Fan near the battery area?? Also, regards to econ mode...

[Mitch]

This may have been discussed before but I am going to give it a shot anyway. I have noticed that when I have the radio turned off and the battery is getting a workout, I hear this fan turn on in the back. It may not be a fan because it decreases as I slow down. It could be a vent of some sort to cool the battery down. This usually happens only in Econ mode (which is a joke btw) and thats when the battery gets its workout because its assisting alot. I was going to get up under there and look, but my friends lift was occupied.

And for the Econ mode, this is a joke. The battery goes dead in about 5 mins of driving on hilly interstate and then it won't climb a hill to save its life. I don't live in the mountains, but I don't live on flat land either. Econ mode should be used in the city and the city only. Because in Econ mode on the highway, you will just end up losing all of your battery power and get worse gas mileage. I also noticed an increase in gas mileage in Normal mode most of the time and my battery NEVER gets below 3/4. The fuel economy gauge on the dash is also a joke as I am either getting 2 mpg high or low. So don't trust that thing either.

[Scotty001]

Originally Posted by Mitch

This may have been discussed before but I am going to give it a shot anyway. I have noticed that when I have the radio turned off and the battery is getting a workout, I hear this fan turn on in the back. It may not be a fan because it decreases as I slow down. It could be a vent of some sort to cool the battery down. This usually happens only in Econ mode (which is a joke btw) and thats when the battery gets its workout because its assisting alot. I was going to get up under there and look, but my friends lift was occupied.

And for the Econ mode, this is a joke. The battery goes dead in about 5 mins of driving on hilly interstate and then it won't climb a hill to save its life. I don't live in the mountains, but I don't live on flat land either. Econ mode should be used in the city and the city only. Because in Econ mode on the highway, you will just end up losing all of your battery power and get worse gas mileage. I also noticed an increase in gas mileage in Normal mode most of the time and my battery NEVER gets below 3/4. The fuel economy gauge on the dash is also a joke as I am either getting 2 mpg high or low. So don't trust that thing either.

Yep, IMA batteries need cooling.. I live in a area where there is no such thing as a flat piece of land. All hills and mountains.. Have not experienced what you are describing. CR-Z operates fine under those conditions.

Maybe the driving style or need to take her into the service department and have em take a look. Maybe put it in ECON and Cruise Control and see how she drives herself in the conditions you describe.

Or just keep it in SPORT Mode..

[VTEC Mini]

Originally Posted by Mitch

This may have been discussed before but I am going to give it a shot anyway. I have noticed that when I have the radio turned off and the battery is getting a workout, I hear this fan turn on in the back. It may not be a fan because it decreases as I slow down. It could be a vent of some sort to cool the battery down. This usually happens only in Econ mode (which is a joke btw) and thats when the battery gets its workout because its assisting alot. I was going to get up under there and look, but my friends lift was occupied.

And for the Econ mode, this is a joke. The battery goes dead in about 5 mins of driving on hilly interstate and then it won't climb a hill to save its life. I don't live in the mountains, but I don't live on flat land either. Econ mode should be used in the city and the city only. Because in Econ mode on the highway, you will just end up losing all of your battery power and get worse gas mileage. I also noticed an increase in gas mileage in Normal mode most of the time and my battery NEVER gets below 3/4. The fuel economy gauge on the dash is also a joke as I am either getting 2 mpg high or low. So don't trust that thing either.

I find the best way to use ECON mode is on flat highways or down grades. Around town ECON mode only magnifies the lack of power that the CR-Z has. I too experience what you are talking about with the battery depleting quickly in ECON mode going up hill. I found a way to combat this; Before you start to climb hit SPORT mode and it will make the battery last longer if not keep it from discharging all the way. You have to switch BEFORE the hill because if you try to switch while climbing it will have no effect.

[Cam720]

Sound you hear is the variable speed fan located in the vent behind the driver next to the b-post. Sound may also be the whining of the the electric motor when it's under load.

[Jayemtee]

That's a cooling fan, don't worry about it. Hybrids are a different breed than a normal car, and you will learn some things as time goes on.

