With fuel prices shooting through the roof, hybrid vehicles have seen a sudden surge in popularity. Every car maker and their mom now makes at least one hybrid model. But, these systems come with some common and complex issues. The “safely stop and do not drive” warning haunts many hybrid vehicle owners in their sleep.
Today, we will dive into the main causes behind this ominous warning. In addition, we’ll give you some common tips for avoiding this problem in the first place.
Considering all factors, it is safe to say that inverter failure, blown fuses, and battery cell failures are the most common problems that cause the “safely stop and do not drive” to pop up. Make sure to keep an eye out for this warning when purchasing your next hybrid vehicle.
What Is A Hybrid Car?
By now, you have surely seen a fair few hybrids in your life. From the orthopedic-shoe-shaped Prius to the short-lived Suburban Hybrid, these vehicles have been for sale all across the world for nearly two decades.
Although hybrids have an illustrious history that dates all the way back to 1899, it took almost another century for this technology to hit the mainstream. It was the aforementioned Toyota Prius that popularized hybrid technology all across the world.
Yet, have you ever wondered what makes a car a “hybrid?”
It is important to have a clear understanding of what a hybrid is and what it does before diving into common issues. That’s exactly what we will tell you here.
Simply put, a hybrid vehicle has three main components. They are,
- Gasoline engine
- Battery pack
- Electric motor
These three components work together to utilize energy that would otherwise be wasted. But how you may ask?
All hybrid vehicles have at least one high-voltage battery pack, which powers an electric motor. Under slow speeds, the vehicle travels on electric power alone, up to a maximum speed of around 30 mph.
The gasoline engine up front only kicks in when the driver puts the pedal to the metal. This yields the higher efficiency these vehicles are known for. Hybrid engines normally have smaller engines than regular cars, which decreases fuel consumption even further.
These vehicles employ several mechanisms to recharge the battery pack. The first is regenerative braking. Here, the battery pack captures the energy produced under deceleration, which would otherwise go to waste simply as heat.
Not only that, but the battery pack can charge directly through the internal combustion engine up front as well. This happens throughout the journey, ensuring that the battery is charged at all times.
Hybrid technology has come a long way since its introduction to the mainstream in the 1990s. Nowadays, you can find several variants of hybrid vehicles out in the market.
Parallel hybrids are the most common variety, with best-selling vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight falling under its wings. Here a common transmission connects the engine and electric motors, often paired with a CVT transmission. Most household brands like Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia have a plethora of parallel hybrids among their offerings.
Next up are plug-in hybrids. As the name suggests, here, you have to replenish the battery pack by plugging it into an external source. The extra electricity allows plug-in hybrids to travel further solely on electric power. Once the charge runs out, the vehicle functions as a parallel hybrid which we discussed above.
The final mass-produced type of hybrid vehicle we’ll be discussing today is series hybrids. The BMW i3 provides a great example of this type. Although these vehicles come with a gasoline engine, their sole purpose is replenishing the battery. So, the vehicle runs on electric power at all times, giving a driving experience similar to that of an EV.
Now that you have a clear understanding of hybrid vehicles, let us get back to the main problem at hand.
3 Reasons for Hybrid System Warning – Safely Stop And Do Not Drive
Due to hybrids being such high-tech vehicles, we understand how scary it is to get a warning light on the dashboard. Especially when it says something serious like “safely stop and do not drive”
As with other cautionary dashboard lights, the hybrid system warning light mainly comes in two colors. If it is yellow, the ECU of your vehicle has detected an error with the hybrid system that needs to be diagnosed.
However, if the warning is red, you need to take action immediately. Along with the warning light, issues with the hybrid system cause some other symptoms as well. Decreased fuel efficiency, the vehicle going into limp mode, and poor acceleration are two of the most common ones you may come across.
With that out of the way, here are the most common culprits behind the “safely stop and do not drive” hybrid system warning.
- Blown fuse
- Failure of the battery cell
- Inverter failure
Blown Fuse
Fuse are an essential component of a vehicle’s electrical system. Not only do they protect the vehicle from overcurrent, but they prevent short circuits as well.
Hybrids follow this same principle, and connect the battery pack with a fuse to take benefit of the safety it offers. Sometimes, the fuse may become faulty or simply go bad, causing the hybrid system warning to show up.
Luckily, a fuse is one of the easiest components to replace in a vehicle. You can do the replacement yourself, or take your vehicle to a certified mechanic and have them perform the replacement for you.
Fuses are cheap to replace as well. Typically, it only costs $3 – $10 to replace an individual fuse.
Failure Of The Battery Cell
As you already know, the battery is one of the most important components of a hybrid vehicle. The battery is made up of several cells, which vary in count and size depending on the make and model of the vehicle. This cell count generally ranges from 6 to 12.
Most manufacturers list the shelf life of a hybrid battery cell as 100,000 miles. However, there are some examples that have completed close to 150,000 miles with some TLC.
If even one of these cells goes bad, it can have a serious effect on the functionality of the hybrid system. When a battery cell fails, the overall charge may change rapidly. As a result, the “safely stop and do not drive” hybrid system will flash on the dashboard.
Inverter Failure
If the fuses and battery cells of your hybrid are in good condition, inverter failure might be the one to blame. The main responsibility of the inverter is converting the DC current from the hybrid system to AC.
As a result, the entire hybrid component will seize functioning. Overheating is the main cause of inverter failure. You see, it is important to keep the hybrid components cool at all times to prevent internal damage.
If the hybrid system is indeed caused by inverter failure, you should have a certified mechanic inspect it as soon as possible. Continuing to drive with a failed inverter is a disaster waiting to happen.
Preventive Maintenance Tips For Safely Stop And Do Not Drive Hybrid System Warning
There are several tips you can follow in order to prevent failures of the aforementioned components. Taking these steps also minimizes the risk of the “safely stop and do not drive” hybrid system warning from creeping up on you.
Avoid Overheating
As we mentioned earlier, overheating is the number 1 reason why inverters fail. So, it is important that you prevent this from happening at all costs.
Make sure that you inspect the auxiliary fan once in a while. Clean the fan blades thoroughly of any oil residue. If not, the oil residue may cause dirt accumulation which reduces the fan’s cooling efficiency.
Recalibrate The Battery
If faulty battery cells are giving you issues, this tip is just for you. There are experts who can recalibrate the battery for you, often at a fraction of the cost of a replacement. This is highly effective too as it can restore approximately 97% of the battery’s original strength.
Inspect The Fuses
It is a good idea to add inspecting the fuses to your regular maintenance checklist. Most cars have fuse box located under the hood. Once there, inspect the filaments of each fuse closely.
If you spot any discoloration or damage, it is time for a replacement. Always go for OEM parts for the best longevity and reliability.
If you are the proud owner of a hybrid or planning to purchase one in the future, we recommend you keep this information in the back of your mind. You never know when you might run into the “safely pull over and do not drive” hybrid system warning during your journeys.
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