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CV joint?....when I pull out of driveway going right...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Jeffrimerman, Apr 3, 2021.

  1. Jeffrimerman

    Jeffrimerman Member

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    Hey guys/gals,

    I bought my prius used and it's always seemed to lose power as I make a right pulling out of the office's driveway. I figured it was the CV joint but it hasn't gotten worse. I'm going to go to an empty parking lot and drive in a circular way left and right and see. In case I buy and change the part would it be the right CV joint if I lose traction while going right? I'll jack it up and inspect it visually but I know it's covered that probably won't show me much.
     
    #1 Jeffrimerman, Apr 3, 2021
  2. Ed Beaty

    Ed Beaty Active Member

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    "Losing power" and "losing traction" are quite different things. Which is it?
    Also, the usual symptom of a bad CV joint is a continuous clicking sound when turning.
    CV joints are indeed covered, but when the car is jacked up, the cover is visible (it's a rubber bellows around the joint). If there is a rip in the CV joint cover (which lets the lubricant for the joint leak out), THAT's the problem. If the covers are intact on both front wheels, the CV joints are most likely just fine. How many miles on the car?
     
    #2 Ed Beaty, Apr 3, 2021
  3. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    I don't see how you would lose power from a bad cv joint.
    You could check to see if there is a nut on the axel, the axel may be slidding in and out.
    But the grooves are long and should still move the wheel.
    If you are actually loosing power, you need to look for some other issue.

    I'm sure the "one" while comment on tell you what is wrong.
     
    #3 ASRDogman, Apr 3, 2021
  4. Jeffrimerman

    Jeffrimerman Member

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    Good point. I can only state that the somehow the ability to move forward seems diminished. I'm not sure if it's the traction/"grabbing on" from the CV joint to the rim, or something else. Not the traction from the tire to the road. Power gets transferred to the wheels through the CV joint so I wasn't sure how else to state losing power. The engine power doesn't seem affected but it's doesn't seem to make it to the wheels as I pull out going right. Maybe it's simpler to just say "when I pull out and go right the movement forward seems hindered" so that way people don't get too specific since I don't know what could be causing it. The engine maintains the same rpms but I can feel the car hesitating on starting to pull away under power. It does feel like the tire is sliding but it's not so that's why I was thinking the CV joint could be slipping but maybe it's the tranny? I had a Fiat when I was a kid and the CV joint was going bad and I had to replace it so it reminds me of that.
     
    #4 Jeffrimerman, Apr 3, 2021
  5. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    If a wheel slips the so called traction control will cut power to the drive wheels in a Prius. Could this be what you are experiencing?

    JeffD
     
    #5 jdenenberg, Apr 3, 2021
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  6. Gliderguy

    Gliderguy Junior Member

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    A trashed wheel bearing could let the wheel move around enough that the brake caliper is pretty much holding it where it needs to be, inducing a lot of friction. Without doing a whole lot of mental gymastics, I am not sure if it would automatically be on one side or the other, but my initial thought is it might be more likely to be on the outside wheel of the turn, the left in the case of a hard turn right. A terrible front-end alignment could do the same thing.
     
    #6 Gliderguy, Apr 4, 2021
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  7. Jeffrimerman

    Jeffrimerman Member

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    Sorry took so long to reply. I assumed priuschat would send me an email when I got a response. I need to check my settings. I think I found the culprit of the clunking and not so tight suspension. I think Jeff is right(that sounds oddly self serving as Spock told his younger self) that as I pull out of the driveway the suspension my slip and shift power for traction. I originally was thinking CV since there was a clunk I would hear and it did the same thing on my fiat but that was a rubber boot that wore and stripped out. I think the sway bar links need changing so I posted that question with pictures but I'm sure that's the case so I'll order those. When the rubber cover is opened that's a good indication it's done. Thanks guys.
     
    #7 Jeffrimerman, Apr 12, 2021
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