I live in a flat area and drive a freeway with a very small grade. Going to work is great as that is the downhill leg. But coming home is the uphill portion and I notice while I don't good mileage, I actually get a slight one bar battery charge almost every time.

So, Scotty doesn't experience it, Mini does, and I get a charge. I'm gonna have to put my money on Scotty's suggestion that you look at driving style.

The car gives off a ton of information that will assist you in learning how to drive this car correctly. While it may seem like a bunch of eco mumbo jumbo, it's also about smoothness, cost, gas mileage, and battery management. Once you know how to get 40 mpg on a tank, you can shoot for 41, 42, and more.

[Dtalon3]

I personally live right up against the base of the mountains by big bear.

All I do is hilly driving. From what I have experienced...keep the spedometer green in normal mode driving uphill and you should have a 1 bar IMA charge going. stick it in econ on downhill or level driving ground and you will still charge the IMA and get good gas mileage. so far I have 700 miles on the clock and average 35 mpg in and around all these crazy hills. I save sport mode for night time when no one drives the back roads!

I also suggest what scotty said and throw it in cruise control and see what happens on her own, lol the car normally drives better than I do!
Here is the terrain I am normally driving in all day!


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[VTEC Mini]

Originally Posted by Jayemtee

But coming home is the uphill portion and I notice while I don't good mileage, I actually get a slight one bar battery charge almost every time.

Once you know how to get 40 mpg on a tank, you can shoot for 41, 42, and more.

On this same hill I lose the battery half way up in ECON mode when I head the other direction (ECON Mode) after work this hill is stretched out farther but at less than an angle than the morning commute and I experience this also.

Originally Posted by Dtalon3

All I do is hilly driving. From what I have experienced...keep the spedometer green in normal mode driving uphill and you should have a 1 bar IMA charge going. I also suggest what scotty said and throw it in cruise control and see what happens on her own, lol the car normally drives better than I do!

As before, on the way to work this hill in question, although I don't know the angle it is about 3/4 to one mile long and it doesn't matter if I am on the gas or cruise control I will lose the battery half way up in ECON mode in the exact same spot. It is very consistent result because I will maintain speed which is between 58- 60 MPH and when the fourth bar is about to drop I will start to lose speed and by the time I look down I can watch the fourth bar disappear and the IMA drops off and I will continue to lose speed until I reach the peek and by this point I will be 52- 54 MPH. This always happens right at the "Passing lane sign". The speedo always goes blue when I go to climb this hill and if I try to keep it green I will either get ran over, the middle finger, shot or all three. If I put it in SPORT mode before the hill I have no problems getting up the hill and maintaining IMA.

[Jayemtee]

On ""my hill" lol, my 2010 Insight would loose battery going up then go into a forced recharge just before the crest. That stole gas engine power and left me in a bad situation. That is the reason I sold my I2 and got a CR-Z. I would not buy the CR-Z until I did a test drive on that hill. I was amazed to have ample power PLUS a bar of recharge.

[Dtalon3]

Originally Posted by VTEC Mini

The speedo always goes blue when I go to climb this hill and if I try to keep it green I will either get ran over, the middle finger, shot or all three. If I put it in SPORT mode before the hill I have no problems getting up the hill and maintaining IMA.

I don't know if econ is the way to go if your going to be climbing steep hills. I just got back from driving half way up to Big Bear Mountain and way able to keep a consistant 58-60
(I tried to keep the speedo turquoise, almost blue but still showing some green )with 1 bar recharging the battery about %80 of the time. I never dropped below half bars on the battery indicator.

I have also found that if I can pick up speed and maintain it before the hill (as you suggested) it helps with the problem you were describing.

[VTEC Mini]

Originally Posted by Dtalon3

I don't know if econ is the way to go if your going to be climbing steep hills. I just got back from driving half way up to Big Bear Mountain and way able to keep a consistant 58-60
(I tried to keep the speedo turquoise, almost blue but still showing some green )with 1 bar recharging the battery about %80 of the time. I never dropped below half bars on the battery indicator.

I have also found that if I can pick up speed and maintain it before the hill (as you suggested) it helps with the problem you were describing.

Yeah, I no longer take this hill ECON mode and haven't for some time. It has become habit now that I hit the SPORT button now about a mile before the base.