Clarity Issues
- Thread starter jdonalds
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No, I drove around all morning with temps from around 4 or 5 F without the engine starting at all. It definitely appears tied to battery temperature. Similar times when it reduces the charge rate to 4kw. I have crossed 10F many times and seen no difference in engine starting or not. It doesn't behave at all like the Volt that starts as soon as it hits an ambient temperature setting of 15, 25, or 35 depending on setting or year.
bpratt
Active Member
Something I read but can't seem to find now said: the engine will run when the temperature is 14 F or below. Once the engine starts, it will continue to run until it has warmed up.
Rajiv Vaidyanathan
Active Member
This is very interesting. Was it in heated garage when you first started it? So, perhaps the ICE decides whether to start based on some other factor?
jdonalds
Well-Known Member
Some things I found in the manual having to do with the engine running...
On Page 109 under Driver Information Interface Warning
"Temperature is Too Cold for Vehicle To Operate"
Appears when the high voltage battery and other
system control temperatures are too low to operate
(approx. –22°F [–30°C] or below).
● You must wait for an increase in the ambient
temperature or move the vehicle to a warmer location.
● Consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
dealer.
U.S. Models
● In extremely cold climates, keep the vehicle stored in a
garage.
Canadian Models
● In extremely cold climates, keep the vehicle stored in a
garage and connect the charging connector.
Page 110 Engine Started for Oil Circulation
Appears when the engine starts automatically when
the engine has not started for a long time.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
The car will select the appropriate source of power depending on the drive mode you select.
As a result, the engine will automatically start or stop as needed to either charge the battery or provide supplemental power.
Under certain circumstances, the engine may turn on or, if it is already on, it may not turn off.
● You are going uphill or accelerating aggressively.
● The climate control system is in heavy use.
● The Ambient temperature is too hot or too cold.
● The High Voltage Battery state of charge is very low.
● The vehicle is running a system check.
System Check
When the engine initially starts (between the time the POWER button is turned on and turned off), the vehicle conducts a system check.
● While the check is being conducted, the engine may periodically turn on and off. This, however, is normal.
● The curved blue line in the POWER/CHARGE Gauge will not appear during the system check (EV indicator may still turn on).
● Once the engine starts, it will continue to run until the system reaches operating temperature.
The curved blue line in the POWER/CHARGE Gauge will reappear once the system check is completed.
HV Button
You can enable HV or HV Charge by pressing the HV button.
The HV indicator comes on regardless of which source you have
enabled. If you press the HV button again, or set the power mode
to VEHICLE OFF or ACCESSORY, the source you have selected will be
cancelled.
● HV
To enable HV, press the HV button. In HV, the engine may run at
times to drive the generator so that battery charge levels can be
maintained.
For U.S. Cars
If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
below approximately –22°F (–30°C), the power
system will not start, the High Voltage battery will not
operate and, as a result, the vehicle will not start.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
Canadian Models
If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
to approximately –22°F (–30°C) or below, the power
system will not start. Wait for the High Voltage
battery to warm up or move the vehicle to a warmer
location. Note plugging the vehicle in will not help in
this case.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
On page 423 Vehicle Stability Assist
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after turning the power
system on or while driving. This is normal.
For any of you who may be driving on slippery roads...
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after turning the power
system on or while driving. This is normal.
On Page 109 under Driver Information Interface Warning
"Temperature is Too Cold for Vehicle To Operate"
Appears when the high voltage battery and other
system control temperatures are too low to operate
(approx. –22°F [–30°C] or below).
● You must wait for an increase in the ambient
temperature or move the vehicle to a warmer location.
● Consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
dealer.
U.S. Models
● In extremely cold climates, keep the vehicle stored in a
garage.
Canadian Models
● In extremely cold climates, keep the vehicle stored in a
garage and connect the charging connector.
Page 110 Engine Started for Oil Circulation
Appears when the engine starts automatically when
the engine has not started for a long time.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
The car will select the appropriate source of power depending on the drive mode you select.
As a result, the engine will automatically start or stop as needed to either charge the battery or provide supplemental power.
Under certain circumstances, the engine may turn on or, if it is already on, it may not turn off.
● You are going uphill or accelerating aggressively.
● The climate control system is in heavy use.
● The Ambient temperature is too hot or too cold.
● The High Voltage Battery state of charge is very low.
● The vehicle is running a system check.
System Check
When the engine initially starts (between the time the POWER button is turned on and turned off), the vehicle conducts a system check.
● While the check is being conducted, the engine may periodically turn on and off. This, however, is normal.
● The curved blue line in the POWER/CHARGE Gauge will not appear during the system check (EV indicator may still turn on).
● Once the engine starts, it will continue to run until the system reaches operating temperature.
The curved blue line in the POWER/CHARGE Gauge will reappear once the system check is completed.
HV Button
You can enable HV or HV Charge by pressing the HV button.
The HV indicator comes on regardless of which source you have
enabled. If you press the HV button again, or set the power mode
to VEHICLE OFF or ACCESSORY, the source you have selected will be
cancelled.
● HV
To enable HV, press the HV button. In HV, the engine may run at
times to drive the generator so that battery charge levels can be
maintained.
For U.S. Cars
If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
below approximately –22°F (–30°C), the power
system will not start, the High Voltage battery will not
operate and, as a result, the vehicle will not start.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
Canadian Models
If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
to approximately –22°F (–30°C) or below, the power
system will not start. Wait for the High Voltage
battery to warm up or move the vehicle to a warmer
location. Note plugging the vehicle in will not help in
this case.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
On page 423 Vehicle Stability Assist
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after turning the power
system on or while driving. This is normal.
