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-6 degrees F, engine cuts in and out at above 70mph

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pwsharpe, Feb 7, 2014.

  1. pwsharpe

    pwsharpe Junior Member

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    It has been very cold and snowy recently. This morning when I left for work it was about -6 degrees F. After about 15 miles into a 55 mile trip down a snow free road with a 70 mph speed limit I had an unusual experience. Cruise is set at 75 (based on GPS), had to slow down to negotiate around a couple of triple trailer trucks. When I selected resume with the cruise, the engine revved and then cut in and out as it tried to accelerate to 70 mph. No trouble lights or dashboard warnings. I turned off the cruise, and feathered the throttle and edged back to 75 mph, and then reset cruise. I rolled down the road for another 10 without issue. I again tried to duplicate the problem and I was unable to reproduce the engine cut out. When it malfunctioned, it felt as if the ignition was switched on and off. Any idea what might cause this erratic engine behavior?
     
    #1 pwsharpe, Feb 7, 2014
  2. pwsharpe

    pwsharpe Junior Member

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    A few more details; Touring model with 117,500 miles, new spark plugs, Mobil 1, air filter, and Michelin's at 116,500. I average about 36-38 mpg in this cold weather with steady highway speeds of 70-75mph.
     
    #2 pwsharpe, Feb 7, 2014
  3. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    VSC is cutting power, too much power when cruise resumes and road surface is too slippery.
     
    #3 bedrock8x, Feb 7, 2014
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Tire spinning during acceleration in the snow? Cutting out when tires were not getting traction? Resume in cruise normally tries to bring vehicle back to set speed as quickly as possible. My guess is the full throttle and tires slipping and engine cuts out

    SM-N900P ?
     
    #4 JC91006, Feb 7, 2014
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Howdie-
    Your in the wrong forum. Please post this in the Gen III forum. The mod will probably move it...you'll get a better response also.

    I would imagine the engine was just freezing. 2 things I would do is make sure you have use very high quality motor oil like Mobil 1 and use the correct oil viscosity for your area which is 0-20. If your having the dealer change your oil stop that immed especially if its free. They tend to use vat oil which is crap.

    And also think about blocking off the front engine air inlet vents in front of the car. This stops all the freezing air from hitting the engine. If its -6 out at 75 mph's the wind chill is like -60.
    Very common mod for a Prius and lots of threads on how to do it here.

    Please search: grill blocking
     
    #5 edthefox5, Feb 7, 2014
  6. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    post says "snow free road"
     
    #6 edthefox5, Feb 7, 2014
  7. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Snow free does not mean not slippery due to water on the road surface or black ice.
     
    #7 bedrock8x, Feb 7, 2014
  8. AEROENGR

    AEROENGR Junior Member

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    Small amount of water or ice in the fuel?
     
    #8 AEROENGR, Feb 8, 2014
  9. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Air intake blocked or freezing up? Did you have a full or empty fuel tank?

    Any warning lights on the dash?
     
    #9 GrumpyCabbie, Feb 8, 2014
  10. pwsharpe

    pwsharpe Junior Member

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    The Prius is a 2007 Touring model, road dry, Mobil 1 oil, no loss of traction, no warning lights, 3/4 tank of gas, and it drove fine on the way home. Thanks for the responses so far. Can't imagine it was water, as it was so cold, it would not clear up in an instant. I was thinking it was electrical?
     
    #10 pwsharpe, Feb 8, 2014
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