NEW!!! Service Bulletin for Engine Knocking at Startup T-SB 0012-10

I am still confused, how do you tell if your vin is less or higher than this? Do you add all digits together? Or do you look at the last 6 numbers and anything less than 332,406 is included?

 

If my local dealership gives me hell and doubts my claim, I'll try to recreate the problem myself with a camera on the ready. It happened once almost a full year ago (when we had the nearly countrywide cold snap).

 

I have 42000 miles on my Prius. Will this TSB be covered by the warranty? I also have an extended warranty.

 

Recently when I tryed to start my car in the cold, I noticed that my engine rattled for a few seconds, but it only happened once. Should i bring this in to be repaired then? Whats the benefit of it?

 

...

 

The answer is in the TSB, in the "Applicable Warranty" section.

 

So basically you're SOL, you won't be getting this fixed unless your dealer changes its tune. Bringing it into a dealership will never produce the same symptoms unless the dealer then after it's stopped and cold moves it around briefly. And that guarantees nothing, even.

I think you'll have good luck with toyota care.

 

Sorry if my post was a little confusing. Your car is a 2011 so the 10th digit (from the left) will be a B, the 11th digit will be the plant code (see below), the last 6 digits are the unique number of your car. When the TSB talks about VIN before a certain number they are referring to this number. Look at the last 8 digits, if it starts with an A (for 2010) it is less than the number in the TSB so it is included as Seilerts pointed out. If you have a 2011 which will be a B read the numbers that follow as one big number and if yours is less you are covered.

The Japanese plant codes are 1 or 2 for Tsutsumi and 5 for Toyota Auto Body.

 

OK, I got the knocking this morning 21 deg. cold outside.
The car sat over the weekend and not moved slightly at all like in most instances when it happens.

I tried to start it 3 times and knocked on start up each time. I went in the house to look for my camera to video tape the issue and with camera in hand, on the next try it started fine. Darn!

Skoorbmax,

We are not SOL on the TSB. Just prepare yourself with a video camera with sound on those very cold days and record the cold temperature reading in the car and video the engine sound when you start the car.

You might also want to record the car starting normally so there is a before and after to compare. Some cameras pick up sound differently and it's not clear, it's bad if you don't have a normal start up for reference.

That is proof to the dealer that the car has experienced the problem.

If a dealer still denies it then we have proof and can send it up the Toyota ladder.

The next thing I am going to try is dry gas /heet in gas tank on the cold days and see if that prevents it.

my2cents

 

How did you know that your motor mount and gas strut needed replaced? Is there a TSB for that?
Thanks,
Vic

 

The hatch door gas struts get weak and the hatch won't stay up when it gets cold. No TSB for that, fortunately they did it under my extended warranty. If you need to replace them and can't get it done under warranty I would recommend trying to find some after market ones, Toyota wants to much for them.

There is a TSB for the motor mount, see this thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...n-engine-knocking-startup-t-sb-0204-11-a.html

Here is another recent TSB that may be of interest: http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...cking-startup-t-sb-0012-10-a.html#post1449615

The TSBs describe the problems they address. I have had the first one done (motor mount) but not the second-yet.

 

I hate to repeat myself to those who have this problem, but can't duplicate it at the dealer's service dept; you must read this thread from the beginning to see all those owners who got the TSBs done successfully!

 

Well, I went ahead and interrupted a warmup last night after moving the car to the driveway where it sat all night (and dropped to the mid-30s) and then started it this morning. Sure enough, knock-knock-knock for less than 3 seconds (not as loud and as long as I remember it happening a year ago). Why did I intentionally do this? I had the camera rolling and will hand over the evidence tomorrow if they have any doubts.

 

Anyone have the Canadian TSB (if one exists) for this?

Last time I tried to print one off and bring it in, they told me they couldn't do it because it only applied to the USA.

-Iain

 

I sure hope Toyota Care can do something. No word yet from them but I expect it may take a week or so??

I did get this email from the dealership this morning. I replied back with the problem of not getting the issue with the knocking / rattling resolved and what steps I have taken.

"Thank you for coming to us for service. Hopefully all your service needs were met to your satisfaction. Our goal is to offer you, as well as all of our customers, the best possible service. Toyota will be sending you a survey asking how you felt about your experience in our service department. Your business is very important to us. We always strive to be the best, so your feedback is appreciated. If for any reason you cannot answer this survey completely satisfied, please contact myself or Duane Weil our Service Manager. Thank you again for choosing us for your service needs."

 

Vinnie,
Nice job on capturing it on video.
Keep us posted.

It appears to be very reproducible with a good cold night.

I just added Heet to the fuel tank to see if that helps in the next few weeks.

 

Would you mind uploading to youtube to share with us? I heard knocking for the first time in my Prius this morning; I knew something was off, I've heard the engine sound like it's never sounded before. 2011 Prius III, 6700 miles, cold soak in rain this morning after having moved from garage to driveway, started up a few hours later and got the issue.

 

The video you are talking about is already posted on Youtube. Check out this link: