Help - Strange behavior of battery level gauge

[mds2]

Maybe someone can help.

I have a 2006 whose battery level gauge has been acting strangely for the past couple weeks. The gauge stays at a full charge indication (or sometimes 1 bar down) for a long time even though I'm using assist to climb hills. When decending hills I get little or no charging. This repeats for quite a while and then all of a sudden the gauge will drop instantly to about 1/3 to 1/2 of full charge. After it drops, charging begins and eventually the guage returnes to full charge. Then this whole senario repeats.

Basically the gauge is unpredictable now. I've owned the car for almost two years and up until recently the gauge has been very predictable, tracking assist and charging very closely. Not any more.

Any ideas what might be wrong?

Thanks,
Mike

[joecvt]

I would try the MCM reset procedure. I think the simple way to do this is:

Engine off (key out of the ignition)

Pull fuse #18 (leaving it out for about 15 seconds).
(this will reset all IMA related components including the climate control)
(the fuse box inside the car near drivers side change holder)

Making sure the fuse is re-installed, start the car.

You will see the State of Charge (SOC) near zero bars.

Let it idle until the first 3 bars show up then go for a slow ride trying to avoid using the IMA until all bars show (find a road without stops)....

JoeCVT - Just your average CVT owner

[mds2]

Thank you Joe for your help. Your procedure fixed the problem! I did the reset per your instructions this morning before leaving for work. The gauge is working fine now, I'm seeing the normal sort of gauge changes with along with assist and charging that I have come to expect on my hilly commute. Thanks again, I really appreciate your help.
Mike

[joecvt]

No problem Mike....Every once in a while the IMA circuitry gets a little confused about the actual SOC...Glad it worked for you.

JoeCVT - Just your average CVT owner