07 Camry Hybrid at a stop -> max fuel then back to E mode

rgl168 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2006, 10:21 AM

Hi:

I got my TCH on Sept 11 here near Toronto, Canada, has 2700 km on it so far. I noticed one odd phenomenon with the car... when I come to a stop, the engine revs up and Fuel Consumption meter (besides the speedometer) goes all the way up to 30L/100km (maximum fuel usage the meter dislays - gauges are metric in Canada) for a few seconds, then drop back down to E Mode with complete silence.

This occurs more often when the engine is cold. However, it may also occur after I exits a highway and come to a stop at the end of the exit ramp.

Does anyone know why the TCH's ICE needs that few seconds of revving up when it comes to a stop?

herbQ · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:51 PM

Hi, yes my TCH does exactly as you discribe. I really don't know the answer, but I suspect it is a software programming thing. It sometimes runs at the top end of fuel burn indication for a few moments before dropping to the 'E'. The best guess is that the computer is checking the battery charge level and tops off before dying back to 'E', and engine shut-down. Any other ideas out there?

currybob · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2006, 04:55 PM

I have really only noticed it if I use the down shift to help stop the car then it will do it every time. Try it and see if yours does too. I'm suspicious it may have something to do with emissions. Just a guess though.

Bob

utkan · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2006, 06:55 PM

Mine does the same when cold. I think every car does weird stuff when it is cold.

WVGasGuy · #5 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 02:18 PM

Mine has seldom done this in the past 15,000 miles. However now that the weather is changing it is doing it more frequently.

If the ICE is running, then coming to a stop will cause the gage to go up to show 0mpg (in the US measurement). That's because you are burning gas and not moving. The engine is not "reving up" it is at idle. This is not a tach, it simply means you're getting worse milage (as expected since setting at idle is 0 mpg).

There are lots of reasons the ICE will be running, but at least two when you're stopped. One, the ICE is going to run a lot in cold weather to keep the cat warm and 2) it will also run when you have a low battery charge. If you have the Nav system then you can look at your energy screen and see that the SOC is low causing the ICE to run to charge the battery even though you are coming to a stop. Once stopped the ICE is shutting down and you go to the EV mode if the ICE was simply charging the battery. If it's to warm the cat it might have to run longer.

pacific85 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-13-2006, 05:35 PM

I've noticed this behavior too. It happened after a 60 mile drive when I got to my garage. SOC was top of the blue bars. one more bar, and it would have been green. I had been driving freeway and then a couple of miles of expressway to my neighborhood and a few blocks to the house. The weather was nice a sunny, about a 72 degree day.

So, I can't understand why the engine would idle. It seems that SOC was high enough, and there had been a cool down from freeway to neighborhood speeds. Temperature gauge was normal.

I think there's a bug in the engine control software. I don't have any serious reason to go to the dealer yet. The idle at stop isn't a bad enough problem for me to go see the shop. I will certainly complain about it when I do get there.