ICE comes on anyway

If you wanted all season electric propulsion, you should have bought a BEV. You made the right choice with a PHEV though. Learn to live with its "limitations".

 

Maybe if you don't turn on the heater or front defroster, the ICE won't turn on. At that low a temperature, I'm not all that surprised it would turn on.


iPhone ? Pro

 

the engine should not come on if you are doing it right, as reported by many others here.

1) are you in ev mode?

2) is the front defroster off? (not sure if this applies to prime)

3) any downhills on the way that would use ice to burn off regen?

i couldn't keep the engine off on my test drive, but i have been told i didn't have enough ev miles.

my pip engine rarely comes on all winter, if i operate it correctly, prime has to be better, i'm sure.

 

On one of my test drives the temp was 34F and I had to use CHG mode to get some Ev range as the battery started out depleted. Even with only 2 miles or so of EV range it still went into Ev at 65mph, and stayed there.

 

Sorry you have this problem. My Prime is acting as an EV, confirmed at 16F, never got colder to test below that.
Right questions above.
Have you tried not having a full charge?
Or tried driving under 25 mph for a couple miles to get battery warmed from driving before proceeding to driving faster?
Do you park it outside overnight?
Only other thing I can think of is to see a dealer with experienced technician.

 

has this been happening all along?

 

My guess is that you've got a bad temperature sensor in the battery somewhere. I'd take it to the dealer.

 

I agree; Time to get it onto the shop. I'm located in Upstate NY, and since I've had my Prime, we've had many days under 20F, and I park and charge outside. I can make the work roundtrip (24.2 miles) all in EV, with a few miles to spare. We use the Seat Heaters, and only turn on the "ECO Heat/Cool" sporadically (to defog windshield). The ICE will kick on should I select the "Front" defogger, or I use the "B" mode before a few miles of EV are burned off. Are you in "ECO Mode" (I don't use the "Normal" or PWR" modes)? Are you in "EV Mode" or "EV Auto" (I think "EV Auto" s/w may cause ICE to fire in cold weather)? Good luck at the dealer.

 

Yeah, something ain't right, the only time I've had my ice turn on is when using defrost. Even up to 80mph. With temps in the 20's. I'd take it in and have it checked out, hopefully nothing big and get it back soon.

Also, when ya do get it fixed, I found a trick to defrost the windows without having ice turn on. I click auto the direct vent to windshield. It works good enough most of the time.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

That is going to be the problem with this new very technical model. Service dealerships are going to have to catch up on the mechanics of this car to be truly able to address the problems coming up with it. I wonder how many mechanics have been sent to classes to understand the car?

 

call toyota and log a complaint. this could be a long and messy issue, unfortunately.

ask the service manager to go for a drive with you.

 

Good idea Bisco has there, it was suggested to me when I was having problems and I can say it seemed like Toyota corp really cared about everything and they seemed to help. And because of them I found out there is a special Toyota engineer that goes around to all the dealer's for special cases, I'd even request the engineer and leave your car overnight with them.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Definitely been colder than 31F here several times (although given last week you wouldn't know it), and other than odd hill issues I have had no problems staying in EV mode well above 25MPH. I drive on the highway at 65 to 70 MPH staying in EV the entire time, and even have the climate system turned on.

Defoggers will definitely turn on the ICE, you can not get the defoggers on during normal car run without the ICE turning on from my experience. You can turn on the defogger before going out to the car if you have an Advanced and setup your smartphone. Remote climate is one of my favorite things, defog the windows and de-ice the back window means I can drive without having these on and sucking on my gas.

If your vehicle is turning on and you are positive it is in EV mode, then there has to be something up that requires a look. Perhaps arrange a loaner with the dealership and leave your car overnight, instructing them to leave it outside. Arrive when they open to take a scheduled drive with someone from service and show them the problem.