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2010 Rattling in engine bay on start up?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Skoorbmax, Jul 9, 2010.

  1. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I searched but found nothing. Three month old 2010 with 5500 miles. Wife started it today and apparently it was rattling/shuddering "almost as if the tires were out of balance" from the engine bay--not the dash board. It went away after. FWIW did oil change at dealer 1000 miles ago.

    Naturally, we're starting a 750 mile trip tomorrow so the timing could not be better for an issue with our car.

    Has anybody else had this? I have no intention of bringing it to the dealer for a non-replicatable issue. It may also be something that just doesn't ever happen again, so I'm frankly not overly worried, as I'll demand a loaner car if we have to find some Toyota dealer in the middle of PA or wherever.
     
  2. jim256

    jim256 Member

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    That event has been posted, not common but it has happened. Once to me, probably at about 2k miles, never again and the car is now over 1 year. I would not worry about it at all. There was a hypothesis about a faulty GEN signal causing a timing issue but I believe it was discounted. Some people kept it running and it resolved, I simply stopped mine immediately and it restarted fine. Zero problems on mine since new.
     
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    Go check the oil level now.
     
  4. berliner

    berliner New Member

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    some people reported problems to that nature after the car was parked for 10 to 14 days or longer. After driving it for a while it resolved itself.

    Good luck, and enjoy your trip!
     
  5. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    This was only overnight!

    Haven't checked oil today but did last week and it was good.
     
  6. DeanFL

    DeanFL 2010 owner - 1st Prius

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    My V just turned 1 yr old and has 10K miles. This happened to me about 6 months old and 6K miles.

    "Rattling" is an understatement - more like a very loud Clatter directly from engine compartment immediately after startup. Scared the Hexx out of me. I turned the car off quickly and it restarted quietly with no issue. Researched via PChat, and relieved my concerns - others had it happen with no serious impact.

    It occurred again a month later. This time I left it running and quickly opened the hood - the noise was definitely not coming from the ICE, but from the inverter side of the compartment.

    I logged the problem with my Toyota Service during the appt for the brake recall months ago. Of course, they found nothing - but I wanted it logged into my service history in case it recurs or there is a TSB.

    Bottom line, as mentioned by others - probably a quirk with no serious or lasting impact. But Toyota....are you listening? This issue should be addressed...
     
  7. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Thanks, DeanFL, for your post.

    We drove 750 miles yesterday, no issues from the car at all except its obvious dislike for consuming gasoline :)
     
  8. rudiger

    rudiger Active Member

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    I had the rattle/clatter in my 2006 with 98k miles. It sounded like a loose heat shield, but seemed to come from the inside of the engine compartment. Maybe spark-knock from high-content ethanol gas. It began in the winter and had been going on for at least six months. It didn't seem to affect drivability or performance (the 'check engine' light never came on once) but was noticable, especially when the ICE shut off at idle and the car went into the silent, electric mode.

    I never had it checked out (the car was far out of warranty) and the dealer didn't say anything about it when I traded it in.

    Because of the noise in the 2006, I've actually begun to notice the same noise on the brand-new 2010 occasionally, too, but it's brief and quickly goes away. Considering the brevity, and since it appears others are having the noise, as well, I suspect it's a timing/gas quality issue. I've always used 87 octane BP gas and wonder if a change to higher octane level might be in order, maybe alternating fill-ups with 87 and 89 octane.

    Frankly, the rattle/clatter was a big reason I spent the money for the extended warranty on the 2010. I wasn't happy about it but Toyota seems to be experiencing a significant drop in quality and, considering that I put a lot of miles on my cars, the extra expenditiure is an insurance policy that may come in handy in the future.
     
  9. Ct. Ken V

    Ct. Ken V Active Member

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    all,

    Check out this link (it's the 2nd time I'm posting it, but I guess not everybody saw it in the other thread I posted it in---that's O.K., I don't mind doing it again). The post in the link I'm going to give you next is from a Toyota service tech & even though the TSB is for a different engine than the one in the 2010 Prius, he seems to feel that the problem with the Prius engine may be related. I would say to all of you with this rattle to follow his advice & ask your dealer to submit a DPR as he suggests. Here's the link.

    Rough Engine Start? Knocking Noise At Startup? There May Be Hope Yet...

    Ken (in Bolton,Ct)
     
  10. Slovewell

    Slovewell New Member

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    You use BP? Maybe, the car doesn't like running on salt water?
     
  11. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Knew a joke had to come somewhere, if not you me.

    ken V my wife says it was definitely more than one second, maybe 10 seconds but maybe not that long.
     
  12. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    Bump just to note that this has not recurred. It was only the one time and we're at almost 11k now.
     
  13. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    I just bought my 2010 from the dealer on sunday with 40 thousand miles. Everything was great, very good. no issues, but tonight on start up to go to work, as soon as the gas engine started, (before drive off) it rattled and sounded like something was knocking. it scared the crap out of me. and at that same moment, the rep from the dealer texted me to confirm that I was coming in tomorrow to have the bumper clip addressed, I quickly told him about the issue and called him and he hear the noise as well. the Check engine light is on now...they will be addressing this tomorrow as well. But from others on here, I ask, what might it be...car was sold from Toyota dealer in Orang County, ca as a Certified Pre-Owned.
     
  14. guicide

    guicide Junior Member

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    I had quite a clatter right after an oil change. The dealership had not clipped the prop rod back into its holder. Sounded awful, but was obvious when I opened the hood.

    SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 ? 2
     
  15. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    Well, day 2 at the dealer, they called and said they replaced the manifold...went back to pick it up, and it did it again, this time for them to hear. So they are replacing spark plugs next, then after pressure test...luckily they provided me with rental.
     
    Tbkilb01 likes this.
  16. nativeaz

    nativeaz Junior Member

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    I Just experienced this for 1st time and engine just clocked 41k on my 2010. I see there is a TSB but says it is associated with cold starts below 40 deg... Mine has rattled on 2 out of last 8 starts; both cold but temp was 70+ deg.. Jesse was your problem found?
     
  17. Its MEEEEEE!!!!

    Its MEEEEEE!!!! Junior Member

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    Any fix please help !!! My rattle got so loud and I can't seem too fix it I'm only reading misfire cylinder 1 and 2. I've changed all spark plugs all ignition coils fresh oil change aire filter pcv valve maf sensor and still rattling VERY bad :/
     
  18. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    Sorry, I have not logged in a great while. They said it was a misfire and that it might happen from time to time. I even asked about it when I had my car serviced a few months back, they said it is normal and will do on cold starts at times...
     
  19. Jesse Melara

    Jesse Melara Junior Member

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    I am not sure honestly. Mines was a misfire. Since it has been warm here in Los Angeles, it has not done it very bad. The first time, it caused the check engine light to turn on. But since then, its very small but most never. I will have to wait till winter when it drops to the "chilling" high 60s
     
  20. Its MEEEEEE!!!!

    Its MEEEEEE!!!! Junior Member

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    Damn yeah this is HORRIBLE it is so loud and its bogging at the initial get up n go and I also noticed my coolant level keeps dropping down low but no leaks what so ever I'm soooo lost