Outlander Shutdown and won't start. Need to be jump started

[t3kn1cs]

So, I've got an 2018 Outlander PHEV in Quebec last week to replace an old Jetta that wouldn't start most of the time...

I've got it 7 days ago, and I've already jump started it twice. Is there a known problem with the PHEV, am I doing something wrong, the 12V battery is dead, or they sold me a defective unit?
First, the remote application is **** so I can't really rely on that to warm up the vehicle, so I go outside, leave my keys in the car and press the start button. Everything look fine, I can gear the gas motor running.
I return to the PHEV 10 -15 min after, to see that it's not warm, lights are blinking, and the start button will not respond.
If I long press the Start Button, some accessories will come online, but that's it. It's like a dead car now until, I boost it up.
It had a full EV Battery charge, had no warning on the dashboard.

The first time, It was plug in when I've started the car... somewhere, I've read that the 12V is not charging when the car is plug in...
The second time, I've unplugged the car, and after starting it, I put it in CHARGE mode to keep the Gas motor running. I was suspecting that the Gas motor was turning off and on, draining the 12V battery.

So, yeah... today my old Jetta started with no problem, but the PHEV was only taking place in my driveway.


Anyone have recommendation how I should address this problem? THANKS

 

[littlescrote]

Sounds like you're not 'Starting' the vehicle but putting into Acc mode and just running the blower until you flatten the battery. You have to properly press the brake pedal and press Start and make sure the green READY light is on the dash for the drive battery to be powering things, otherwise it's just the very small Aux battery which will not last long.

The App is actually fine for regular use for pre-heat if setup correctly. I and others, use it regularly for that and since the latest version was released a couple of years ago which seems to handle the wifi/mobile data source much better, it works like a charm.

 

[ThudnBlundr]

Once the car is fully "On", the 12V battery isn't used - all 12V power comes from the drive battery via the DC-DC converter. If the ICE is on, the car must be fully "On", so that's not your issue. All the 12V battery does is turn on the computers in the car and connect the drive battery into the circuit: if it manages that, the 12V battery should be OK. Thereafter you could almost disconnect it and the car should still run as normal. Obviously yours is misbehaving, as the car will run the ICE when needed to maintain the drive battery, which will in turn should maintain the 12V battery. You need to see a dealer who can run some diagnostics on the car (unless you have a fault-code reader), as the problems you've described mean that the car is definitely not behaving as it should

 

[greendwarf]

Even after 7 years of driving the PHEV, I still get the starting co-ordination wrong, although not as often as when I first had the car. :lol:
It can take a while to get it right.

 

[jaapv]

The ICE is not started from the 12 V battery, but from the generator, which is powered from the main battery.
However, when the temperature drops below -20º C the car is outside its temperature operating range and may need to be jump-started.

 

[yardbird]

Mitsubishi PHEV use gasoline to start the power generator so as to charge the main battery which drive the PHEV.

 

[PHEV07]

So, I've got an 2018 Outlander PHEV in Quebec last week to replace an old Jetta that wouldn't start most of the time...

I've got it 7 days ago, and I've already jump started it twice. Is there a known problem with the PHEV, am I doing something wrong, the 12V battery is dead, or they sold me a defective unit?
First, the remote application is **** so I can't really rely on that to warm up the vehicle, so I go outside, leave my keys in the car and press the start button. Everything look fine, I can gear the gas motor running.
I return to the PHEV 10 -15 min after, to see that it's not warm, lights are blinking, and the start button will not respond.
If I long press the Start Button, some accessories will come online, but that's it. It's like a dead car now until, I boost it up.
It had a full EV Battery charge, had no warning on the dashboard.

The first time, It was plug in when I've started the car... somewhere, I've read that the 12V is not charging when the car is plug in...
The second time, I've unplugged the car, and after starting it, I put it in CHARGE mode to keep the Gas motor running. I was suspecting that the Gas motor was turning off and on, draining the 12V battery.

So, yeah... today my old Jetta started with no problem, but the PHEV was only taking place in my driveway.


Anyone have recommendation how I should address this problem? THANKS

Sound like your 12 Volt may not be taking a charge.

If you have a charger, try charging for a few hrs. It you can start the car without lights flickering, good

It It acts up again I would replace the Battery. Since it is already 6 years old

Canadian Tire should have a replacement.

 

[littlescrote]

Mitsubishi PHEV use gasoline to start the power generator so as to charge the main battery which drive the PHEV.

No it doesn't. It has to use the Drive battery to use the starter/generator to first start the engine to then drive the starter generator to charge the Drive battery. So if your Drive battery is dead, you won't be charging it like that. However, before your Drive battery will be connected to anything, including any extenal charging, the Auxiliary battery needs to be good to enable all control systems and contactors.

 

[yardbird]

No it doesn't. It has to use the Drive battery to use the starter/generator to first start the engine to then drive the starter generator to charge the Drive battery. So if your Drive battery is dead, you won't be charging it like that. However, before your Drive battery will be connected to anything, including any extenal charging, the Auxiliary battery needs to be good to enable all control systems and contactors.

To start the engine yes but at certain higher speed, the gasoline will kick in the ICE to power the generator or what are the gasoline for?? You can even hear the sound of the ICE at certain speed.

 

[littlescrote]

To start the engine yes but at certain higher speed, the gasoline will kick in the ICE to power the generator or what are the gasoline for?? You can even hear the sound of the ICE at certain speed.

My point is, the engine cannot start by itself. It doesn't have a 12V starter motor like a normal ICE. It needs the generator to start it and synchronise it with the gearbox speed.

 

[twiggy144]

The ICE is not started from the 12 V battery, but from the generator, which is powered from the main battery.
However, when the temperature drops below -20º C the car is outside its temperature operating range and may need to be jump-started.

Are the 2023,2024 and 2025 the same ? No 12 Volt electric starter, but the generator rotates the crank for starting?

 

[PHEV07]

Are the 2023,2024 and 2025 the same ? No 12 Volt electric starter, but the generator rotates the crank for starting?

Yes. 2023 to 2025 are all the same.

Actually all North American Outlander PHEVs from 2018 to current 2025, do not have a 12V Starter.

I believe the 2013 to 2017 that never came to NA all start the ICE with the high Voltage Generator. No 12 volt starter is used.

 

[twiggy144]

I was thinking furthermore:

is it the motion of the vehicule, front wheels in rotation, which will spin the crankshaft of the ICE while the E-transmission is engaged, alike when starting a manual transmission car by releasing the clutch while the car is rolling ?

or is it truly the generator working in reverse: using electricity from the main battery to put it's rotor in motion, and spinning the crank of the ICE?

 

[PHEV07]

I was thinking furthermore:

is it the motion of the vehicule, front wheels in rotation, which will spin the crankshaft of the ICE while the E-transmission is engaged, alike when starting a manual transmission car by releasing the clutch while the car is rolling ?

or is it truly the generator working in reverse: using electricity from the main battery to put it's rotor in motion, and spinning the crank of the ICE?

Generator powered from Main Battery.

ICE can be started in parked position
When warm out. With Temperatures lower than 10'C ICE will start unless EV Mode is forced.

 

[littlescrote]

I was thinking furthermore:

is it the motion of the vehicule, front wheels in rotation, which will spin the crankshaft of the ICE while the E-transmission is engaged, alike when starting a manual transmission car by releasing the clutch while the car is rolling ?

or is it truly the generator working in reverse: using electricity from the main battery to put it's rotor in motion, and spinning the crank of the ICE?

That would feel horrible

 

[AndyInOz]

My suspicion is that the ECU also changes the engine timing, and fires a piston at the same time.

The start is immediate.

And, as PHEV07 says above, it works in the same way while the vehicle is motionless.

My experience is that the engine has started as soon as I touch the charge button.

(Or as soon as I turn on the heater/airconditioner, depending on temperature differences)