[jameskb]

Hey Insighters;
Has anyone out there experienced a "stuck" battery meter? Mine's showing three bars and isn't changing at all, regardless of conditions. I've driven it all weekend long under both city and high way conditions with the battery meter showing only three bars.

The car isn't misbehaving, it's driving just line normal and it's not going into full-time charge like you might expect with only three bars showing.

What I'm guessing is that the battery and sensors are all reading right and giving the computer correct information, but that for some reason the display computer isn't lighting anything more than three bars.

Think it might help to disconnect the battery and do a reset? I have about 52kmi on the car - is it time to replace the 12v battery? Any experienced suggestions or hints welcome.

Thanks;
JKB

 

[Armin]

That sounds odd! Do you still get assist and charging to happen? Is the check engine or IMA light on?

I've seen odd situations with a low SoC and no force-charge. But never as low as three bars! Try driving with the lights on! That helps to push the car to start charging.

 

[Guest]

That sounds odd! Do you still get assist and charging to happen? Is the check engine or IMA light on?

I've seen odd situations with a low SoC and no force-charge. But never as low as three bars! Try driving with the lights on! That helps to push the car to start charging.

I have experienced this at about 3 or 4 bars. Lights on solved it for me.

 

[Rick]

I would try a MCM reset. Easiest way, disconnect the negative post from the 12 volt battery for a few minutes then reconnect it. When you restart the car it will show 0 bars of charge. Rev the engine to 3000 rpm and it should show some charge activity. Hold it there for a few minutes and it should eventually do a positive end recalibration to a higher soc (back towards the top of the meter).

 

[MikeF]

My Insight just got stuck on 3 bars of battery this morning. It got there toward the beginning of a 35-mile drive to the building I worked in today. I drove a couple of miles to unch and back, and it stayed on 3 bars the whole time.

During my 35 mile drive home this afternoon, it stayed on 3 bars for about half the drive, then began charging a bit toward the end of the drive. I noticed that at 60 mph, the IMA was trying to charge the battery (about three green bars of charging force), but no change to the total battery charge. Once the battery started receiving charge again, the car stopped forcing the charge behavior at 60 mph. But even after getting home, it still wasn't fully charged. And my mileage was slightly lower today than I would have expected -- based on similar conditions and similar commutes in recent days, I should have been around 62mpg, but I'm only at 59.

If it hasn't fully fixed itself by tomorrow morning, I may try turning the lights on, and then if needed disconnecting the 12v terminal. Strange.

MF

 

[MikeF]

Seems to be fixed. By the time I got home yesterday, the battery meter had risen to half way. On this morning's commute, it finished charging normally. Crisis averted.

Of course, problems that go away by themselves tend to come back by themselves. :?

MF