violent shaking at start up

[springfield]

I pressed the start button this morning and the car shook violently, rocking from side to side for about five seconds. Then the engine started and the shaking stopped. Temperature about 45 degrees.
What's this about? Is this what will happen as it gets colder in the winter? Anyone else experience this?
This car is continuing to disappoint me. 6k miles.

[qbee42]

Several other owners have posted about this, so yes, it has happened to others. So far the cause remains unknown.

Search is a useful feature.

Tom

[Patrick Wong]

It sounds like you've got a conflict between the gasoline engine and MG1. When the hybrid vehicle ECU is starting up the engine, MG1 serves as a starter motor to spin up the engine. Once the engine starts then MG1 should continue to spin at an appropriate RPM so that the engine can idle.

Since you're experiencing this severe vibration, it appears that MG1 is not spinning at an appropriate speed, hence it is fighting the engine.

This happened once in a while with my 2001, when coming to a stop. It seemed that disconnecting the 12V battery to reset the ECUs helped. I did not notice this problem at all with my 2004.

Suggest that you document the problem with a video camera, next time it happens, so that you have evidence to provide your dealer. (I assume that no warning lights have appeared.) However, until a TSB is issued its unlikely that they'll be able to do much for you as a permanent fix would require new firmware for the hybrid vehicle ECU.

As an early adopter of the 3G Prius, I'm sure that you'll notice occasional glitches from time to time.

[paprius4030]

This has happened to me once with my 08 when it was pretty new. Never happened again, I just chalked it up to, one of those things. Sorry to hear your Prius continues to dissapoint you. Why do you say that?

[springfield]

Originally Posted by paprius4030

This has happened to me once with my 08 when it was pretty new. Never happened again, I just chalked it up to, one of those things. Sorry to hear your Prius continues to dissapoint you. Why do you say that?

Because ever since 5k miles my cars interior creaks and rattles over every subtle bump in the road. Like many others on this post (see rattles and creaks) I have found my car poorly constructed with brittle plastic components that have little body integrity. I have never owned a car that has disappointed as much as this 2010 Prius. I understand it's a special hi-tech car and it looks great in and out, but the daily rattles, creaks and now shaking at start up just confirms my opinion. Never buy a newly redesigned model the first year.

[tumbleweed]

The rather severe shaking on start up has happened to me twice now. Both times with a cold engine. Seems to last about 5 to 10 seconds. No solution yet and Toyota denies the problem exists, as usual. Here is the thread:
Rough engine start

[springfield]

Originally Posted by tumbleweed

The rather severe shaking on start up has happened to me twice now. Both times with a cold engine. Seems to last about 5 to 10 seconds. No solution yet and Toyota denies the problem exists, as usual. Here is the thread:
Rough engine start

thanks for your response. my concern is this happening more frequently as the temps drop. This can't be good for the engine/system for the long haul.

[qbee42]

Take a look at this thread:

Rough engine start

Tom

[spiderman]

Originally Posted by springfield

thanks for your response. my concern is this happening more frequently as the temps drop. This can't be good for the engine/system for the long haul.

I'll just say real quick that it happened to me once this summer. It has not happen since and yesterday it was 0 degrees here. I don't think cold temps have anything to do with it but that is just my opinion.

Peter

[a64pilot]

The one thing that seems consistent is short engine runs and then on later re-start it occurs. Maybe we have found a real use for EV mode?