[Rick432]

(UPDATE BELOW) When I am in traffic (a stopped situation), the engine does not come on to charge the hybrid battery. I first noticed this a week or so ago when I was stuck in traffic due to an accident ahead of me. The battery was depleted and the color on the screen turned pink at 2 bars. Luckily, the traffic opened up. As I moved forward, I noticed the engine start up and the battery was charged. Today I was in a parking lot with the car on, ac on and parking brake on. I was checking something on my phone. After 10 minutes or so, I noticed the battery was very low. It went to pink again. I moved into traffic and the battery charged itself via the engine. Clearly, there is an issue with the hybrid system telling the engine to start and charge the battery. When I start the car in the morning or at anytime for that matter, the indicates Ready and within 15 seconds the engine will fire up. The car has had no issues. I see no codes and there are no idiot lights on. Last month, I checked the health of the battery using Dr. Prius. Other than that, there has been no work done to the car with the exception of an oil change, transmission fluid change and brake fluid change. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
UPDATE: First thanks to all who posted with suggestions and comments! After consolation and investigation, I learned that the gen2 Prius' engine will start and regenerate the battery when the indicator turns from green to purple and it is at two bars. In my situation we learned that the it is taking slightly longer for the engine to engage. I was told everything in the hybrid system is find. I should have been more patient but as this hybrid car is a new experience. THANKS TO ALL WHO REACHED OUT. This a a great site!

 

[Easy Rider]

My C will not charge the HV battery if the "transmission" is in Neutral.
You haven't recently started doing that when stopped in traffic, have you ??

 

[Rick432]

Thank you for you response. No, I have never put the car in neutral when in traffic. I had my foot on the brake as we all do. The battery becomes depleted to the point were the green indicator turns purple (around two or less bars). I have driven through very heavy traffic without an issue. Now, for some reason, the engine does not kick in to recharge the battery when in heavy stop and go traffic. There must be some relay or setting that tells that engine to engage and recharge the battery. Still trying to find information on Prius sites. Very strange.

 

[Easy Rider]

What year is your Prius ?

Have you tested the 12 V battery ?
If that is over 5 years old, a new one might be a good idea even if it tests "good".

While I don't know for sure, the "signal" to charge the battery probably comes from some electronic components and not a relay. But one would think that if the display says "low", the other electronics should know that too.

NOTE: Please put some white space in your posts.
Without that, they can be hard to read.
Thanks.

 

[fartsalot]

(UPDATE BELOW) When I am in traffic (a stopped situation), the engine does not come on to charge the hybrid battery. I first noticed this a week or so ago when I was stuck in traffic due to an accident ahead of me. The battery was depleted and the color on the screen turned pink at 2 bars. Luckily, the traffic opened up. As I moved forward, I noticed the engine start up and the battery was charged. Today I was in a parking lot with the car on, ac on and parking brake on. I was checking something on my phone. After 10 minutes or so, I noticed the battery was very low. It went to pink again. I moved into traffic and the battery charged itself via the engine. Clearly, there is an issue with the hybrid system telling the engine to start and charge the battery. When I start the car in the morning or at anytime for that matter, the indicates Ready and within 15 seconds the engine will fire up. The car has had no issues. I see no codes and there are no idiot lights on. Last month, I checked the health of the battery using Dr. Prius. Other than that, there has been no work done to the car with the exception of an oil change, transmission fluid change and brake fluid change. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
UPDATE: First thanks to all who posted with suggestions and comments! After consolation and investigation, I learned that the gen2 Prius' engine will start and regenerate the battery when the indicator turns from green to purple and it is at two bars. In my situation we learned that the it is taking slightly longer for the engine to engage. I was told everything in the hybrid system is find. I should have been more patient but as this hybrid car is a new experience. THANKS TO ALL WHO REACHED OUT. This a a great site!

I have a scan gauge mounted and I can monitor the percent of charge in my big battery. When stopped and parked my engine will start up when the battery shows 40% and runs and charges till about 60% and then shuts off. The battery monitor goes to purple when the engine starts and is blue when the battery is charged up. A scan gauge is very helpful.

 

[Rick432]

I have a scan gauge mounted and I can monitor the percent of charge in my big battery. When stopped and parked my engine will start up when the battery shows 40% and runs and charges till about 60% and then shuts off. The battery monitor goes to purple when the engine starts and is blue when the battery is charged up. A scan gauge is very helpful.

Thanks, that is a great idea. What kind of gauge do you have? I love the Prius but I wish it had more gauges.