Having trouble accelerating??

[LisaM]

I filled up my prius the other day with gas, and right as I left I noticed it running strange...not accelerating correctly...It was almost like the car wasn't changing gears and at 40mph it sounded like it was screaming!

I dropped it right off at the dealer and the next day they called and said they couldn't find anything wrong...I picked it up and it was running fine again...

Well today I'm having the same problem...on the highway today it felt really hard to get up to speed....

Any idea why this would be? I'm so nervous about this....I just want it to be ok!!

[brick]

Perfectly normal for the first minute or so after the engine starts. During that time period the system takes the load off of the engine while it warms up and heats the catalytic convertor. The electric motor and battery take the bulk of the load (unless you really mash the accelerator) so it feels a little sluggish. (You can see what's going on if you glance at the Energy display.) Mine is usually warmed-up and ready to go by the time I get from my parking space to the street, so it doesn't cause me any grief.

This is just a quirk of the system. Nothing to worry about. Best practice is to take it easy for the first minute after engine start and then just drive normally.

[LisaM]

Thanks...but it seemed to happen the whole ride to work today (about 15 miles)...there was a good amount of traffic but anytime I had to go above 50, the engine seemed to be revving and it just sounded bad...and it felt different too...

I've only had the car about 2 months, but I know it feels wierd...

I will definitely warm up the engine first later, though!! Thanks.

[Sarge]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LisaM @ Sep 10 2007, 12:54 PM) [snapback]510101[/snapback]</div>

I filled up my prius the other day with gas, and right as I left I noticed it running strange...not accelerating correctly...It was almost like the car wasn't changing gears and at 40mph it sounded like it was screaming!
[/b]

Actually, the car doesn't shift, it will always be a continuous tone when accelerating. That is part of the design.

If the acceleration seemed weak, then it was probably just your battery was low (check the Energy screen) and you were being properly only by the (1.5L) gas engine. Again, perfectly normal situation and one that corrects itself within minutes.

Unless you received any alarming messages on the screen or lights on the dash, there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LisaM @ Sep 10 2007, 01:19 PM) [snapback]510115[/snapback]</div>

Thanks...but it seemed to happen the whole ride to work today (about 15 miles)...there was a good amount of traffic but anytime I had to go above 50, the engine seemed to be revving and it just sounded bad...and it felt different too...

I've only had the car about 2 months, but I know it feels wierd...

I will definitely warm up the engine first later, though!! Thanks.
[/b]

There is no need to 'warm up' the car before driving it, the computer will automatically manage when it needs to provide power or warm the engine, etc...

As brick was explaining, the car is trying to also warm the components and therefore work a little harder and can sometimes make a little more noise than a warmed engine, and I don't think it is anything to be concerned about. However, this should be no more than a couple minutes at most, particularly in a California climate.

Anytime you "stomp" the accelerator, it will make a bit of a "scream" as the car's "transmission" tries to catch up to the demand.

If there is indeed a significant change in tone (that is not just environment-related), perhaps it should be investigated...

[efusco]

I, too, am interested in what your battery SOC shows on the Energy display. If you're in the Pink range you may hear the ICE rev harder and sense a lack of power, but I bet you're actually accelerating at a decent rate.

It's not outside the realm of possibility that you could have a bad tank of gas or some mechanical problem with the car, but I suspect it's just that the car sounds and behaves differently than what you'd become accustom to in your conventional car.

[LisaM]

Could it possibly be the gas?? I noticed a difference the MINUTE i pulled off the lot! And the people in my car did also....isn't that strange???

It was Chevron, which I've heard is the best gas- but maybe it was a bad tank?? I almost want to run the car so I can just re-fill it up again with something else...

At some points the car can't even get up to 70....it just sounds like its screaming and I hve to slow down...and I don't have a lead foot or anything, I have been learning to drive the Prius correctly

Thanks for all your input- I knew this would be the place to post...I love the car, but I'm not very good with all this technical business!

[efusco]

If it won't go over 70 something is VERY wrong and it shouldn't need to 'scream' to get there.

Take it back, ride with the service manager to show him/her what's wrong and get it fixed. It may be gas, but I'm beginning to think it may be something else.

[brick]

Yup, this no longer sounds normal. The car would feel sluggish if it were trying to charge the battery but it would still make it to 70mph just fine.

How about a stuck parking brake? Are the rear wheels hot after a drive? If you decide to check, BE CAREFUL! Siezed brakes can get a wheel hot enough to burn your hand...you would be able to feel the heat without touching anything. A non-contact thermometer would come in handy but most people don't have one of those lying around.

[LisaM]

Thanks for all your input...

The frustrating part is I drove it straight to the dealer when I felt it acting wierd- they could NOT find a problem and when I picked it up it was driving fine again...

Then today it started acting up again...its very uncomfortable on the 5 when you can't get up to 70 without the car making horrible noises!!! LOL. California drivers already hate me...

I'm going to drive it around on lunch and if it keeps up, I'll take it back to the dealer. UGH...not what I need! Esp since we just sold our old car...

[Submarine Dude]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LisaM @ Sep 10 2007, 11:54 AM) [snapback]510171[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for all your input...

The frustrating part is I drove it straight to the dealer when I felt it acting wierd- they could NOT find a problem and when I picked it up it was driving fine again...

Then today it started acting up again...its very uncomfortable on the 5 when you can't get up to 70 without the car making horrible noises!!! LOL. California drivers already hate me...

I'm going to drive it around on lunch and if it keeps up, I'll take it back to the dealer. UGH...not what I need! Esp since we just sold our old car...
[/b]

Are you certain that you've shifted into "D" and not "B"?