1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

A Newbie that needs some reassurance.

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Martso, Dec 22, 2009.

  1. Martso

    Martso New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    31
    5
    0
    Location:
    Brooklyn NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Just got my Prius IV last Thursday before the big snow storm in the east. I only have thirty six miles on it and did a little local driving today. When I got in this morning I has three bars on the battery. While driving it did go up to 4 & 5 bars but when I just went to change my parking space now (I do live in NYC so we have to constantly move from one side to the other) it only has 2 bars. I will not be driving till the weekend. Is that normal to only have 2 bars? If I just do local driving how do you get it charged up? I see on some post that people say don't worry about all this and just let the car do it's thing. Should I just turn off the screen that shows the battery and not worry?
     
    #1 Martso, Dec 22, 2009
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    12,470
    6,871
    2
    Location:
    Greenwood MS USA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Only if you find you can't watch it do its thing, and not worry.

    If all you did was accelerate full throttle, you would want it always full, if all you did was brake going down hills you would always want it empty, in real life it varies.

    Have fun with your New Car!

    :welcome:
     
    #2 JimboPalmer, Dec 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  3. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    7,543
    1,558
    0
    Location:
    Alaska
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    The only thing you should "worry" about is if you get the warning lights. In which case, take it in to the dealer. Otherwise, just enjoy the ride.
     
    #3 spiderman, Dec 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  4. bestmapman

    bestmapman 04, 07 ,08, 09, 10, 16, 21 Prime

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2007
    1,289
    242
    3
    Location:
    Kentucky near Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Limited
    It is fine. Not to worry, 2-3 bars is common depending on your driving circumstances.
     
    #4 bestmapman, Dec 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  5. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    May 11, 2004
    14,816
    2,498
    66
    Location:
    Far-North Chicagoland
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    This reminds me of someone who posted a while back about how the dealer had drained their battery. The rant went something along the lines of "what were they doing to my car that drained the battery?!"

    The response was that if you move your car from spot to spot a few times like a dealer does you will see the battery level drop.

    So your situation reminds me of that where you say that you have to move it from spot to spot. I wouldn't worry about it.

    And congrats on the new Prius!
     
    #5 TonyPSchaefer, Dec 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  6. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2005
    1,761
    208
    0
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Change from the Energy screen to the Consumption screen and you will never have to worry about how many bars are showing on the battery. The Energy screen is just eye candy. Let the car do its thing with the battery and don't worry about it.
     
    #6 firepa63, Dec 22, 2009
    1 person likes this.
  7. going red baby!

    going red baby! still a n00b

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2009
    610
    96
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    A few days ago I was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and tried to put the car into EV mode and got a message saying my battery was too low to use EV! I was wondering if I had to intentionally use inefficient driving techniques just to get it charged back up. I kept trying to drive efficiently and eventually it got recharged no problem. I did think it a bit odd when that happened though.
     
    #7 going red baby!, Dec 23, 2009
  8. lenjack

    lenjack Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2006
    804
    114
    0
    Location:
    Pennsylvania USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    The car's computers will keep the battery between 40% to 80% state of charge, no matter how you drive.
     
    #8 lenjack, Dec 23, 2009
  9. spinkao

    spinkao New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2009
    316
    77
    0
    Location:
    Czech Republic, EU
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    :welcome:and congrats to your new car! As others said, don't worry, it's completely normal. Just let the car do it's thing, as you said yourself :).
     
    #9 spinkao, Dec 23, 2009
  10. ctmurray

    ctmurray Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2006
    121
    10
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I have to say my newe gen IV showed the same behavior for a few days, but now seems to be in a steady state and not fluctuating. I have a gen II where I did not see (or notice) this behavior when new. So I too would say - give it a few days but don't worry too much. Maybe take a medium length trip.
     
    #10 ctmurray, Dec 23, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)