Engine sounds like a diesel and exposed wiring on undercarriage

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by tsaomatrix, Sep 6, 2019.

  1. tsaomatrix

    tsaomatrix New Member

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    Hello,

    I have a 2008 Prius with about 130k miles on it. It never had any issues with it, but the other day when I put the car into drive, the engine started making some incredibly loud noises not unlike that of a diesel tow. When going in reverse, the engine is still loud. The car still moves, but it's very bumpy and when I turn off the ignition, it smells like fuel.

    I thought my oil level could be low, but I checked it and it's fine. But I looked at the undercarriage and found some exposed wiring. Could the loose wires be causing the loud engine rattle? I thought about asking here if anyone might know the issue before I take it in. I attached the image of the undercarriage. Thanks in advance!
    IMG_3092.jpg
    Ben
     
    #1 tsaomatrix, Sep 6, 2019
  2. tsaomatrix

    tsaomatrix New Member

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    Hmm I just asked a friend, and he told me someone stole the catalytic converter, so I think I have the answer.
     
    #2 tsaomatrix, Sep 6, 2019
  3. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    That is correct. That huge curved metal piece is the heat shield for the converter (totally missing the converter), and the wires would have been to the O2 sensor. Sorry. Don't know where in CA you are, but LA has been bad about this lately.
     
    #3 oldtechaa, Sep 6, 2019
  4. tsaomatrix

    tsaomatrix New Member

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    This was in the bay area. I didn't even know this was a thing. But yeah, I looked it up and it's been pretty rampant around here in the last month or so. Guess, I'll have to get a new one then. Thanks.
     
    #4 tsaomatrix, Sep 6, 2019
  5. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Welcome to PriusChat!!

    Sorry for your loss. We had about 11 of them reported stolen over one night in the Berkeley area a few weeks ago.

    Could you be so kind as to let us know your general locale?
     
    #5 SFO, Sep 7, 2019
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  6. tsaomatrix

    tsaomatrix New Member

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    This happened in Mountain View. Seems like the police caught a few people a few weeks back stealing these here. But my theft happened after that, so I guess it's still going on. I just saw my nextdoor account and it looks like another Prius was hit that same night as mine.
     
    #6 tsaomatrix, Sep 7, 2019
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  7. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    Yeah - Sorry about the theft.

    OT - That's a pretty clean undercarriage for 130K miles.
     
    #7 RRxing, Sep 7, 2019
  8. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    If your judicial system uses the same catch-and-release model that is used here, it could well be the very same people, continuing their 'business' while out on modest bail until their next court appearances.
     
    #8 fuzzy1, Sep 7, 2019
  9. rodri9o

    rodri9o Junior Member

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    Wait....people are stealing cat's from under Prii in CA??
    WOW, thats unreal...
     
    #9 rodri9o, Sep 8, 2019
  10. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    California car. My Tacoma looks like that underneath too. 248,000 miles. Original exhaust.
     
    #10 Skibob, Sep 9, 2019
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Looks like they disconnected it at the exhaust manifold: for a California Prius owner in need of a replacement?

    Could be witting, unwitting, or just doesn't want to know.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Sep 10, 2019
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  12. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    Your right. That wasn’t cut, it was removed. Someone stole it to use in another Prius.
     
    #12 Skibob, Sep 10, 2019
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And they might be reading along, lol.
     
    #13 Mendel Leisk, Sep 10, 2019
  14. Skibob

    Skibob Senior Member

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    I would hope that a creep bold enough to steal someone’s cat wouldn’t come here. They could have at least done the guy a solid and took the o2 sensor off rather than cut the wires.
     
    #14 Skibob, Sep 10, 2019
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