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Throttle Response and Acceleration Problems

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Jason Franciosa, Sep 18, 2018.

  1. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Hey, This is my first post here, although, I've read a ton of post. I am having an issue with my 2013 Prius two. I have just over 96k miles on it and never had a problem until yesterday.

    Yesterday, I drove the car in the morning with no issues, then, in the after noon, I went for a drive and there was a very strange thing happening. When I would hit the gas pedal, there would be a 1-2 second delay before the throttle would kick in. It felt like the electrical motors were not kicking on and the engine would then rev up and then the car would move.

    Then, once I was going, the engine would rev and would delay by 2-3 seconds in a revved state before coming back down.

    There is currently no check engine light or any issues the car is saying, but, my gas mileage, engine response, and throttle response is terrible.

    I went to autozone, and they said with no check engine light there was nothing they could read, but, from my explanation, he thinks it is a bad throttle position sensor, which he stated on the Prius is built into the throttle body and very expensive to have Toyota replace.

    Has anyone else experienced this? What could this be? Would this be covered as part of the electrical system warranty that's good until 100k miles?

    Any insight will be greatly helpful! Thank you
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome!

    you can try cleaning the throttle body, there are instructional threads here, or visit nutzaboutbolts youtube videos.
    i wonder if an oxygen sensor could be bad?

    also, make sure your inverter pump is operating by checking for turbulence in the reservoir while the car is in 'ready'.
    and pray that your hybrid battery isn't starting to show signs of weakness, though i don't think that is the problem.

    all the best!(y)
     
  3. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    So I took it for a drive this morning and it was running perfect, then, I went for another drive and hopped on the highway.

    The way it is acting is as if the car was a normal car and I put it in the number 2 on the transmision. It's like the transmission isn't shifting gears, although, the prius doesn't have gears.

    The car is over revved and doesn't "upshift" properly or "down shift" (I know it's a CVT and doesn't shift, but, that's hwat it feels like.) I'll upload a video.

    I am planning to bring it to toyota, but, $170 for a diagnostic fee is INSANE.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated if you have any ideas
     
  4. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Thanks for the response, Would these throw a check engine light? I have no check engine light on.
     
  5. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Here's a video of the issue, Not sure if you can hear the engine over the AC, but, it's very high revved and comes down very slow.

     
  6. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Is this what you mean by turbulence?

     
  7. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    One more video:

     
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not necessarily.
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    yes
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what is that awful background noise?
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    test the 12 volt health before spending $170.
     
  12. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Do you think the pump could be broken?
     
  13. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Will do, There's no signs of the 12v being bad though, how would this affect the shifting?
     
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    No, there was turbulence
     
  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Probably not, but always worth checking on a prius
     
  16. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    Ended up going to Toyota and they are saying the intake hose was a bit loose causing air to flow in directly which was causing this problem.

    $170 for them to push a hose together and I'm still not 100% convinced this is the problem. We will find out over the next few days if it is still doing this or not.

    I do need to swap plugs, change transmission fluid, and change the inverter coolant. Are these doable or is it worth the $250+ for each of these services?
     
  17. Jason Franciosa

    Jason Franciosa New Member

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    I am not at home as I am traveling, but, will never go back to that Toyota Dealer. Long story short, he quoted me $215 for a transmission fluid change, then, when I said, ok let's do it, he came back and said it's $400 to do it because they have to flush all the lines and the transmission fluid cooler. He also said it takes 8 quarts of fluid.

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but, the Gen 3 prius does not have a transmission fluid cooler, is supposed to take 3.7 quarts, and there's no lines to flush?

    Needless to say, I will not be going back to that dealer.
     
    Robert Holt, Threej and bisco like this.
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    wow. you are correct. some people are bringing the fluid to their dealer and getting the labor for under $40.
    shop around for a local mech, where in fl are you?
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i hope that was the problem!(y)
     
  20. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    check your maintenance schedule for requirements and miles/months when due