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At 650 miles my engine has started running 'rough'.

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by SRO, Jul 23, 2013.

  1. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    Has anyone else experienced this? Is it part of the normal break in period? Not sure how to describe it other than before I was not aware of the car 'trying' to work but lately I hear/feel like it is straining to work. It 'FEELS' like a very low, throaty, growl but doesn't necessarily 'SOUND' like that. Its a 2113 Prius C, on its third tank ofsame octane gas from the same Chevron station.
    They were suppossed to test drive it and check it at my 6month/5,000 mile maintenance, which they said they did and it was fine. Given that the mileage was the same as when I dropped it off and failed to turn over to the next mile for several blocks, I am certain they did not. They also said they topped my fluids and washed the car in the 2.5 hours they had it, and although the invoice states they did, they did not. I am only certain that they rotated the tires because they lost one of my valve caps, and the inflation of the tires was the same as when I brought it in (incorrect) but the tires were in different positions.
    So now that they have destroyed what joy I had in my new car buying experience and they have destroyed whatever trust they were building that I can count onToyota for service I'm asking the Forum for advice.
     
  2. VicVinegar

    VicVinegar Member

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    Try a different dealer if you can. If not, bring it back in. If you get another zero mile test drive, call Toyota.
     
  3. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    Unfortunately, the dealerships aren't associated with the manufacturer in any way other than to sell their product. That is where the loyalty ends (and sometimes not even there). You may have to go to a different dealership for better service, but the new service could always be worse. It's a crap shoot, unfortunately. That's why people tell you that when you find one you like... KEEP THEM.

    That being said... can you give us more information? Have your MPGs dropped at all? Have you noticed any difference after filling up with new gas? Has this occurrence happened on multiple tanks of gas or is it just the most recent?
     
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    whatever you're hearing, it has nothing to do with break in. how are your mpg's?
     
  5. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    I am only on my Third tank of gas but its 87 octane from Chevron. I can't say for sure but it seems like my MPG has dropped but it's hard to say since most of my trips are under 5 miles. That and I haven't had it long enough (700 miles) to get a good idea of what's average.
     
  6. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    You've had the car for only 700 miles and you have already filled up 3 times?
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you should have averages on your first two tanks. trip lengths don't matter.
     
  8. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    The tank it came with and I still have half of the second tank I put in.
     
  9. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    Do I find this in one of the menus?
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no, just divide total miles by total gas pumped. if you didn't record miles for each tank, use the sum of each for a starting point and monitor your future fillups and you running averages.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    so you've filled up once?
     
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  12. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    So not the 3 times that you mentioned...
     
  13. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    This answer depends on if you reset your tripometer or not.
     
  14. ursle

    ursle Gas miser

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    Irregardless of the amount of gas or the miles traveled, how's the rough engine doing, it's a matter for the dealer to deal with, make them let you ride around in other C's to compare, it the ice is turning on and off roughly, get it documented on the dealers computer, if what you feel is normal for a prius C, make them prove it...
     
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  15. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    True. Always document it with the dealer. But it never hurts to try a fresh tank of gas to rule out some things. The Techs won't be able to find much if they don't have codes to go off of.
     
  16. minkus

    minkus Active Member

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    That doesn't sound normal, but it's hard to tell without actually being there. Go back to the dealership, tell them they didn't do what they said they'd do, and have them ride with you in the car.

    At my 5,000 mile maintenance they said they adjusted the tire pressure but they didn't. I don't know if it's because they're lazy/busy or if they wanted to let me keep my tires at 45 psi but officially say they fixed it for liability reasons.
     
  17. dhanson865

    dhanson865 Expert and Devil's advocate

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    my god ztanos and bisco why are you both so far off on reading comprehension?

    You buy a car with a full tank of gas and drive until it is empty that is tank 1
    You fill the tank and drive until it is empty that thats tank 2 but also known as the first tank he put in
    You fill the tank again and you are on tank 3 but also known as the second tank he put in.

    Why are you two being so argumentative over a simple count of how many times he put gas in the car when he is being consistent in his statements but you are confused and bashing him for using a different sentence structure than you are expecting?
     
  18. ztanos

    ztanos All-around Geek!

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    700 miles is short for 3 tanks of gas, that's what I was figuring out, I wasn't arguing. I need actual data, not vague speculation if I can try and help someone. He didn't fill up 3 times, he filled up twice and was on the 3rd tank. That makes more sense for the 700 miles, although I would have only expected him to be on his second tank at 700 miles, even with a problem.
     
  19. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    Thank you for clarifying that for me.
     
  20. SRO

    SRO Junior Member

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    You are absolutely correct. I need to have it documented. As lame as this sounds, it just makes my stomache turn that after looking for two years, doing my due diligence researching, and finally getting a brand new car, 6 months in and I am having to do what I did with my old cars. Wasteing my personal time doing more research, setting up folders and call logs to record and document everything just to get someone to do the job they promised to/were contracted to/said they had done but did not, yet they still got paid for. Where can I sign up for that kind of job. LOL
    I was trying to remain confident that when I took it in for the maintenance that it would be taken care of or explained to my satisfaction and I could motor on with confidence. Instead I ended up with my trust in Toyota and my whole new car buying experience completely ruined.
    My second hope was that by joining Prius Chat I might find out that it was a normal part of the break in process and would go away soon, even though I hadn't recalled having read anything related in Prius Chat before deciding to make my purchase. Since such is not the case, I will force myself to finish my complaint letter and see what happens.
    Thank You to everyone who chimed in. The enthusiasm of everyone in this little "community" and the desire to help each other out were instrumental in my decision making process. And a belated Thank You for the good advice on the extended warranty, etc. I will keep you posted as to what transpires.
     
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