engine stalls on quick acceleration

Wagnerjp25 · 10-30-2009, 05:28 PM

I have a 2004 Prius with 100K plus, but this problem has occurred eever since I got the car used at 15K. When I am stopped, with the engine turned off, if I punch the gas to the floor for a quick acceleration (like crossing 2 lanes of a busy highway) the engine will stall. I have to pump the gas to get going. Scary when traffic is bearing down on me. I don't seem to have the same problem if I push the gas pedal down more slowly. I heard once that this stalling was a firmware problem, but I never got any recall notices about that.

richard schumacher · 10-30-2009, 07:38 PM

Stall? You mean, you actually hear the engine stop running? Or do you mean that the car doesn't want to accelerate momentarily, as though, oh, maybe, the tires were slipping?

firepa63 · 10-30-2009, 09:17 PM

My guess is the traction control is kicking in...

**TonyPSchaefer** · 10-30-2009, 09:19 PM

Hi, Wagner. It's not really a stall. I have a 2004 and he does the same thing. There are numerous people here who have reported the exact same thing. I'm not a technical guy so I'll let one of the others explain exactly what's going on. What I do know is that a steady acceleration rather than a pedal stomp is many time more effective and will avoid the "stall" situation you describe. Once you get the steady acceleration down you will be able to make your Prius jump off the line.

qbee42 · 10-30-2009, 11:27 PM

I assume you are activating the traction control, which is very sensitive on your era of Prius. What type of tires are you running? Good tires will go a long way toward reducing this problem.

Tom

Wagnerjp25 · 11-02-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firepa63

My guess is the traction control is kicking in...

No, the engine definitely stalls. Quits. Dead. Then restarts after several seconds.

Patrick Wong · 11-02-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wagnerjp25

I have a 2004 Prius with 100K plus, but this problem has occurred eever since I got the car used at 15K. When I am stopped, with the engine turned off, if I punch the gas to the floor for a quick acceleration (like crossing 2 lanes of a busy highway) the engine will stall. I have to pump the gas to get going. Scary when traffic is bearing down on me. I don't seem to have the same problem if I push the gas pedal down more slowly. I heard once that this stalling was a firmware problem, but I never got any recall notices about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wagnerjp25

No, the engine definitely stalls. Quits. Dead. Then restarts after several seconds.

I suggest you visit your local Toyota dealer and find out what they will charge to update your engine and hybrid vehicle ECUs with the latest firmware. Had you done this before 60K miles, you might have gotten this done at no charge under the powertrain warranty. Good luck.

Politburo · 11-02-2009, 12:43 PM

If the engine is stalling, I'd think you'd get a CEL.

Not really relevant, but this 'scary' problem has occurred for 85K miles with no previous attempts at diagnosis?

F8L · 11-02-2009, 09:26 PM

Mine reacts similarly when mashing the pedal and making a slight turn but every rarely does it do it from a dead stop and in a straight line. I have high performance 215/45/17 tires though so they are not likely to slip in a straight line. Your problem sounds like traction control kicking in where all power is cut momentarily. If it is not then you definately need to get it checked out.

Wagnerjp25 · 11-05-2009, 05:33 PM

Thanks for the many replies. I don't understand what the traction control is and why it cuts out.

10-30-2009, 05:28 PM	#1
Wagnerjp25 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 5 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	engine stalls on quick acceleration I have a 2004 Prius with 100K plus, but this problem has occurred eever since I got the car used at 15K. When I am stopped, with the engine turned off, if I punch the gas to the floor for a quick acceleration (like crossing 2 lanes of a busy highway) the engine will stall. I have to pump the gas to get going. Scary when traffic is bearing down on me. I don't seem to have the same problem if I push the gas pedal down more slowly. I heard once that this stalling was a firmware problem, but I never got any recall notices about that.

10-30-2009, 07:38 PM	#2
richard schumacher Destination: Eschaton Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: United States Posts: 5,508 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 99 Thanked 93 Times in 66 Posts Friends: 0	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration Stall? You mean, you actually hear the engine stop running? Or do you mean that the car doesn't want to accelerate momentarily, as though, oh, maybe, the tires were slipping?

10-30-2009, 09:17 PM	#3
firepa63 Senior Citizen Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Pennsylvania Posts: 928 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 39 Posts Friends: 0	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration My guess is the traction control is kicking in...

10-30-2009, 09:19 PM	#4
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,498 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 165 Times in 106 Posts Friends: 23	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration Hi, Wagner. It's not really a stall. I have a 2004 and he does the same thing. There are numerous people here who have reported the exact same thing. I'm not a technical guy so I'll let one of the others explain exactly what's going on. What I do know is that a steady acceleration rather than a pedal stomp is many time more effective and will avoid the "stall" situation you describe. Once you get the steady acceleration down you will be able to make your Prius jump off the line.

10-30-2009, 11:27 PM	#5
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,472 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 94 Thanked 387 Times in 289 Posts Friends: 10	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration I assume you are activating the traction control, which is very sensitive on your era of Prius. What type of tires are you running? Good tires will go a long way toward reducing this problem. Tom

11-02-2009, 12:43 PM	#8
Politburo Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 192 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 3 Thanked 36 Times in 22 Posts Friends: 0	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration If the engine is stalling, I'd think you'd get a CEL. Not really relevant, but this 'scary' problem has occurred for 85K miles with no previous attempts at diagnosis?

11-02-2009, 09:26 PM	#9
F8L Collecting Data on Nature Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA. Posts: 5,475 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #4 Thanks: 22 Thanked 189 Times in 137 Posts Friends: 35	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration Mine reacts similarly when mashing the pedal and making a slight turn but every rarely does it do it from a dead stop and in a straight line. I have high performance 215/45/17 tires though so they are not likely to slip in a straight line. Your problem sounds like traction control kicking in where all power is cut momentarily. If it is not then you definately need to get it checked out.

11-05-2009, 05:33 PM	#10
Wagnerjp25 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: California Posts: 5 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: No Package Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: engine stalls on quick acceleration Thanks for the many replies. I don't understand what the traction control is and why it cuts out.

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