Some odd and interesting hybrid observations

[Dario]

One more odd experience today: I got into my neighborhood and the engine shut off. I drove about 3 blocks on electric only and pulled into my garage. I put the car in park but did not turn if off. I had not heat or a/c going. I sat there for a minute or two checking my phone and the engine started. Just... why?

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[HVLA]

One more odd experience today: I got into my neighborhood and the engine shut off. I drove about 3 blocks on electric only and pulled into my garage. I put the car in park but did not turn if off. I had not heat or a/c going. I sat there for a minute or two checking my phone and the engine started. Just... why?

Because you didnt turn it off.....

 

[Dario]

Because you didnt turn it off.....

I guess I wasn't clear, or maybe one of us is missing something. It could be me.

I drive 3 blocks. No engine. I park in the garage. After a minute or 2 the engine starts. Why?

1. I do this frequently. I never turn the car off until I'm getting out (for some reason). I've sat there for much longer and the car never starts. Why would it when it's just sitting?

2. If I was at 1 bar (or maybe 2) I could maybe see it starting. But I wasn't.

3. I'm not getting why you think it's normal for the engine to start when the car drove several blocks home and is now just sitting there. Why would it need to start?

The only answer that seems even a little reasonable to me is that it was accumulating too much heat and needed to circulate the fluids.

 

[HVLA]

Charging the battery, keeping the engine at operaring temp, system checks, etc. The real question here is why you would think the vehicle wouldnt start the engine while you never turned the vehicle off. If it never did then why would you even need to ever turn the vehicle off?

 

[Dario]

Really good input here on both the batteries and the torque scheme for the 4Runner...I will say, as was said above, I have also experienced the lag when I need the power immediately on the highway, disconcerting.
Coming back from Cali to Az on hwy 10 there was a group of us that were in a hurry and one thing I love about the adaptive cruise control is it is not limited to 80 mph like my past Rav4 was....anyway we were cruising at 90-94 mph for a good 30 minutes and this baby performed flawlessly.
cheers,
willie

Same here. I needed to pass somebody the other day. The lag was very noticeable. Maybe they can fix that with an software update?

Does anybody know if the lag is unique to the hybrid, or does it also occur on the gas only engines?

 

[4funner]

Same here. I needed to pass somebody the other day. The lag was very noticeable. Maybe they can fix that with an software update?

Does anybody know if the lag is unique to the hybrid, or does it also occur on the gas only engines?

The non hybrid has some turbo lag, but no it does not have the same dead pedal feeling when trying to pass on the highway. My iforce max felt like the CVT on my prius sometimes when I would step on the pedal to pass. My new iforce does not feel that way.

My guess is it is protecting the clutches between the electric motor and the gas motor.

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