Car didn't move when accelerating from stop

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by mwilliams, Oct 13, 2005.

  1. mwilliams

    mwilliams New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Playa del Rey, CA
    Yesterday, right after my car had been washed, I tried to accelerate quickly from a complete stop onto the freeway. The car barely moved, and I heard a noise like something was slipping. I tried again - same result. Then I just eased onto the gas to accelerate slowly onto the freeway - not really a good idea, but it worked.

    I called my Toyota dealer and asked if they had heard of this before, and they said no, but to bring it in if it happened again.

    About 2 hours later, in a similar situation, there was no problem.

    Has this happened to anyone else? Any idea what is going on?
     
    #1 mwilliams, Oct 13, 2005
  2. MarinJohn

    MarinJohn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2004
    3,945
    304
    0
    It's my GUESS there is nothing bad going on. From what you say is it possible the tires were still wet when slippage began? What you describe sounds like the traction control system kicking in. It acts like that...power to wheels, slippage, TC momentairly prevents power from going to the wheels. Once they stop slipping you more gingerly step on the gas and off you go!
     
    #2 MarinJohn, Oct 13, 2005
  3. ScottY

    ScottY New Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2005
    1,250
    7
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, NY
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Something similar happened when I tried to accelerate on wet and uneven roads. It happened because traction control kicks in. I am not sure if that's the case for you.
     
    #3 ScottY, Oct 13, 2005
  4. JMcPhee

    JMcPhee New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2005
    202
    0
    0
    Location:
    Foothill Ranch, Orange County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Your tires did NOT spin, traction control did NOT have to turn itself on, and you were able to accelerate :D .

    It may have been the slick road surface of the on ramp, you may have been on an uphill, it may have been wet, etc. long and short is, you should typically be able to accelerate quickly - you were just in a bad spot
     
    #4 JMcPhee, Oct 13, 2005
  5. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    3,054
    301
    19
    Location:
    Northwest VT
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Known problem with the OEM tires. They are not real grippy. A patch of sand/gravel or water/snow and a somewhat heavy foot on the acellerator from a stop will cause the TC to save the electric motor as the wheels slip.
     
    #5 bruceha_2000, Oct 13, 2005
  6. mwilliams

    mwilliams New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2004
    15
    1
    0
    Location:
    Playa del Rey, CA
    I like the traction control idea. It did not feel like the tires were moving at all - something mechanical was slipping. It sounded like it was coming from the center front of the hood, not the sides.

    The freeway on-ramp was dry, ungravelly, and clear; this is LA, after all! I had driven the car 1.5 miles prior to getting to the on-ramp, so I THINK they were pretty dry.

    I've been driving this car in LA conditions, including this very on-ramp, daily for 20 months now, so I know how the car is supposed to react.

    Any other ideas? I think I will research the traction control system, if not.
     
    #6 mwilliams, Oct 13, 2005
  7. Marlin

    Marlin New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2005
    1,407
    10
    0
    Location:
    Bucks County, PA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I have never noticed any sound when the traction control kicks in. So if you really did hear a sound, then I suspect it might be something else.
     
    #7 Marlin, Oct 13, 2005
  8. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2004
    3,799
    27
    0
    Location:
    Tampa Bay, FL
    When trac kicks in, the squiggly road under a car icon will flash, unless the trac operation was really brief.

    MG2 is directly connected to the wheels mechanically, through fixed gears and a chain, and that is the first thing that propels the car from a stop, until about 5 MPH where ICE kicks in. If anything were really slipping at takeoff other than the tires, then something would have to be completely broken, and you would not be going anywhere except to a dealer by tow.
     
    #8 DanMan32, Oct 13, 2005
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)