Cannot trust this car in traffic. The car is great to drive when it is cold. After about a 1/2 hour of warming up, when applying the brakes to come to a stop or slow down, the car lurches forward. When attempting to go after stopping, the car barely goes until the gas engine kicks in. The economy needle pegs during the period of inactivity when the electric motor is supposed to be propelling the car. Gotten to where I wait for oncoming traffic to totally clear before making a left hand turn, if not, the car will take about 7 seconds to turn left. This is an accident looking for a place to happen.
Have had it to two car dealers. The first one told me that is how the hybrids work and I have to adjust my driving. I drive the same whether or not the car is warm or cold. I'm not always gentle on the brakes, but I do not wait to the last moment. Does not affect the car while it is cold. Taking off from a stop or a near stop (to turn left or right into a parking lot), while on electric motor, goes nowhere until the gas motor kicks in. The second dealer actually went for a test drive with me after I warmed up the car to the point where it would show both symptoms. The dealer adjusted the "adaptive learning" several times before they announced the vehicle was fixed. Seemed better and did not notice as much hesitation or the lurching.
Each day, same 1/2 hour trip to and from work, the problem started getting worse and worse. Took it back into the second dealer today, dropped it off, we will see if they can fix it. Their top technician took it for a drive with me in the car this morning and it was definitely lurching for him on surface streets. I'll post more when I hear back from them and get the car back.
Update from Jul 8, 2014: To fix the problem, the Dealer:
Found the MCU reported the low temperature cooling was running around 190 degrees instead of the expected 120 degrees.
Replaced the EWP coolant pump. Did not resolve the issue.
Bleed the system. Did not resolve the issue.
Replaced HPCU unit and ground bolt (GE04). Did not resolve issue.
Pulled coolant lines from MCU and back flushed with Hybrid system disconnected. Checked for coolant restrictions, refilled and bleed system. Issue resolved.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Cannot trust this car in traffic. The car is great to drive when it is cold. After about a 1/2 hour of warming up, when applying the brakes to come to a stop or slow down, the car lurches forward. When attempting to go after stopping, the car barely goes until the gas engine kicks in. The economy needle pegs during the period of inactivity when the electric motor is supposed to be propelling the car. Gotten to where I wait for oncoming traffic to totally clear before making a left hand turn, if not, the car will take about 7 seconds to turn left. This is an accident looking for a place to happen.
Have had it to two car dealers. The first one told me that is how the hybrids work and I have to adjust my driving. I drive the same whether or not the car is warm or cold. I'm not always gentle on the brakes, but I do not wait to the last moment. Does not affect the car while it is cold. Taking off from a stop or a near stop (to turn left or right into a parking lot), while on electric motor, goes nowhere until the gas motor kicks in. The second dealer actually went for a test drive with me after I warmed up the car to the point where it would show both symptoms. The dealer adjusted the "adaptive learning" several times before they announced the vehicle was fixed. Seemed better and did not notice as much hesitation or the lurching.
Each day, same 1/2 hour trip to and from work, the problem started getting worse and worse. Took it back into the second dealer today, dropped it off, we will see if they can fix it. Their top technician took it for a drive with me in the car this morning and it was definitely lurching for him on surface streets. I'll post more when I hear back from them and get the car back.
Update from Jul 8, 2014: To fix the problem, the Dealer: Found the MCU reported the low temperature cooling was running around 190 degrees instead of the expected 120 degrees. Replaced the EWP coolant pump. Did not resolve the issue. Bleed the system. Did not resolve the issue. Replaced HPCU unit and ground bolt (GE04). Did not resolve issue. Pulled coolant lines from MCU and back flushed with Hybrid system disconnected. Checked for coolant restrictions, refilled and bleed system. Issue resolved.
- rpjohio, Apollo Beach, Florida, United States