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slow dying?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Don4221, Dec 10, 2005.

  1. Don4221

    Don4221 Junior Member

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    Driving home tonight with my new 05 Prius (240miles), the car began slowing down such that I had to pull to the side of the road as the speed dropped to 10 mph. The motor would reve but the car acted like the clutch was slipping. I went a couple of hundred yards this way, and then gradually the car regained crusing speed. No warning lights, etc, came on. Any suggestion here. :(

    Also- lots of drivers flicked their bright lights at me, wanting me to dim when the lights already were. The bright lights seem strange, not really focusing on anything.
     
    #1 Don4221, Dec 10, 2005
  2. aka007ii

    aka007ii New Member

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    Take it back to the dealer.

    PS: Is the gas gauge blinking? Last bar. Maybe the tank wasn't full from the dealer.
     
    #2 aka007ii, Dec 10, 2005
  3. skijapan

    skijapan Junior Member

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    I also get flicked at when using the low beams. (I don't have the HID lights) The headlights on the Prius seem to be pretty bright. I'm thinking they might be aimed a little high out of the factory...?
     
    #3 skijapan, Dec 10, 2005
  4. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Not right/normal at all. You had no warning lights? Hadn't hit the shifter on accident? If no good explaination you need to take it in, esp. if it occurs again.
     
    #4 efusco, Dec 10, 2005
  5. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Welcome to PriusChat, Don. I'm sorry this had to be your first post.

    The Prius doesn't have a clutch and this is completely abnormal behavior. It sounds like you were driving on electric power, but then the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) wouldn't have been revving.

    Many people think the "clutch is slipping" when the engine revs what seems a disproportionate amount for the speed, but it's normal at highway speed (ICE being operated at maximum torque, with excess energy sent to the battery). It is not normal at 10 MPH.
     
    #5 Bill Merchant, Dec 11, 2005
  6. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Thanks.. I didnt' know that.. I remember reading that the engine seeks to run at optimum rpm for max efficiency and to charge batts at same time, but It never clicked that it would sound funny like it was over reving.. now when I get my car I won't freakout....
     
    #6 windstrings, Dec 11, 2005
  7. DanMan32

    DanMan32 Senior Member

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    I think Evan may have hit on it. If the car was shifted to neutral, the car won't appear to have any power. If the ICE is already running when the car is shifted to neutral, it will stay running, and can the RPM can be increased with the accelerator pedal.

    The car I believe will shift to neutral if you accidentally hit Park, or into Reverse while the car is moving.
     
    #7 DanMan32, Dec 14, 2005
  8. Don4221

    Don4221 Junior Member

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    This stopping happened again, this time the car wouldn't move at all. I turned off the motor and restarted it, which did the trick and the car ran again. I took it to the dealer again and they said that the computer was not set correctly when it was off-loaded from the boat. So, we'll see???? The dealer also checked the head lights, which were OK.
     
    #8 Don4221, Dec 16, 2005
  9. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    Did you try driving it on the other side of the road? :blink: :lol: Let us know what the final diagnosis is please. Another chance to learn. If you can get the codes they pulled off the computer and post them.
     
    #9 hdrygas, Dec 16, 2005
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