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Advice Needed! P0401, P0300, P0301, P0303 Head Gasket and/or EGR?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by ALTEREG0, Aug 19, 2024.

  1. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Yes, I'm sure it has something to do with the ECM driving the valve toward closed when the conditions are also very hot and the plastic is soft. In ozmatt's car, the problem began after he made a long, high-speed trip in 40℃ weather.
     
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  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Regarding temps, if the cooler has a good coating of carbon, will it still cool the exhaust gasses sufficiently?
     
  3. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    I wanted to check the magnet on the EGR valve currently installed in the car which I believe is the original one. Went with the family to get some bobba drinks and to my surprise the CEL had come off.
    The car was in use until now and so the engine is still too hot and I’m too tired to take the magnet off, hopefully I can take the magnet out and compare it to the one for the replacement valve in the pictures. Actually, even better if the CEL doesn’t come on again at all ☺️
     
  4. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    Interesting question, what do you think @ChapmanF?

    If the cooler in my car is squeaky clean (at least for the time being) I would imagine it will cool better preventing the valve from getting as hot as a dirty cooler would.
    The question is, how long will it take for the cooler to start getting “dirty” letting the valve temperature increase?
    Probably have to use the most heat resistant material that I can find to fix the ski slope (ramp) on the magnet…
     
    #84 ALTEREG0, Oct 16, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2024
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Too bad you can’t just buy the piece with the ramp. Looking on Amayama, for me the full EGR valve is ~$260 (CDN), plus shipping, which’ll like make it close to $300.
     
  6. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    It is too bad! I found one online for $150.16 (USD) + shipping so here it will be less than $200.00, still a lot of money for a little tiny piece of worn-out
     
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  7. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    Alright, went to take the magnet out of the car’s EGR valve, didn’t do it last night because the car was too hot. The car has been parked for 4-5 hours so I thought it would be nice and cold. I didn’t count on my better half leaving the car on all this time!
    Anyways, I carefully took the magnet out and was happy to see a very (very!) clean magnet and plastic ramp (ski jump)! I’m now more confident on the P0401 error actually coming from the replacement EGR valve due to a damaged/worn ramp.
    I’m planning to take a short road trip with the family in the Prius, wish me luck, will report back asap. Thank you again for all the help!
    IMG_1548.jpeg IMG_1550.jpeg IMG_1551.jpeg IMG_1553.jpeg IMG_1548.jpeg IMG_1550.jpeg IMG_1551.jpeg
     
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  8. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    This is bad for the car because of thermal cycling and resulting uneven temps in the engine. Long idles was identified by Toyota Europe as a cause of head gasket failures in gen3s. They suggested an ecu update, however no similar tsb was issued by Toyota USA. Probably because of liability issues although some of us have updated our ecus to the latest USA version.
     

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    #88 rjparker, Oct 16, 2024
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2024
  9. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    I didn't know that, I will make sure to tell my wife, hopefully we can avoid it in the future, thank you for all your help @rjparker
     
  10. ALTEREG0

    ALTEREG0 Junior Member

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    Well this weekend I tested the head gasket. Took the family up north (2 hours drive each way), 80mph uphill gave the motor a good workout. Happy to report no loss of fluids, no warning lights, no overheating, no issues at all. If I don’t get a good deal on a car very soon (or if I decide to get a car with a bigger engine and keep this one) I will procure a new break booster assembly (I know is better to replace the accumulator at the same time but…) and replace that. After the breaks I would like to save for a new traction (hybrid) battery but who knows…
    Thank you again everyone for your help!
    IMG_1591.jpeg
     
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