2013 Prius with knocking problem

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Ryan Bennett, Dec 31, 2012.

  1. Ryan Bennett

    Ryan Bennett Junior Member

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    Hey everyone.

    I'm a recent Prius convert. Just bought a very nice '09 Gen II, IV model a couple of months ago. I'm on business down in West Palm for a few weeks. Went to pick up a rental at Enterprise, and scored with a free Prius upgrade at the economy car rate! Super excited about that.

    My rental is a 2013 model and there were only 1,500 miles on it when I picked it up. It's been averaging 52mpg in mixed city and highway driving. For some reason, the engine knocks under load. Since it's not my car, I don't really care, but if it were I would be extremely concerned being that it is basically brand new.

    Has anyone else experienced this? There is no minimum fuel octane rating that I can find anywhere in the car. It has 87 in it. I know it's a rental, but even at that I don't think it could have possibly had that much abuse being so young to have knocking already.

    Any thoughts as what could be causing this?

    I wanted to add that the car knocks with the engine fully warmed up, as well of course when it is not. Doesn't seem to be a cold engine issue.
     
    #1 Ryan Bennett, Dec 31, 2012
  2. Blu-ray

    Blu-ray Blizzard Brigade #215

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    Rentals are usually driven pretty rough. I know of some people who drive cautiously with their own car but when they get in a rental, WATCH OUT! They're like crazy drivers. I never go by how a rental drives or sound if I'm looking at a car.

    I have a 2012 Prius III and I have zero knocking. Of course I still haven't even passed the 300 mile mark on the ODO yet because I've been on staycation since I bought it. Let's hope they don't start knocking at the 1500 ODO mark. But I'm thinking that the car may have been rented by non Prius drivers who dogged it.
     
    #2 Blu-ray, Dec 31, 2012
  3. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Diagnosing sounds via a forum is difficult. If you have time and the capability, a video would go a long way in helping. Turn a/c and radio off and keep windows rolled up.
     
    #3 fotomoto, Dec 31, 2012
  4. Ryan Bennett

    Ryan Bennett Junior Member

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    Sure, I understand that. I'm wondering how someone could've thrashed it though in only 1,500 miles. I'd expect that kind of problem with a rental after 20K or so. I've had lots of rental cars over the years, and most of the seem pretty beat once they get to 20K.
     
    #4 Ryan Bennett, Dec 31, 2012
  5. Blu-ray

    Blu-ray Blizzard Brigade #215

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    You would be surprised. I had a friend that worked for Enterprise. The condition those vehicles are returned in sometimes is truly horrendous. You don't know what happened during that 1500 miles. Someone could have really dogged the heck out of it. Floored it like crazy all the time.

    I had a rental one time that had only about 4K on it. Smelled like they hauled fish. The alignment was horrible. One of the rims was bent also. I only drove it for a couple miles and returned it. I noticed when they came out and checked it and drove it to the back of the lot there was smoke coming out of the tail pipe.
     
    #5 Blu-ray, Dec 31, 2012
  6. Ryan Bennett

    Ryan Bennett Junior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    I guess I don't understand why anyone would do that to a Prius. A Mustang or Camero rental, yes, or course. I guess I just don't care to comprehend why. I personally would never, ever even think about trying to trash a car like that. It just doesn't compute. Anyway, despite the knocking and apparently having the shit beat out of it at a very young age, it is still returning fantastic gas mileage. I filled it up today. Got 52 mpg on average (mixed city/hwy). Had 380 miles on the odo and it still had a little under a quarter tank left. Only cost me $27 to fill it up at roughly $3.80 per gallon.

    My '09 has been pampered, and it can't do quite that well.
     
    #6 Ryan Bennett, Dec 31, 2012
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