2010 Prius Vibration at Mid-Throttle

OK, so I test drove my Prius with the wires disconnected from EGR valve and didn't notice any difference, which is a good news - that means I don't need to clean my EGR system. Another good news - I didn't have to clear the code, check engine light went out by itself after I re-connected the wires and drove a couple of miles. It's probably still hiding in the ECM somewhere, but I care less about that, will try to erase it later using Torque, if possible. Not sure about standard OBD2, will have to google.
Brand new intake manifold didn't make any difference, the old one was dirty, but not plugged, all channels were open.
My mpg's are good (54 mpg today), no problem with power, like in your case. I have a feeling the mixture is too lean for the engine at low RPM's, it's either suctioning the extra air, or bad injector, or something else. Looks like more DIYs ahead

 

Did you end up finding what was wrong? I'm having the same issue on my 2006 with 83,000 miles.

When the engine reaches 3,000-3,500 rpm, there is a noticeable vibration that I can feel in my feet, butt, and through the steering wheel. It's not shaking, and it's not violent, just a high frequency vibration/tone that wasn't there before. It goes away at full throttle and also goes away when cruising normally. Only happens when accelerating or climbing a hill to which the engine goes into the 3,000-3,500 rpm range.

Took it to Toyota, took the tech guy for a ride and showed him, he noticed it and checked everything, but all checked out okay. He said maybe the motor mounts but wasn't sure enough to recommend it. I never noticed it until I did a throttle body cleaning last year and when I started the engine, it sputtered a couple times. Wondering if it could be spark plugs, does the Gen.2 have an EGR? Dirty intake? The vibration is RPM specific.

 

I am also curious if you were able to solve that problem. I have a 2010 with 224k miles and having the exact same issue.

 

I am have this exact same issue with my 2010 Prius Two that I just bought. It mainly vibrates/shakes/shutters when the Energy Monitor bar is in the middle of the first ICE bar. But when you fully accelerate (last monitor bar) or completely back off the accelerator, the shuttering stops.


I took it to a mechanic/shop, and explained this issue in detail and all they could come up with was tire balance or pressure (just had them rotated, balanced and aired properly the day prior) or that my passenger CV axle is causing the vibration because they said it had some “play” in it when they twisted it by hand. I kind of doubt it’s the CV axles but I could be wrong.

I’m surprised this isn’t a more talked about issue. It was difficult to find information about this. This thread was the best thing I could find and it doesn’t seem as if anyone came to a verdict.

 

How many miles are on the car (& when did you get it, exactly)? Where did you buy it? Have you had it scanned for any pending diagnostic trouble codes?

 

It has a doozy of 240k miles on it. It has paper work from a shop that cleaned and did the gaskets on the EGR (1300$) a few months ago. I just had it at a shop to have it looked over (not a dealership) and all they told me was have the dealership update my software because of some safety update and I need new brakes (pads/rotors). Others they said everything else checked out great.

 

You can check your VIN for recalls either here or at the Toyota owners' site:

Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA

 

Is the engine coolant level stable?

 

Coolant level is normal.

 

I had the same characteristic of midload vibration close to the powerbar, probably at around 3000 rpm. It goes away above and under that range of load/acceleration. What I knew from my past cars (Nissan Altima 2002), it was just natural resonance/vibrational mode of the whole car. We cannot eliminate it. It gets worse if the exhaust system got shifted or have loose bolts. My first suggestion is check the whole exhaust system bolt especially near engine, catalytic converters, flex-pipe, and resonators.
My fix on my Altima was missing bolts on the flex-pipe after pre-cat (1st cat).

I leave it alone right now on my 2015 Auris since it does not bother me too much. Every cars have natural resonance frequency with different level of vibrations. I plan to check my exhaust system later next year when I need to do Road-worthy test. But if it is as it is, I just live with it.

 

I have a 2013 prius 3 and have the same exact issue. Feels like a resonance in cabin and steering wheel vibrates slightly. Happens around 50km/h or when ice just kicks in on center bar. Checked it with Toyota and they said nothing much but keep watching to see if it gets worse.im hoping it does not. If anybody solves the issue I'm very keen to find out. Has only done 70,000km 5W30 oil. I do see some fasters on the sides when I open up the bonnet and find that the front left headlight is a bit loose as a plastic fastener is used instead of a screw bolt.

 

your intake manifold, EGR valve, EGR cooler, and throttle body are probably gunned up with oil gunk and carbon. It’s a common issue on 3rd gen. I went down this whole road ever since buying my 2010 a few months back. I fixed it slightly, then my motor blew and now in in the final stages of a motor swap. There are lots of threads on here and YouTube vids on how to clean out all those parts I mentioned. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the reply, i really appreciate it .When you said it fixed it slightly what did you mean? cause could it have been something else then (since it fixed it slightly, or was the engine having other issues already)?
Also i'm very surprised that at 70,000km it is doing it. Also, not sure if it helps, it's a Japanese import and the oil level is close to 1cm above full indicator on dip stick.

 

I would say 80% of the vibration went away after I cleaned those parts out. I think maybe the reason it wasn’t 100% is because it was difficult to clean the intake manifold 100% so I don’t think I got everything out. And I had build up on my intake ports on the engine block itself as well as on the valves. I just think there was a lot more crap going on internally with my engine. It had 240k and the rod exploded out the front and back. I didn’t drive it hard and it had fresh fluids. I do not know. Before I bought it, I was under the impression these cars, as well as other Toyota’s were bullet proof. But it’s been my most finicky money pit I’ve ever owned. And I’ve owned a Volvo. But I’m too deep into it. I’m committed.

 

Real life testimonial

 

Is there something definitive that would say that it is the EGR circuit? i.e. remove the EGR sensor and if the vibration goes away then it is the EGR circuit?

 

Again i'm also surprised that at 70,000km my car is having this issue where as you're car has done 240k

 

It is a normal 4 cylinder natural frequency resonance/vibrations that you feel during hard acceleration. It is normal, the exact same phenomenon even when the car is new 0km.
The only solution is using 6 cylinder engine like in RX or GS 450H

 

Agree. Hybrid pit can do magic so get that 6 cyl engine into a gen 3!

 

I'm just being plain honest. Most people expected too much for 1990s design 1.8L engines. 4 cylinder engines are always rattly. I had all kinds of 4 cyl from Honda, Toyota, and Nissan. None of them can get even close to 6 cylinders smoothness. The 2.5L 2AR-FKS is very rattly and noisy, especially in RAV4. It is smoother when paired with hybrid powertrain but still far from Lexus RX refinement level.