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Just bought a 2010.. stutters slightly..normal?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by corystal, Oct 21, 2012.

  1. corystal

    corystal Junior Member

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    Hi gang! Just bought a 2010 Prius so first order of business when buying a new car is to track down the best forum for it :)
    Anyways... I have noticed that at steady speed (mainly higher speed) I feel a very slight power stutter (though that may not be the best word here). Not enough to change the speedometer reading, but I can feel it a little... of course I'm very sensitive to these sorts of things since it's a used car and I have only a 30 day window to identify any problems. It feels like maybe it's working out the gas:elec ratio it wants to use, which would seem normal. It's all drive-by-wire right?

    Does anybody else experience this? I'd like to take a ride in someone's to compare if any kind hearted soul is local to NoHollywood CA...
     
    #1 corystal, Oct 21, 2012
  2. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    If you are going up and down hills this may be normal as the gas engine (ICE) will turn off as you go down a hill and then restart when you level off or start going up hill. If on level ground then this may be an issue. We would need more details.
     
    #2 jdcollins5, Oct 21, 2012
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    welcome! hard to put myself in your shoes, hybrid certainly is different, but i have always felt them to be very smooth from the first time i drove one in 04. you should test drive another to see if it feels any different. all the best!
     
    #3 bisco, Oct 21, 2012
  4. car compulsive

    car compulsive Active Member

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    Set the multi-display to the setting that shows the power flowing between the ICE, electric motors, battery, & wheels. The sensation you feel may be the electric motors cutting in and out to assist the ICE. See if the sensation correlates with the electric motors sending / not sending power to the wheels.
     
    #4 car compulsive, Oct 21, 2012
  5. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    Knowing what speed you're traveling may help us determine whether this is normal or abnormal. If you're below 42MPH, it's likely the engine kicking on or turning off. Try driving w/ the hybrid system indicator on in your display. Once the "power" line crosses the center of the bar, the engine will be "forced" on below 46mph, (always on faster than that). It will turn off again if the power demand is below the center line if your speed drops below 42mph.

    If this isn't the case, then further DX may be required. If this was a dealer purchase, you may ask them to look into it.
     
    #5 HTMLSpinnr, Oct 21, 2012
  6. Selzier

    Selzier Whee!

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    I've experienced this on flat driving accompanied by a sudden and dramatic decrease/increase in the instant MPG indicator (to the right of the speedo). My assumption on this is the switching from using the electric motor to help power the wheels to using the ICE to help recharge the batteries. This typically only happens within the first 15 minutes of my drive and goes away for the rest of the ride.
     
    #6 Selzier, Oct 22, 2012
  7. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

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    Be safe. But you can watch the instant mpg bars and i'm willing to bet you will see it jump around as the ICE starts and stops. You will feel a slight shudder when this happens.
     
    #7 adamace1, Oct 22, 2012
  8. Adam Leibovitch

    Adam Leibovitch Member

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    Its most likely the engine turning off and on. When I first started driving a Prius I always thought the car behind me had bumped me or something when the ICE started up. You'll get used to it.
     
    #8 Adam Leibovitch, Oct 23, 2012
  9. GBC_Texas_Prius

    GBC_Texas_Prius Member

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    I would vote for not normal. Never felt any sensation like that with my 2010 Prius, but it could be the gas blend. Recently spent a few months in Tampa and my Honda CRV didn't seem to like the humidity and the gas when I got off work but it was fine other times.
     
    #9 GBC_Texas_Prius, Oct 23, 2012
  10. randerson9248

    randerson9248 Junior Member

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    Mine acts similarly, when there are huge wind gusts of 3 or 4 mph.

    Prius is very sensitive.
     
    #10 randerson9248, Oct 25, 2012
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    or if you don't really care, don't bother getting back to us.(y)
     
    #11 bisco, Oct 25, 2012
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Don't you just love these one post wonders whose first post is negative and then they never return!
     
    #12 jdcollins5, Oct 25, 2012
  13. Jin

    Jin Blizzard PRIUS 2010, Nav+ solar roof

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    I never felt that kind of of stutter maybe it's me since I always drive with jbl system on :D
    But I would also think it's the ICE or a cold/initital start up issue seem in few Prius.

    Btw new guy might not me as enthusiastic as older members regarding a Prius, and it take time to grow to love Prius (even I think it was a ugly thing before I met the solar roof version ;)
     
    #13 Jin, Oct 26, 2012
  14. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

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    LOL
     
    #14 Codyroo, Oct 26, 2012
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