I have a 2011 Prius with 145k. I started hearing little noises when the engine kicks on while already moving. I've had sounds that indicate a bad cv joint as well as clunking from the transmission under certain conditions. While inspecting the brakes a year ago, I noticed that spinning the front wheels by hand, there is about 5 inches of travel(at outside of wheel) before hearing a clunking of gears and the passenger wheel starts spinning. Spinning the passenger wheel produces that same thing with the noise coming from the driver side. My first thought was something wrong with the transmission but there is no signs of operational deficiency. Trans oil was changed every 30k after the first 60k change. CV joint seems intact with no noticeable looseness. Anyone notice something simlar?
Correct me if I am wrong, but the transmission on a Prius isn't built like regular transmissions and therefore should not be "clunking"?
Was the car off when you did this? Anytime it isn't on (or is on and in P), there's a pawl that prevents the transmission from spinning, with a few inches of play.