There's nothing more dangerous about a hybrid vehicle than a conventional gasoline powered vehicle, honestly. There's plenty of things that can maim or kill you on any vehicle, and if you follow the published procedures, you'll never have a problem in the world working on either. There's redundant safeties in hybrid vehicles nowadays to where it's practically impossible to get hurt servicing them, unless you skin a high voltage cable back with your pocket knife and touch your tongue to the wire inside.

As far as a hybrid F150, no, I don't think so. I think diesels have more practical use in a pickup than a hybrid gasoline/electric powertrain.

 

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Unless the customer pulls up to the shop in the electric mode, you turn the key off (but don't push the stupid off button on the prius) then throw the car on the rack and hoist it up, start working on them... batteries drain making the real engine kick on to charge the batteries and bam, you aint open jars for the wifey anymore... or worse. Its happened quite a few times and they have been shooting out bulletins for any mechanic who may work on em. I have never had a diesal just start because the battery was low...

And Hybrids ARE NOT REDUCING EMMISSIONS. Like stated before, these p*ssy little motors can barely hall that big wedge of cheese, plus all the crap inside and my fat ****! These things are SCREAMING down the highway! A diesal, using bio fuels or other alternative fuels, getting 40mpg is much much better. Diesals are cheaper to maintain, easier to maintain, and in the long run will have a far less devastating effect on our wallet and our enviroment (read: LEAD batteries!!! those wont last forever) popular Mechanic have proved how stupid hybrids are, Motors Magazine did test proving how ineffecient these are... its a step alright, a huge step backwards. I believe someone said it perfectly: Its a POLITICAL joke.

 

That's like saying if you pull a gasoline engined F150 into your stall, leave the engine running, and try replacing the serpentine belt, you're gonna get your s^$! ruined... Lack of technician familiarity with the vehicle is the fault of the guy working on it, not the car. If he gets popped by a HV cable, he probably deserved it.

I'm admittedly not familiar with Toyota's hybrids, but on any vehicle - hybrid or not - if you don't have the training to work on them, and you don't follow the published procedures, it's a pretty good chance that Darwin's gonna get you.

I'm pretty sure that trained Toyota hybrid technicians are well versed in what it takes to kill the high voltage system so it can be safely serviced. I know full and damn well what I have to do to a hybrid Escape or Mariner to service the high voltage system in it, because I've had the manufacturer training and read the service manuals.

And really, in any hybrid vehicle, the high voltage cables are shielded, hidden from plain view, under heavy insulation, typically ran on one side of the vehicle only (from the HV battery to the transaxle or DC/DC converter) and marked with bright orange conduit, the only wiring in the vehicle that's identified by orange. If someone manages to get past all that and ends up getting electrocuted, I think they were trying to get fried.

I don't think hybrids are the answer either, but please don't go over dramatizing what they are and how they work. I honestly feel safer working on a hybrid Escape or Mariner than some gasoline or diesel vehicles. At least I don't have to worry about 25,000 psi of fuel pressure on a hybrid, like I would on a 6.4 liter Powerstroke.

 

I think a hybrid diesel would be way to go, it worked ok for subs, trains still use it.

Hybrids are in their sweet spot around town, the GMs still have the regular engine, they just have a oversize starter to turn then engine so the lights stay on when sitting at a stop light.

 

Its not the hv cables, yes they are very well protected and shielded even on the crap toyotas... its the fact you can turn the key "off" but leave the electric motor on. I guess that will then cause the batteries to drain, automatically kicking on the engine. True, I believe any technician working on any car better be wll versed on all the ins and outs, but sh*t does happen. Monday morning, after a long night with the guys, try to be quick cuz its the end of the day? I am not all that sure (I work on Mercedes, hint the name... no worries on hybrids!) but I get bullitens from a TON of places and Motors Magazine had a special on it... so apparently its happening enough to warrant some type of warnings, and its not just ME overstating anything but simply passing the word along. i didn't hear anything about Ford/Merc's hybrids... it was just talking about the design flaws in the Prius.
And just like you said... it comes down to the Technician... he better be well versed in what he is working with. So for you, you obviously attained some good knowledge on the workings of the Hybrids. Me? I have not had this issue, so I must admit my knowledge is limited, working strictly on Mercedes I do get to work on quite a few diesels every day. I guess it comes down to comfort zones. I like our diesels smelling like a french fry cooker

 

What? That's not really possible. If the key is off, it's impossible for the high voltage system to be active.

That's standard amongst all hybrid vehicles; the manufacturers figure that the world is not ideal, and as a result they aren't gonna have people that know what they're doing working on their vehicles all the time. So, to minimize the chances of an errant tech getting turned into a crispy critter, by default whenever the ignition key is in any other position other than "Run," the high voltage system is disabled. And further, if any hybrid guy is gonna be doing anything to the high voltage system, before anything else the high voltage battery fuse must be removed. Once removed, the vehicle is totally and completely dead. The battery pack is now a 250 lbs doorstop, and the high voltage cables are totally harmless.

