Electric Mode Temporarily Unavailable

[Deki]

Driving on a full charge, about 40% in, message pops up and car defaults to Hybrid mode. Can only go into hybrid or E-Save, and when trying to switch to Electric, the message just pops up and the light flashes. Stopping the car and turning it on and off allows it to go back, or if enough time goes by, it will go back eventually.

I only do about 20% of driving on electricity, so I know it’s not FORM. It gets plenty of gas, a tank every week or 10 days.

No codes. Any ideas?

Sponsored

 

[GATORB8]

Driving on a full charge, about 40% in, message pops up and car defaults to Hybrid mode. Can only go into hybrid or E-Save, and when trying to switch to Electric, the message just pops up and the light flashes. Stopping the car and turning it on and off allows it to go back, or if enough time goes by, it will go back eventually.

I only do about 20% of driving on electricity, so I know it’s not FORM. It gets plenty of gas, a tank every week or 10 days.

No codes. Any ideas?

I'd guess it may be temp related. Mine will say if it's cabin cooling since it's not saying that, maybe battery temp related with the cooling system's availability in your heat?

 

[Steemax]

What year is your wrangler? My Jeep will do that if I'm asking for too much from the battery, i.e. trying to accelerate up a steep grade going 65mph, at some point it just doesn't have the power and will give me that message and switch to hybrid.

 

[Tokenwasp]

What year is your wrangler? My Jeep will do that if I'm asking for too much from the battery, i.e. trying to accelerate up a steep grade going 65mph, at some point it just doesn't have the power and will give me that message and switch to hybrid.

This. And once the engine starts running, it wants to run for a while to get things warmed-up. Probably also has something to do with cooling as mentioned above.

 

[Deki]

I'd guess it may be temp related. Mine will say if it's cabin cooling since it's not saying that, maybe battery temp related with the cooling system's availability in your heat?

That makes sense. I tried it with the AC of the other day, and it still did it. I don’t think it’s climate related. It may be the heat, it’s hot in Phoenix, even at night (I work 9pm to 7am).

 

[Deki]

What year is your wrangler? My Jeep will do that if I'm asking for too much from the battery, i.e. trying to accelerate up a steep grade going 65mph, at some point it just doesn't have the power and will give me that message and switch to hybrid.

It’s a 2024. Just got it a little over a month ago. The first few times it did it, it was on cruise control. The next two days I drove it without cruise, and I was conscious to stay under 25% power and it still kicked the engine on. Even while slowing down up the grade. I think you guys may be right, it’s temp and then load, as low as it is, the ambient temp is probably getting it hot.

 

[Steemax]

It’s a 2024. Just got it a little over a month ago. The first few times it did it, it was on cruise control. The next two days I drove it without cruise, and I was conscious to stay under 25% power and it still kicked the engine on. Even while slowing down up the grade. I think you guys may be right, it’s temp and then load, as low as it is, the ambient temp is probably getting it hot.

Yup it's a lot of factors all relating to the load on the battery/motors. It's doubly worse if you have the A/C blasting.

 

[alphawolff]

It’s a 2024. Just got it a little over a month ago. The first few times it did it, it was on cruise control. The next two days I drove it without cruise, and I was conscious to stay under 25% power and it still kicked the engine on. Even while slowing down up the grade. I think you guys may be right, it’s temp and then load, as low as it is, the ambient temp is probably getting it hot.

Yup. Lithium batteries are ill-suited to temperature extremes. Too hot and too cold and they pretty much shut down. Ideal ambient operating temperature for the hybrid system is like 48-84F or so. I wouldn't worry about it unless it throws a warning light.

 

[Deki]

Yup it's a lot of factors all relating to the load on the battery/motors. It's doubly worse if you have the A/C blasting.

It’s 101 at 9pm, the ac is definitely blasting lol

 

[LongTimeJeepGuy]

It’s 101 at 9pm, the ac is definitely blasting lol

I feel this… El Paso heat is no joke

 

[gerrya]

That makes sense. I tried it with the AC of the other day, and it still did it. I don’t think it’s climate related. It may be the heat, it’s hot in Phoenix, even at night (I work 9pm to 7am).

I noticed this at highway speeds on hot days. It seems pretty consistent when the transmission temp goes above 170. I also saw that was mentioned on one of the Jeep instructional videos, they mentioned speed and temp will cause that message.

 

[Chris A]

I think that was the message when some coolant diverter valve failed. I never checked for codes and was repaired under warranty same day.

 

[Deki]

I think that was the message when some coolant diverter valve failed. I never checked for codes and was repaired under warranty same day.

I’ll run it by the dealer just in case.

 

[Deki]

Ok so here is my observations.

Speeds are irrelevant, I've varied them between 55 and 75. It still kicks itself out of electric mode after about 7 miles.

Ambient temps are also irrelevant. It's been 79 to 95, same thing.

Transmission temps are also random. Sometimes it kicks on at 135 F, other times at 185.


This is definitely not functioning as intended. Next step is dealer.

 

[GinaC]

I agree, there's something wrong there. I got this message after about 20 miles and it switched over to Hybrid, which is how it's supposed to work.

You might want to try JScan to see if you get a "battery unhealthy" message in order to prove to the dealer that your battery has an issue.

Sponsored