #3 sam spade 2, Jun 17, 2023
  4. a2058

    a2058 Junior Member

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    I think there may have been a TSB on this, something about not accelerating right away when battery charge is low…
     
    #4 a2058, Jun 17, 2023
    Doug McC likes this.
  5. a2058

    a2058 Junior Member

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    On July 27, Toyota issued Service Bulletin T-SB-0241-17, “Reduced Power When Accelerating From a Stop,”

    This was a sticky here, just check the link directly above at the beginning in this sub forum
     
    #5 a2058, Jun 17, 2023
    Doug McC likes this.
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