2014 V driving me batty. Shaking. Possible coolant loss?

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by kitties_r_us, Apr 11, 2024.

  1. kitties_r_us

    kitties_r_us New Member

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    Prius shakes when the engine kicks on - but not all the time, sometimes it's rougher than other times. If I put the car in reverse, the shaking stops. If I put it back in drive, the shaking either stays gone or it rumbles very briefly and then stops shaking. This has so far only happened on start-up, not while I'm driving in EV and the engine kicks on. Seems to happen more often when the weather is colder/damp.

    Check engine light came on. Went away on its own. Came on again.

    The sparkplugs were just replaced maybe a month ago. Oil was changed at the same time.

    Once in a while, I hear liquid sloshing around what sounds like the dashboard area - usually when breaking or turning. I topped off the coolant and it has only happened a few times since then, and very quietly/gently. It looks like I might be losing coolant, but if I am the leak is slow. I'm keeping an eye on it. But there is no evidence of coolant in the oil that I can find. Oil level is fine, and it looks normal.

    Driving feels a bit sluggish, almost ... heavier, if that makes sense?

    I'm thinking that since the sparkplugs were just replaced, the next step would be a thorough EGR cleaning... But I'm concerned that this may be a head gasket issue, or at least heading there?
     
    #1 kitties_r_us, Apr 11, 2024
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Classic head gasket advanced symptoms with coolant loss. In reverse it is electric only.

    The best answer is a rebuilt engine especially if this has gone on for more than a few days or weeks. Then a JDM imported from Japan used if rebuilt is beyond your budget.

    Share your location for possible lower cost solutions than a dealer.
     
    #2 rjparker, Apr 12, 2024
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  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    #3 rjparker, Apr 12, 2024
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  4. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Sorry.... but Headgasket.
    They are junk and pretty much guaranteed.
    DO NOT put any sealer in the cooling system.
    Next is brake booster, water pump, traction battery and possible inverter failure.
    The Gen 3's are total junk when they get over 150,000 miles and sometimes sooner.
     
    #4 Tim Jones, Apr 12, 2024
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  5. kitties_r_us

    kitties_r_us New Member

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    Central Pennsylvania. Head gasket is what I've been dreading. Ugh. Thank you.
     
    #5 kitties_r_us, Apr 12, 2024
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    If you persevere with the head gasket repair (or engine swap), do follow up with EGR cleaning, including the intake manifold (has final leg of EGR passages).

    if the check engine light is intermittently on, there will be codes, good to get those read.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Apr 13, 2024
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  7. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Don’t spend a thousand or more with a normal shop throwing in new plugs, coils or injectors. Their conventional car experience will lead them down that path. Exclude egr cleanings as well at this point. Any of the above that is needed (rare) will be done more cost effectively when the head gasket is replaced or the engine is replaced.

    A dealer will hose you for $8k but you get a quality rebuilt engine. If you want to spend $200 to confirm the obvious they are ok. Don’t let them disable the car or convince you to trade it for no real value.

    What you need is a good independent shop experienced in gen3 Prius head gasket issues. Central PA is not specific (no one is lurking here looking to steal a gen3), but if you are near State College, I would contact Ivan at Pine Hollow Diagnostics.

    Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics - Home

    This guy is sharper than all the dealer mechanics combined. His diagnosis will be accurate and he may take on the job as well. Rebuilt engine first, JDM engine second, new head gasket last.

    Unless the car burns no oil. go with options one or two.
     
    #7 rjparker, Apr 13, 2024
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  8. kitties_r_us

    kitties_r_us New Member

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    P0300, P0301, and P0302.

    lol, not so much worried about stealing - just wasn't sure how specific to be. I'm in Huntingdon, so about 45 minutes south of State College. Thanks for the rec. I appreciate it.
     
    #8 kitties_r_us, Apr 13, 2024
  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Likely failure of head gasket between cylinders one and two. Boroscope inspection and/or leak down test would confirm. You could also swap coils and plugs, say one and two with three and four, see if codes move.
     
    #9 Mendel Leisk, Apr 13, 2024
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  10. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Don't buy a Gen 3
     
    #10 Tim Jones, Apr 15, 2024
  11. Florida

    Florida Junior Member

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    Can it still be head gasket if there is zero coolant fluid loss and zero oil loss after driving hard for two years?
     
    #11 Florida, Apr 22, 2024
  12. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

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    Please keep everything in the thread that you already created for this question: https://priuschat.com/index.php?posts/3445645
     
    #12 Brian1954, Apr 22, 2024
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