For any of you who may be driving on slippery roads...
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after turning the power
system on or while driving. This is normal.
dstrauss
Well-Known Member
What’s with all you guys READING THE MANUAL?
Rajiv Vaidyanathan
Active Member
So, this morning, I noticed something strange. After the car warmed up in my ultra-cold climate, the engine turned off to run on EV according to the energy usage display. However, the dash gauge still showed a white line instead of a blue line, suggesting it was NOT being powered by the battery, but by the ICE (which was not "lit up". What could this mean? The pictures are not very good, but I assure you that even though the engine appears "lit up" in the picture, it was not. It was lit up earlier but then shut off, with the power line still showing white.
Kendalf
Active Member
I had the same thing a few days ago. The white dither section of the power line means that the ICE can turn on or it can stay in EV. I think the computer gets confused at times.
dstrauss
Well-Known Member
There is NO END to the confusion in this little jewel:
Today on an all HV trek to Monahans TX (60 miles away) I only lost 3 miles of EV range but GAINED 2.3 miles of range on the way back...
After three long trips with consistent loss of EV battery range, this is a real head scratcher - some new variables:
Today on an all HV trek to Monahans TX (60 miles away) I only lost 3 miles of EV range but GAINED 2.3 miles of range on the way back...
After three long trips with consistent loss of EV battery range, this is a real head scratcher - some new variables:
- 75-80 mph speed limits, but multiple construction slow downs (35-55 mph) going there
- Same speed limits but fewer slow downs on way back
- Beautiful 68 degree day with no winds
jdonalds
Well-Known Member
There is NO END to the confusion in this little jewel:
Today on an all HV trek to Monahans TX (60 miles away) I only lost 3 miles of EV range but GAINED 2.3 miles of range on the way back...
After three long trips with consistent loss of EV battery range, this is a real head scratcher - some new variables:
Go figure...
- 75-80 mph speed limits, but multiple construction slow downs (35-55 mph) going there
- Same speed limits but fewer slow downs on way back
- Beautiful 68 degree day with no winds
I've been able to drive at least 53 EV miles (actual - the ScanGaugeII is not recording RPM) over my past 5 charges. The range for those charges was between 53.0 to 57.1 mi. The weather's ideal right now - daytime temps between 68ºF–82ºF so no use of AC or heat. (I know, it's not fair… but it does account for the range I think.)
I was also successful in replicating HV dropping the EV range to 36-37 miles before it somehow stops using EV range. So at least over the past few repeated trials, I'm seeing the same EV and EV/HV behaviors.
I was also successful in replicating HV dropping the EV range to 36-37 miles before it somehow stops using EV range. So at least over the past few repeated trials, I'm seeing the same EV and EV/HV behaviors.
Rajiv Vaidyanathan
Active Member
68°F-82°F in February? Where do you live? I want to move there. 
Question for fellow Clarity owners - I am getting a constant wind noise coming from the area of the drivers side
mirror at speeds above 35mph. Nothing from the passenger side though. Is anyone else having this issue?
Also, today I drove 55.7 actual miles before the ICE kicked in. Raleigh Durham area and the temp was an unusual 68 degrees.
mirror at speeds above 35mph. Nothing from the passenger side though. Is anyone else having this issue?
Also, today I drove 55.7 actual miles before the ICE kicked in. Raleigh Durham area and the temp was an unusual 68 degrees.
Johngalt6146
Active Member
Yes - Mine will go to 48 or 48.5 miles on full charge with a level 1 charger. But its warm here - the garage is 50F or more.
Johngalt6146
Active Member
After about 5 weeks of local use, running in EV with only overnight charges from a level 1 charger, we finally took a long trip of 683 miles to the Orlando area. The weather was warm, with AC on. We were in high-speed freeway mode most of the time but had intense local traffic and local construction for a few hours total. I used HV charge for only one short leg of the trip. Correcting for the electric charge I put in before I left home, the gas mileage we got was 40 mpg. That is great as far as I'm concerned. The car was extremely quiet, comfortable and reliable for the entire trip.
I have only 2 serious observations (gripes) out of all of this:
1 - As everyone else has noted, the HV range software has a serious bug that needs repair. (I kept thinking of fuel range algorithms on over-water aircraft.)
2 - The GPS shows 2 very different distances: One when you pick a saved destination and a much longer correct one when you actually start to navigate. I figure that this is a user error on my part which will get repaired when I read more of the navigation manual.
I have only 2 serious observations (gripes) out of all of this:
1 - As everyone else has noted, the HV range software has a serious bug that needs repair. (I kept thinking of fuel range algorithms on over-water aircraft.)
2 - The GPS shows 2 very different distances: One when you pick a saved destination and a much longer correct one when you actually start to navigate. I figure that this is a user error on my part which will get repaired when I read more of the navigation manual.
Kendalf
Active Member
I've heard something like it. Mine seems to come from the B pillar (by my ears) rather than the mirror, though I haven't had opportunity to really try to pinpoint. Compared to my previous car it is very minor noise, and only noticeable because of how quiet everything else is while driving!
loomis2
Well-Known Member
Here's an issue I haven't really heard discussed yet: when I call my wife while she is driving the Clarity with the heater on, the fan noise on my end is really noticeable and makes it difficult to hear her properly. She has to turn the fan down manually to have a conversation.
We haven't had that issue. In fact, at this point, the Clarity has a better audible connection with my iPhone X than my Tesla. I and others Tesla owners are currently having an issue with the Iphobe X, where people hear a 'scratchiness' on the car side, yet we hear them fine. With the Clarity, both ends are fine. Tesla is going to issue a software fix.