Happy New Year to everyone! My name is Daryl I am new to this forum and I hope someone can shed some light on my troubles. I am a shade tree mechanic and my daughter has a 2001 Prius with 120,000 miles, living in Minnesota. While driving she had her engine light come on and she said it sounded like it was almost like it was running out of gas. The Codes popped up as P0301,P0303, P0304, P0440, P0441, P0446, P01436, I really don't know where to start, Living in Northern Minnesota we don't have a lot of options for certified Mechanics. Any and all help would be grateful.
So how's the gas level? Thinking the last one might actually be p1436, I see this, about a possible sticking valve, just upstream from the catalytic converter, that can get stuck due to road salting. 2001 Prius Check Light - Fault Code P1436 - Car Talk And this Priuschat discussion: P1436 Revisited | PriusChat
The first three codes all indicate the engine misfiring on (almost) all cylinders ... that's why it sounded like it was running out of gas, or suffering a big vacuum leak, or that kind of thing. The next two codes are about the fuel tank vapor recovery system, a vacuum-driven system that may be leaking, according to the codes. The last code involves a problem with the exhaust bypass valve, which is driven by a big vacuum diaphragm. I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this.... If you're sure you've checked the really simple stuff, like being out of gas ... I wonder about a vacuum line that has split or come off, or a a rock took a chunk out of something in the vapor recovery system, creating a vacuum leak, or something like that. -Chap
I would suggest you start by figuring out why the engine is misfiring based upon the Po30x codes. Get that figured out first before you worry about the other DTC. Most likely areas to check: 1. iridium spark plug condition, only use the correct NGK or Denso plugs 2. water getting into the spark plug wells 3. fuel line pressure, should be at least 43 psi when engine is at idle speed 4. fuel injector condition 5. fuel tank level, make sure the tank is not out of fuel 6. engine vacuum leak, make sure the oil cap and oil dipstick gaskets are good, the PCV hoses are correctly connected, etc.
Any chance she put diesel in it? Have a friend whose college-age daughter did this last week. Hard for the dealer to diagnose, but sure enough. Cost $400 on an Acura to repair. Fuel flush plus new plugs at least.
I agree with Patrick's list of misfire causes to check for in general: Though in this case I'd probably bump no. 6 higher up the list, since you have so many different codes that would all be consistent with it. -Chap
Too bad you're not closer to Minneapolis, These guys are good with Hybrids; one of their shop loaners is a Gen1 Foreign Auto Repair | The Foreign Service