Plugin Charger issues

i have seen people who don't set am/pm correctly, and someone had a bad evse, but this issue is new i believe.

 

I have a recently purchased 2014 plug-in, and I'm experiencing a similar problem, I think. Regardless of the time I set on the timer, the charge takes place earlier than the time set. If I set it to begin charging at 8 AM, and I go check it at 7 AM, it's already fully charged. The dashboard clock is set to the correct time in 12 hr mode, and the timer has an AM and PM suffix to the times shown. I've spent a good deal of time trying to find out if it is off by a regular, repeatable amount, but I've been unable thus far to sort that out.

I don't understand some of the comments in this thread. How, for example, does one set only the beginning time without setting the ending time or the ending time without setting the beginning time; how does the charger know which of the two is being set since there will be time recorded for each regardless of whether or not it's changed. A little clarification on that topic would be helpful.

I am unaware that 220vac can be used to charge the vehicle. Where is information obtained regarding 220 volt charging?

Are there folks out there who are having no trouble with their charging timers, and if so, how exactly are they using them?

 

Thanks Mehul...I think my questions are answered. I read a post titled "The one and only Prius plug-in FAQ" that spoke to the issue of setting only the start OR the finish time. I didn't understand how that was possible, but I tried it anyway by beginning the set timer routine, setting the start time and saving it without advancing to the finish time screen. I set it to start five minutes in the future, waited five minutes and presto, it went on and began charging. My setting procedure in the past had been to first set the start time and then set the finish time, but I believe the net result was that I was only setting the finish time, that in fact one can set only one or the other, but not both. It doesn't need a finish time since it stops charging when the charge is complete automatically, and it appears that if you set the finish time, then the timer chooses when to start, and that could be immediately, in an hour or two or by some other unknown algorithm. I'm going with the start time only for now, and I'm feeling pretty good about getting past this hurdle. Thanks for you input. I need all the luck I can get! mm

 

You only set one time, either start or end. With my line voltage at 120 it takes a little over 2 hours for a full charge from no EV miles to full charge. That's State of Charge from around 23% to 85%. The end time is set to 5 AM the charging is usually starts at 2:15 and is complete by 4:30.

 

I have a 2014 PIP Advanced. I have the time set to start at 0230. Based on the email messages that I receive, it does so quite reliably. I try and arrive home with anywhere from no charge left on battery (in full hybrid mode) or maybe .1 to .5 miles left on the battery in EV mode. It never takes the full three hours...the car almost is always fully charged between 0430 and 0450...again, this is all based on the email confirmations received from Toyota...

 

what is SOC ?

 

state of charge

 

thanks for getting back to us. your car was at the dealership for more than a month? and they replaced a bunch of parts? and no one at th dealership OR toyota knew how to set the timer? and you still don't know how to set it correctly? that's just sad.

 

Nowadays, the car's body functions (lights, power accessories, etc.) run through the BCM, and I would imagine the timer is one of those functions. Did the dealer look into that?

 

there was nothing wrong with the car, he was (and is) setting the timer incorrectly.

 

And even the dealer couldn't figure that out? Oy!

 

This seems to be an issue that comes up over and over: the fact that you can set EITHER a start time OR an end time, not both. I think the confusion comes from experience setting timers on things like DVRs, where you set a start-recording and end-recording time. This is the mental model I think most of us, at least in North America, have. Maybe its a cultural thing which would not occur to a Japanese designer?

And there is the manual setting of the clock used by the charging timer. Why on earth isn't it tied to the GPS unit, which knows the correct time down to the microsecond? And the confusion when using the 12-hour clock caused by not setting AM/PM correctly on BOTH the clock AND the timer! If either one is not set correctly, then things are broken. This again could be a cultural thing, since most countries (except in North America) use a 24-hour clock.

 

The amount of remaining battery charge as read from my Scangauge II.

 

Slightly related, I plugged in at a local double chargepoint free station last week next to a Volt. I noticed it said he was plugged in for 1.5 hours, but charged 0.0 kWh. When I left half an hour later, he still had 0.0 kWh charged. It's almost as if dealers should explain the timer function at delivery.

 

I missed this thread back in March, but it was painful to read about the weeks spent at the dealer trying to figure this out. It's not the most intuitive timer interface, but someone at the dealer should know how it works. They really let Michael down.

 

This seems like a shoe-in for the wish list. Should be reopened.


iPad ? HD

 

Hello Forum,
I am a new 2015 Toyota Prius Plug-in (Base Model) Owner bought in Capitol Toyota, San Jose on 1st of September 2014.
I got my car delivered and took home the same day.
I tried the car charge and it worked good perfect i should say , and i was all happy about the efficiency in city driving in complete EV mode.
It was 310 miles on the odometer, i got a flashing alarm WARNING in the dash, "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE" AND "CHARGE RESULT : CHARGE STOPPED DUE TO SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" both message flashing constantly.

I drove to FREMONT TOYOTA on 9/13/2014 morning and the technician cleared the on board error message and said he checked the car charging is working and he do not see any problem and he cannot contact toyota technicians on a Saturday and mentioned if see the error message again to get it back here.

I got back home and the same day end of the day, plugged in on wall 110 with the same cable came with the car. Same two error message popped again the dash. Called FREMONT TOYOTA and they asked me to bring it in.

But this time the service manager was very rude and refused to give me a loaner/rental car and he need toyota approval on this. When i insisted i do not have a car and i need it to drive to work. He was so rude and yelled at me why did i bring it here and not go to San Jose CAPITOL Toyota where i bought the car. I did not want to deal with him anymore i walked out and waited for the shuttle to drop me back home.
All these happened on 9/14/2014.

They called me and said i have my rental approved later that evening and they are clue less what is faulty with my car and they have to wait to hear from toyota technicians.

Till today they do not know what is wrong, and toyota is sending a shipment of entire on board charging system (i do not know what is it) . I called for help with Toyota head quarters last week and they assigned my car to Jay from Toyota Head Quarters and contact is 1-800-331-4331 ext 73810. He was very rude and was helpless and he was not ready to help me fix this issue.
The date they have in file to get the parts on-board charging system us 10/6/2014.
What is the procedure to get a exchange car instead of this faulty new car? Can i get some legal help anywhere? Is the a way to report to news channel / press ( newspaper) ? any suggestions please ?

-Worried new car 2015 Prius Plug-In Owner

 

welcome to priuschat! i think you'll be fine when they install the new charger. you have the rental until then? all the best!

 

Keep in mind that Lemon Laws generally do not apply to used vehicles, including CPO. Laws in different states may vary.