NEW!!! Service Bulletin for Engine Knocking at Startup T-SB 0012-10

Yeah I have photos of the head gasket. right after he pulled the block off. Looked like a faulty gasket. Torn head gasket cylinder 2 & 4. Same check engine codes for a misfire on 2 & 4. He also replaced the EGR pipe,spark plugs,inspected and tested coil packs(good), changed all seals & gaskets,Replaced coolant. He also told me that the bottom end is worn and will be an issue soon. Good thing I'm selling this piece of crap. Who ever is having the same issue as I am. Please check with bore scope. I'm 100% sure You will find moisture/coolant.


Edit: Time to deactivate my account, thanks everyone for all the help. I am a proud owner of a 2016 bmw 428i grand coupe. Prius is sold. Dealer had no idea the engine was rebuild thank god I know a Toyota mechanic that does work on the side For a fraction of the price. Good luck everyone with your Prius. Just know that this is a common problem with gen 3 Prius.

 

where did you get this done in LA? I've got the same w/2011.

 

dame3780 wherever you get it done, it's not cheap! I advise you to bring it to someone you trust. I just got mine back from the shop, it literally runs like new again. I know I mentioned it before, but your engine will need to be removed to change the headgasket.
Good luck finding a shop. If you're in the San Francisco area there is a great hybrid shop that does these day in and day out. They were doing 3 headgasket jobs (all prius) while mine was being done last week.

 

Enjoy the money pit. If you had so many issues with your Prius chances are it was just a defective engine from the beginning. Not all prii are like this. So you got a bad one. There are bad cars in every make and model but for the most part the prii are very reliable. Mine too has made a slight knock at startup during cold months and when the engine wasn't warmed up fully. But I only notice it when the oil is at the end of its service life and once the oil is changed the problem goes away.

 

We had the severe knocking issue so dealer ended up replacing the IM few years back. We had a heavy rain fall last week and the next morning problem came back again. Knocking sound with rattling for 30 seconds or so until everything was back to normal.

Our car has close to 62000 miles now.



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Can someone please answer my questions:

1. Best way to avoid this situation is to never turn off the engine while it's running.
2. Would using Octane 93 or fuel additives help (like Seafoam)?
3. How do you know if there was no damage done to the engine?

 

Sounds like replacing intake manifold is a waste of time, just to placate owners but not getting to the root.

 

1. yes
2. no
3. no one here has ever reported any damage.

 

What I have noticed is mine does it when the oil change intervals are getting close. I.e: when the first oil maintenance required message comes up. The problem goes away once the oil is changed. It may be in related I don't know but the couple times it has happened to me has always been at those times and during winter. My oil is not contaminated with coolant and it never looses any oil on the dip stick so I think it just less effective as new oil for lubricating. My Prius has 88,3xx miles currently.

 

I noticed this too, but mine hasn't done it in over a year now. I'm more attuned to not shutting the engine off quickly after I started it.

 

To avoid short run times with cold engine: if I need to get the (cold) car out into the driveway, and EV mode is on strike (as usual), as soon as I start it I start counting seconds, get moving quick, and stop and shut down around 12 seconds. Repeat as needed.

 

How much did that cost?



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This would blow the long term benefits for cost if this is a common problem.

 

Today there is no benefit regarding cost with a Prius. Even before, in my case, it was not the best choice financially. If you buy a Prius it's for more than cost benefit.

 

Hope it is just a few and not the whole fleet. But may be wishful thinking on my part.

 

The repair ( headgasket job) cost me a little over $3,000. Any money I saved on fuel over the years I owned the car, is nowhere near what I just spent on a common problem (repair) so many prius owners are experiencing.

 

I had this problem and it was getting very bad so I pulled the EGR and cleaned it then I pulled the intake and wire brush pipe cleaners it thoroughly and it stopped. But comes up slightly every now and then.

 

Will watch my new 2016 for this issue.

 

Reading more, I've used Techron in all my vehicles except the Prius because I believe I (also) read that it's bad for the fuel bladder.
Not sure about that. If it's a 'goop' issue I'd be tempted to start using it again...

 

What is a fuel bladder?

 

Gen III doesn't have a fuel bladder tank.

 

I haven't had this issue since I stopped letting the engine start to move the car in the yard and then shutting it off....and starting it up the next day. If it runs for more than a couple minutes before you shut it off then it won't somehow have the moisture problem the next time the engine starts


iPhone ?