Ive been driving the Prius for the last month. Just barely using the Mercedes. This morning I went out at 36 degrees and forgot to glow, just turn the key, and as soon as I did, it raced through my mind what i was doing, but before I could stop...she fired up. Ran a little rough for a minute or two, but that was it. That surprised the hell out of me. I have never had the compression checked. I do not use a block heater. That just blows my mind. Anyway.
One thing i have noticed for the last few times I have driven it, is the way its shutting down. If its a cold engine, it wants to take longer to shut down. If its a warm engine, it will shut down immediately. Is this common with you guys? Or is my car haunted?
Also, sometimes after it sits for a while (like over night), it will take some revving to get it to start moving. BUT, not all the time. I would say 75% of the time, it goes right into gear and no questions asked. It flares from 2nd to 3rd and then goes almost immediately into 4th. But it never really bogs down. Just kinda doesnt like 3rd most of the time.

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1980 300D

On the transmission issue...is the fluid at the proper level? If it is...this could mean after sitting some of the fluid is draining out of the torque converter, just give it a few moments in park or in drive before you try to drive away so it has a chance to refill with fluid. Mines a little sluggish for a few seconds too when its cold out or if it has sat for a long while.

Prius....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

The shutdown part could be a slight vacuum leak or just that the vacuum has not built up yet since you just started it. The diesel quits from air starvation.

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Rev. Dr. G. Church of the SubGenius
It doesn't take a genius

The fuel shut off valve is on the IP and shuts the fuel off, not the air.

If you have a slight vacuum leak, say at the brake booster, it takes a bit to create enough vacuum to operate the fuel shut off valve on a cold engine.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

99 W210 E300 Turbo Diesel, chipped, DPF/Converter Delete. Still needs EGR Delete, 232K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Gone and still missed...1982 w123 300D, 1991 w124 300D

The explainations offered are all true. Haunted, no. But sometimes, you just feel that there is a living, feeling, being under your butt. We all know it, will not admit it in company, but privately long to believe it.
I've shared your experience. When I decided to sell the Toyota pickup that rests next to my 300, and folks showed up to look at the truck, the 300 stopped acting up on a few things. Reality: mechanical explaination. Emotional response: car was jealous, conceited, and proud; glad to get rid of the competition and decided to stop acting bratty...
No, really, its called anthropomorphism when we assign human qualities to things that are not human. Perhaps we need an adjusted term for this. I propose Diamleranthropomorphism...

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1969 220D "Berta" RIP
1982 300D turbo 250K

All mercedes diesels are haunted in some form or another.

I know a guy who inherited his father's car; the exact one his dad used to kill himself in the garage. (65 Mustang) He still has it; gives me the creeps.

Now that's a haunted car.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Thanks for the suggestion. I thought the same, but nope, the transmission is perfect on level. I have sat with it idling for a minute or two, but it didnt help. When its acting like this, I have to rev it in gear to get it going. Halloween must be getting to my car.

Roll your eyes at something else, not my Prius.

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1980 300D