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Still getting used to my Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by SwingsetAbby, Oct 15, 2007.

  1. SwingsetAbby

    SwingsetAbby New Member

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    I purchased a 2008 Prius about a month ago, and immediately noticed something I hadn't encountered during my two test drives. When the car is moving at less than 30 mph or so, it stutters as if it were going to stall (but it doesn't actually stall). I took it to the dealership and had their Prius specialist check it out; he said this is normal for the Prius, and had something to do with the inverter. I'd have no problem accepting that if I'd experienced the same kind of stutter in the 2007 model I drove.

    Can anyone tell me if this is in fact normal? (I have no previous experience with the dealership, and don't know yet how trustworthy they are.) Thanks in advance.
     
    #1 SwingsetAbby, Oct 15, 2007
  2. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    "Stutters"? That doesn't sound right. Can you describe it with more detail (what are you doing at the time, what are the conditions, what does it sound or feel like)?
     
    #2 richard schumacher, Oct 15, 2007
  3. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Sometimes the ICE doesn't shut off corectly, it sorta diesles for lack of a better term. You usually notice it when you stop at a light or stop sign however, I haven't noticed when the car is moving. But anyway it seems to happen when it's a little cold and the car is fairly new. Somebody explained once why this happens but I forgot all the technical mubo-jumbo LOL. But anyway as the car gets older it goes away. It hasn't happened to mine in quite sometime and i got 76k on it now.
     
    #3 paprius4030, Oct 15, 2007
  4. SwingsetAbby

    SwingsetAbby New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Oct 15 2007, 05:27 PM) [snapback]526015[/snapback]</div>
    It's hard to describe in words. Generally, it happens when I'm slowing down from a speed above 30 mph. As I decelerate, the engine seems to "skip" a few times, as though it were about to stall. Sometimes it doesn't happen until I've come to a complete stop.

    I drive about 72 miles roundtrip to work; about three-fourths of the trip is on a fairly high-speed road, while the remainder is in stop-and-go traffic.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(paprius4030 @ Oct 15 2007, 05:35 PM) [snapback]526018[/snapback]</div>
    It's been very warm here of late, so I'm pretty sure the temperature isn't causing it. But it's a brand-new car, which might account for it. Thanks very much for the reply!
     
    #4 SwingsetAbby, Oct 15, 2007
  5. brick

    brick Active Member

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    The first time the engine shuts down after cold-start can be a little rough. After that you may be able to feel when the engine shuts down at low speeds but it shouldn't be violent. Maybe a light thump at most.
     
    #5 brick, Oct 15, 2007
  6. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Mmm, probably normal. I'll bet that your test drives were either not as fast or as long as your commute?
     
    #6 richard schumacher, Oct 15, 2007
  7. SwingsetAbby

    SwingsetAbby New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ Oct 15 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]526062[/snapback]</div>
    Ah, OK. I haven't been tracking at what point in my commute I notice the stuttering. I'll check that out next. Thanks.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Oct 15 2007, 09:31 PM) [snapback]526111[/snapback]</div>
    You'd win that bet! They certainly weren't as long as my commute, and we didn't spend a lot of time on highways during the test drives.

    I'm curious, though: What difference does the speed make? And thanks for your replies, BTW!
     
    #7 SwingsetAbby, Oct 16, 2007
  8. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    I've had my Prius since 04 and love it. What you are describing is the ICE shutting down before it is fully warmed. This is normal. Just enjoy the car and ignore its idiosyncrasies.
     
    #8 firepa63, Oct 16, 2007
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SwingsetAbby @ Oct 16 2007, 10:35 AM) [snapback]526364[/snapback]</div>
    It influences the temperature of the engine and the state of charge of the big ("traction") battery when you next slow down. They in turn influence when the engine decides to shut off and how the engine burns off excess fuel when it shuts off. The engine does sometimes rattle very noticeably when the car is not moving or moving slowly.
     
    #9 richard schumacher, Oct 16, 2007
  10. 07seaside

    07seaside New Member

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    I've got an 07 that I've had for about 6 weeks. I've noticed that a lot of times I can feel it when the ICE kicks in or out but I'm not sure that I would describe it as a stutter. It seems to be more noticeable when the ICE is cold.
    Hope that helps
     
    #10 07seaside, Oct 16, 2007
  11. morpheusx

    morpheusx Professor Chaos

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(07seaside @ Oct 16 2007, 05:08 PM) [snapback]526535[/snapback]</div>
    I think you are one of us who are a little more in tune with our cars. It will become substantially less noticeable after a few thousand miles (a little break in) and after you get used to it. In time you will get annoyed if it doesn't shut off.
     
    #11 morpheusx, Oct 16, 2007
  12. LoreePrius

    LoreePrius Junior Member

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    After driving a Toyota Tacoma for 10 years, it was a big change to go to the prius. Now that I have been driving the Prius for about 3 year, I guess you would say I'm used to it. But it did take me awhile about maybe a year till I was comfortable in it.
     
    #12 LoreePrius, Oct 16, 2007
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