1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Brian Floyd, Nov 19, 2024 at 9:24 AM.

  1. Brian Floyd

    Brian Floyd New Member

    Joined:
    Tuesday
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Yorktown, Va.
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    Hello all, my first post so please be gentle...

    I have read/researched many of the similiar posts on this forum, and really appreciate all the excellent information you have provided. With that said, I am requesting some direction in my issues, and I'll try to be as thorough as possible with the diagnostics that I have. Here we go:

    2010 Prius - Base - Gen III Mileage: 203111

    Codes:
    P0300 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire detected
    P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
    P0302 - Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
    P0456 - Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Very Small Leak)
    P0517 - Battery Temperature Sensor Circuit High
    (P0456 & P0517 have been there a while and are listed as "permanent/history".

    I am somewhat of a experienced shade tree mechanic (actually a licensed A&P), but I'm not used to working on Prius'. I have removed/replaced all plugs and coils when this first happened, and its drove 350 miles since then, but the issue has returned. I have noticed that it is losing radiator fluid, so I pressure tested the system and the pressure held for greater than 10 minutes with no loss in psi. The rough ride/idle and vibration go away as soon as the engine speeds up, and seems to drive fine except at slow speeds.

    My gut's pointing me to a blown head gasket between the #1 and #2 cylinders, however, I looking for experienced advice.

    Questions:
    1. What else can I diagnose before ripping the engine apart? who, what, when, and how...etc.?
    2. Can I drive the vehicle for about 2 weeks like this? (I don't have time with work/life until about 10 days from now) If so, any dangers/recommendations?

    If it is sending me to replacing the head gasket, can someone attach some videos, links, instructions on the process with any "watch out for this" gotcha's.

    Thanks guys for your time...
     
  2. Brian1954

    Brian1954 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2021
    1,135
    418
    0
    Location:
    South Central PA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    III
    How long have you owned this car?

    It's probably a bad head gasket. When the engine is cold, remove spark plugs, pressurize the cooling system, and use a borescope to look in the cylinders. Many threads in this forum with information and pictures of the cylinders. Do a search to find them.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,753
    39,259
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Yeah trust your gut.

    Take a look at my signature: there's a couple of links related to head gasket repair, and the full engine section from Repair Manual is the bottom link. (on a phone turn it landscape to see signatures)

    Has the EGR system ever had the carbon accumulations cleaned? My 2 cents, this should be done every 50k miles.
     
  4. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    1,867
    939
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    It's probably a head gasket issue. You can verify by borrowing a bore scope from your friendly auto parts store. Remove the spark plugs to look at the top of your pistons. there should be a black carbon layer across the top - if not it's been steam cleaned by the coolant leaking into those cylinders. You can compare it to 3 & 4, all 4 should be uniform in color and consistency. You could have an injector issue, but 1 & 2 is usually where they blow. You need to pressure test the cooling system when the car is stone cold. When the engine warms up, it expands and seals the leak. That's why people who get the early morning misfires know that their head gasket is leaking.
    Running the car like that increases the chances that you may warp the head or engine. Make sure you replace the stretch bolts, when the head gasket gets done. Also take the oppuntunituy to clean out the EGR system and replace the valve guide seals.
     
    #4 BiomedO1, Nov 21, 2024 at 5:31 PM
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2024 at 8:12 PM
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    56,753
    39,259
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Not sure if I've linked it elsewhere, but the attached TSB (for oil consumption remediation) has part no's for Toyota's:

    gasket kit (has head gasket, plus most every other gasket, seal and o-ring you'll encounter)
    head bolts

    Also, top two links in my signature have EGR cleaning tips/info.
     

    Attached Files: