Hi I am a new Prius owner, just pick up a new 2010 last week. Two days ago something strange happen. I was stopped at a red light, when the light change to green I step on the gas paddle. The car was reluctant to move and just "roll" across the intersection, so I press the gas paddle harder, nothing happen to the speed but the engine was revving like crazy. It feel like as if the engine was not engaged! This last for about 10 seconds and everything went back to normal. I am wondering if anyone out there had experience the similar problem?
This might do better in the proper sub forum... Can't say I've experienced this issue. Are you certain you didn't accidentally shift to neutral while stopped at the light?
Thats what I am thinking but then he will have to accidently shift back to drive to make it going, but he never mentioned about shifting any gears. Hmm strange. I do have the odd power problem when I am accelerating, the ICE doesn't come on when I wanted it to come and when it does come in I get a thump on the car and sudden acceleration. I've reported that problem to Toyota already. Dissapointing. This problem only arrised after the recall.
I think that it might be hard to deliberately shit back to drive, let alone accidentally. Just kidding.
Hi All: I was thinking of the possibility of I accidentally bump into the shift and turn it into neutral. However, at the time both my hand was of the steering wheel.
Also, if it was at neutral, the car should not roll across the intersection either, it was a flat intersection.
And the engine wouldn't "rev" in neutral; if it was running at the time it would simply idle, or stay off if it already was. . _H*
Your hands were on or off the steering wheel? If off then thats dangerous, and you should be relieved that the car wasn't going anywhere.
well that will dependif the car was warming up or not. If the car was in the warming up stage then yes even in neutral it will rev.
Per Hobbit's explanation: Those who haven't tried this, try it some time, just so you'll know. Put the car in Neutral and then press the accelerator. Basically, the ECU will ignore you, because, well, you are in Neutral after all (this is how computers think).
In ECO mode, the car accelerates very slowly, seems to be ignoring extra gas pedal input until you cross a threshold, then it will take off. Attentuates the effect of the gas pedal up tp a certain input, so you learn to slow your starts, it teaches you, so you learn how to get better mpg.