Rough engine start

[drmalone]

I had a similar issue yesterday, a rough start for just a brief time then it smoothed out. I had started it earlier for just a moment to move it.

[Bobsprius]

The more I am reading the more I agree it points to some sort of short cycling of the engine and possibly rich mixture or similar. I had this happen in my Gen 1, (years ago of course), and it was similar. Moved the car to another spot closer to my unit when I lived in Maryland. That was the only time it happened. And has not happened in the III yet but then, I have not started and restarted in a short period of time.

[hobbit]

Wow, *this* is interesting. Where the first-gens started dropping
like flies every fall from sticky throttle plates that jammed
harder when cold, now we've got the onset-of-winter banging
3rd-gen Prius. Bizarre. I hope a proper diagnosis emerges soon.
At least in the second-gen all we get is the snowflake light...
.
_H*

[tumbleweed]

Happened to me for the second time yesterday, no codes. I had started the car for a minute or so about 2 hours previously. The event was fairly serious, sounded like the exhaust pipes were rattling around, and lasted for 5 to 10 seconds. Unfortunately I didn't have the presence of mind to check the scan gauge until it was almost over, next time I'll be ready.

I started the car for a minute or so this morning then shut it down, I'll go out and restart it in a couple of hours and see if I can get the event to repeat.

[a64pilot]

Seems intermittent, bet the fix will be a re-flash of the ECM

"Never fly the "A" model of anything"

[timo27]

I should have an opportunity to offer a data point to the testing of some of these hypotheses. My gen III is in the shop, with a full (I think pre-winter blend) tank, for an extended period, so I'll (a) see if it pulls any of this stuff when brought back out if its medically-innduced coma, and (b) if it changes its behavior when I gas it up with new blend. I'll report anything I have (hopefully soon).
Cheers
Tim

[grassyglen]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Seems to be a little of a trend. Moving the car or running it for just a short time, then turning it off and starting it the next day seems to aggravate the condition. I'm sticking to my too rich a mixture theory, but to be honest too lean would do it as well. Don't think it is ignition or any other electronics as that should throw a code.
Most likely will end up being a anomaly of the car, just something they can do from time to time.

Had it happen to me this morning. Here's how it all went down:

1. Drove home from work and parked it Friday evening.
2. Moved the car from the driveway to the street Sunday afternoon. Car was on for maybe 30 seconds or so.
3. Started the car up this morning (temp was around 40F), engine kicked in to warm up and car started violently shaking.
4. Killed the engine and waited 10 seconds.
5. Started it back up, same thing.
6. Kicked it into drive and shaking stopped.

[MikeDS]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

"Never fly the "A" model of anything"

Advice I'm starting to wish I'd followed. My dad always told me never to buy the first year of a redesign. I figured "hey, its a Toyota, they know what they're doing!" Starting to doubt that they do...