That's not how the system works...power (as in horsepower, step-on-the-gas and let's go power) demand for the gasoline engine takes precedence over actual electrical draw as to when the gasoline engine starts. If the key is left on, the high voltage system is active, however the various modules throughout the vehicle will always draw power from the 12V battery under the hood, not the 300+ volts from the high voltage battery. The only time power is really drawn from the high voltage battery is when the vehicle is moving under electric power.

Then with all due respect, I don't think you're really qualified to comment on how dangerous a hybrid vehicle is to service and repair.

Seriously, there's several redundant safeties and procedures in place to where you literally have to try, really, really hard, to get hurt by the high voltage system.

You mentioned the Prius and its flaws; Ford's hybrid system is roughly based off first generation Toyota technology, similar to what was used in the first generation Prius. Scary, huh?

 

wtf is everyone still bitching about emissions for? honestly, today's gasoline engines in cars, trucks, etc run many times cleaner than our grills. you are polluting the environment more by barbecuing than by driving As far as hybrids go, they are a damn joke! If liberals would stop bitching and let us drill for oil in our own country, (there is still plenty of it here) we would not have any problems. As far as other fuels, diesel/biodiesel is the answer, with its superior mileage and power. I know that in 2009, I'll be driving the diesel F 150. Ethanol is a joke, too. Using food to make a lower return fuel? Where would using corn for fuel get us in the event of a famine?

 

Quintin: Like I said, you obviously have a ton more knowledge than me on this case. I work on Mercedes and they either haven't gotten behind it, or its a pretty well kept secret in the works. I honestly do appreciate your input on this, as you can see I was under a very different (and perhaps wrong) influence on the whole system. Like I said, i read an article about the design flaws and the problems Tech's are running into. What you say all makes perfect sense to me, and if it was the other way around it would really leave you to wonder WTF. Like I said, thanks for not just arguing or stopping, if I am wrong, I do appreciate someone (with actual knowledge vs. my friend said, etc) taking the time to explain it and show the "whys". I am now going to go dig up that article to re-read it and find out EXACTLY what the issue was. Now I hang my head... and slowly walk off...

(I still hate hybrids and still back Diesel )

 

That's one thing we can agree on.

 

You can not say that hybrids are a step forward. You are producing a vehicle that has toxic batteries that must be disposed of. How is that helping us now?!!!! It just creating an environmental problem that will have to be dealt with down the road. A small diesel in the F-150 would be the bee knees. You would have tremendous power without the bulk of the superduty package. I live close to the city and my truck is my daily river. Your a fuc|<ing duma$$ if you are like me with an 8-5 IT job and you drive a big stupid a$$ diesel. Its unpracitcal and totally wasteful! There is something to be said for practicality. If you are working the land on the weekends or soemthing like that, great, but to haul your boat a few times a year....... WTF?! Buy some ***** enlargement pills man if you need to show everyone your big truck that you never use for it's true capabilities. You know what, it must be that third cup of coffee that is making me write like this. I'm a 30 year old family guy who loves anything that burns gas with a passion. I am an enthusiast but at the same time a realist. Hybrids, save the whales, anyone who says we are ion a state of global warming and chaos, I can show you otherwise. Anyone who thinks we can have the slightest affect on global warning is also poorly informed and mislead by government propoganda. As for bio diesel. I am all for bio fuels, NOT made from corn. There are mnay plants that are NOT edible that provide the same or MORE thermal energy when used to create bio diesel.I really hate this fuc|<ing topic because everyone is going to watch a michael moore, al gore, bull $h|t propoganda story.
The hell with it
You are all ****.................
Hybrid lovers that is.

 

Man I thought there were gunna be a bunch more long haired, dope smoking hippies and stupid city yuppies backing these things. Looks like most of us have some common sense and can realize these batteries that are needed will create far more of a problem than the gas savin benefits... Glad to hear it. Yet another reason I love this site. Here's to the gas dumping, diesel sucking, exhuast pumping enthusiasts!

 

As soon as you can correct all the spelling and grammar in this post, you can rightfully call someone a f#$@ing dumbass.

If you're gonna rant and rave and call people ****, dumbasses, whatever, take some time to word your post properly; you look pretty stupid, beating up on someone else or the topic at hand when you have difficulty spelling words like "propaganda" correctly.

 

This has become my favorite thread I think. And Quintin... I think I might try and use that quote in my signiture (if I ever figure that one out)... would ya mind?

 

Hell, I don't care. I just call 'em like I see 'em.

 

I wish the US would push the hydrogen thing! That is a great solution but it just needs to get out there and really be pushed. The problem is hydrogen cars are not in production because currently no one has a hydrogen station down the street and everyone has expensive gas vehicles that would be useless if hydrogen would come into play. I really want to see the hydrogen vehicles starting to come into play here in the next ten years