Today I mastered the seat adjustment handle and killed a deer fly that erred in entering my car.
Got very good mileage (87.5 MPG) on the commute home, if memory serves I had mid-30s on the way there, tomorrow I will keep better track. Got 33.3 MPG to my friend's house, going via the main drag.
Did more reading on hypermiling, I'm still not ready to post about it yet. ~S
Monday, August 6, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Day Four
Day Four has been very nice... no recurrence of the MIL (check engine) light.
Today I learned that there is a timer on the unlock feature of my key fob. The doors will re-lock themselves in one second less than the time it takes me to walk from my friend's kitchen counter to where I'd parked in the driveway... LOL.
I did some more reading on the practice of hypermiling - all fodder for a future post, but today I decided that I'm going to (within reason) track my mileage and MPG. I made 83.4 MPG in 20 miles coming back from the custody swap, and some 74.1 MPG in the 3 miles returning home from my evening walk. My friends are teasing me - they've never seen me drive at (or below) the speed limit - who would have thought that all it would take to get me to care about mileage was to put a computer screen on the dashboard?
It's neat, too, to see just how far I can go in neutral (even though it's illegal). ~S
Today I learned that there is a timer on the unlock feature of my key fob. The doors will re-lock themselves in one second less than the time it takes me to walk from my friend's kitchen counter to where I'd parked in the driveway... LOL.
I did some more reading on the practice of hypermiling - all fodder for a future post, but today I decided that I'm going to (within reason) track my mileage and MPG. I made 83.4 MPG in 20 miles coming back from the custody swap, and some 74.1 MPG in the 3 miles returning home from my evening walk. My friends are teasing me - they've never seen me drive at (or below) the speed limit - who would have thought that all it would take to get me to care about mileage was to put a computer screen on the dashboard?
It's neat, too, to see just how far I can go in neutral (even though it's illegal). ~S
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Day Three
On Day Three, I took my Prius to my mechanic friend's shop to see what the OBD II had to say.
P1436:
Toyota-HCAC-System Variable Valve Open Malfunction
OK -- so after being warned that I might not be able to get an inspection sticker until I put the car through its drive cycle (how hard is that going to be? I thought to myself), we reset the MIL and all has been good since -- no MIL light and the fuel gauge appears to be showing an accurate reading.
A minor side note -- while running some errands, my passenger noticed (and removed) a wasp nest from the area between my passenger-side front door and the dashboard. it was a pretty big nest - about four inches wide by two inches high at its widest point -- with (only) one wasp in it. Yikes!
That's it for day three. ~S
P1436:
Toyota-HCAC-System Variable Valve Open Malfunction
OK -- so after being warned that I might not be able to get an inspection sticker until I put the car through its drive cycle (how hard is that going to be? I thought to myself), we reset the MIL and all has been good since -- no MIL light and the fuel gauge appears to be showing an accurate reading.
A minor side note -- while running some errands, my passenger noticed (and removed) a wasp nest from the area between my passenger-side front door and the dashboard. it was a pretty big nest - about four inches wide by two inches high at its widest point -- with (only) one wasp in it. Yikes!
That's it for day three. ~S
Friday, August 3, 2007
Day Two
So I'm sitting on a flat back road during my lunch break, engine off, AC on low, when I notice the fuel gauge flash (full). Thinking my car might be chastising me, I turned the car back on, only to see the fuel gauge flash again (one bar empty, then back to full).
The check engine light came on halfway home, after work... a solid light, not flashing.
I freaked out a little bit when I got home - I mean, I hadn't had the car 24 hours, and already it was having problems. I didn't put the two incidents together until later in the evening.
The local dealer was closed, of course - so I:
- re-checked the oil and the tightness of the gas cap (both fine);
- talked with a VW mechanic friend of mine, who told me that he had "one of those diagnostic things that will diagnose the check engine light" (my words);
- talked with an online Prius-owning friend of mine, who in turn called a tech friend of his, who said that if the check engine (MIL) light wasn't flashing, it was likely not a horrendous problem;
- Googled a bit and found the Tundra Solutions Prius forum (subscription required to post and view articles (but viewing the forum is free)) and PriusChat.com (free);
- bought a one-year subscription to AllData;
- priced out an OBD II (aka "one of those diagnostic things that will diagnose the check engine light") -- $130;
- tried three gauge reset procedures outlined on the AllData site;
- took some solace from a similarly described problem on one of the boards -- a stuck sensor shook itself loose after a little while.
And that's that. For future posting -- hypermiling. ~S
The check engine light came on halfway home, after work... a solid light, not flashing.
I freaked out a little bit when I got home - I mean, I hadn't had the car 24 hours, and already it was having problems. I didn't put the two incidents together until later in the evening.
The local dealer was closed, of course - so I:
- re-checked the oil and the tightness of the gas cap (both fine);
- talked with a VW mechanic friend of mine, who told me that he had "one of those diagnostic things that will diagnose the check engine light" (my words);
- talked with an online Prius-owning friend of mine, who in turn called a tech friend of his, who said that if the check engine (MIL) light wasn't flashing, it was likely not a horrendous problem;
- Googled a bit and found the Tundra Solutions Prius forum (subscription required to post and view articles (but viewing the forum is free)) and PriusChat.com (free);
- bought a one-year subscription to AllData;
- priced out an OBD II (aka "one of those diagnostic things that will diagnose the check engine light") -- $130;
- tried three gauge reset procedures outlined on the AllData site;
- took some solace from a similarly described problem on one of the boards -- a stuck sensor shook itself loose after a little while.
And that's that. For future posting -- hypermiling. ~S
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Day One
I may have signed my life away, but I am the proud second owner of one 2003 Toyota Prius.
It's so quiet! I wasn't sure whether it was on or not, when I went to leave the gas station after topping off the tank tonight.
My late Dad made a welcome but unexpected impression on this important day in my history - I've insured my car through USAA, not realizing that I am eligible for coverage with them because of his military service.
I am very pleased. The car is peppy! ~S
It's so quiet! I wasn't sure whether it was on or not, when I went to leave the gas station after topping off the tank tonight.
My late Dad made a welcome but unexpected impression on this important day in my history - I've insured my car through USAA, not realizing that I am eligible for coverage with them because of his military service.
I am very pleased. The car is peppy! ~S
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
I'm Buying a Prius!
When I woke up this morning, I thought I was going to buy a 2001 VW Jetta.
My vehicular benefactor (and car-buying coach) happened to see a 2003 Toyota Prius for sale at one of the local service shops. She happens to know the shop's proprietor, so we stopped in to have a look-see and took it for a spin.
I like it! Since the bank approved my loan, I'm going to pick it up tomorrow! ~S
My vehicular benefactor (and car-buying coach) happened to see a 2003 Toyota Prius for sale at one of the local service shops. She happens to know the shop's proprietor, so we stopped in to have a look-see and took it for a spin.
I like it! Since the bank approved my loan, I'm going to pick it up tomorrow! ~S
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