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

if it helps at all I'll gladly send you the video clips I gave to my dealer and Toyota Customer Care.

 

Here are the links to the videos I sent to my dealer and in turn to Toyota Customer Care:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJJaMTyN-Ao&feature=related"]Gen3 Prius Rough Start - YouTube[/ame]

You can use "Free YouTube Downloader" to convert the URLs into .AVI files, put them on a CD or thumb drive, and take them to your dealer. (that's what I did).

I'd just send you the .avi files, but I am not able to upload them to you in this forum --- at least I don't know how to do it if it is at all possible.

Let me know if I can be any more help ...
[email protected]

 

Cheers, I see them now. Yup, I've seen those. I suspect they won't work in my favor since they don't represent my vehicle.

 

Well, see now, that's the difference with my dealer. These videos are NOT of "my" Prius. So, the word of the customer was sufficient for my dealer ... in this case -- for this TSB. I wonder how many other forum members had to have the issue "confirmed" by a service tech or service manager BEFORE the intake manifold was replaced. It's a warranty issue, so there is no cost to the dealer in the long run ...

I guess I would send a message to Toyota Customer Care with the videos attached to your message. Let TCC know that you have dealt with the dealer and that you feel you are getting the run-around. Personally, I am very surprised that your Toyota dealer is giving you such a hard time.

 

True, but in my case I did not get any run-around from my Toyota dealer. Once I explained the issue, told them that it has happened 3 times over an 18 month period, and left them the two YouTube videos on a thumb drive, the dealer notified Toyota Tech Support in California. California then approved the replacement intake manifold the very same day. Of course, the problem NEVER occurred while my car was at the Toyota dealer (not surprising...)

 

Well, went in again with my case # along with a USB drive with my 3 videos plus 2 from other owners. Asked to speak to the service manager who wouldn't even proceed to look at the videos and adamantly explained that it was Toyota's policy not to permit them to enact the TSB unless they can repeat the anomaly. So I've left it with them for 7 days, instructing them to let it sit for 5 between startups to have a better chance of it recurring. It was also insinuated to me that they wouldn't employ the fix ever if they can't repeat it this time, in which case I'll be looking for a new dealer (likely in Las Vegas, 2 hours away).

 

Sounds like a complete waste of your time, and is what I was worried about. AFAIK, Toyota has not corrected this problem if dealers are balking on complaints with "we need to reproduce it".

This IS a problem, otherwise there would be no TSB. Or is Toyota trying to pretend that in some cases some magical confluence of factors makes a given car (all of which are produced in exactly the same way) immune, and thus shouldn't have the TSB performed? Whether a dealer can reproduce or not, the underlying engineering of the car is the same in all cases. It's really irrelevant whether the dealer can reproduce or not.

I will not waste my time with the TSB at this point. It's a leased car, if Toyota doesn't care enough to repair this all the time I don't really care, either.

 

Good decision on leasing. I wish I'd done the same at this point.

It's not exactly a lemon, but an actual engineering defect is indeed something I shouldn't have to fight with Toyota over to enact the fix. I'll call Toyota Customer Care again and use that very sound argument (why should I have to prove my car has the known engineering defect since even Toyota HQ has admitted it exists with the designated TSB?), along with an offer to forward the videos for their perusal.

 

In my anticipation for the worst, has anyone in Las Vegas achieved any success with having this defect repaired? If so, which dealer(s)? Feel free to PM me.

 

Good job to you and everyone else working on this. And I agree the best thing to do is spread videos, news far and wide while pressing Toyota/ customer care to rectify the problems.

No sense in being hush, hush about it. The cars are out there, 10/11's will be resold used or whatever and people need to know about and how to get it fixed.

 

Oh boy, that's 'rich'. Time to get Toyota Customer care involved, apply the pressure. Intermittent problems are intermittent. Toyota knows they have a screwed up intake manifold in all 10's and most 11's.

Perhaps getting the noise on video then a look at the license plate will help (well, for those states that have front plates, or run around to the back). Big hassle for the customer.

 

Mine never started rough or had any problems but it threw the p0303 code (#3 misfire) last week-end. When I started it Monday the light was off but I made an appointment and took it in anyways. They showed me the SB and ordered the parts to fix it.

Also I had problems with the oil change door on the bottom coming open and dragging on the ground. This is also covered by a SB and they ordered a new complete panel and will replace this at the same time. They say the original one is subject to wrapping and will not hold the clips. Also received my last free 25k service.

I'm thinking that an extended warranty is starting to sound like a good idea. I have 25k on my car now (about 14 months) and I can get the 125k warranty for $1,630. I'm sure that this will make it a perfect car for at least 126k miles.

Today I drove it for a 180 mile drive and it got 59.6mpg on the computer. I hope the new intake does not screw something up.

TED

 

Already bothered them, they just deferred responsibility to the dealer (maybe if I find a kinder rep?). I think I'm done unless someone has a dealer recommendation in Las Vegas. I have since left it with my local dealer for a week, instructing them to give it 5 days after a warmup interruption to increase the chance of it happening (and it was a very dry week as my luck would have it). They found nothing of course. I even visited on the 6th day (evening time) to start her up myself and interrupt the warmup process, rode my bike home 17-20 miles mostly through the dark (obtaining a flat tire) and returned the following morning (they were nice enough to send the courtesy van), and the bitch of course didn't rattle/knock even for me. They said I could leave it as long as possible for them to repeat it should I wish (that might work if I had a second vehicle, but I don't), but that they go by the book and have to repeat the problem before they'll issue any fixes because of the risk that it doesn't resolve my particular problem (and they'll have to front the cost for the parts/labor). These were the words of the technician.

Whateva'.

 

Hey Guys....decided to bypass my "Friendly Toyota service dept"....I purchased the "New" intake manifold from an on/line Toyota parts source & installed it today....took me maybe a couple of hours....could probably do the "Next" one in maybe an hour....happy to give more details if interested....FWIW.....

 

What is the difference in the parts?

 

Yes, yes, please give more info :rockon: How much, how difficult, etc...

Very impressed that you took the initiative to take care of this yourself and would be interested in doing the same myself if it's managable!

 

Don't know....looked the same to me....difference must be internal...

 

Pictures please. Description of the differences in the manifolds would be most excellent. Way to take control. Go Tande Go! (our family cheer)

 

Well, for starters, this is a relatively inexpensive item (couple hundred dollars+).....the entire procedure is accomplished from under the hood (the TSB talks about needing coolant I did not)....anyone with basic mechanical skills , a few metric tools (a can of "Silicon" spray for the numerous rubber connections & a tube of "Anti-size"...all threaded fasteners need a "Dab") & knowledge of proper fastener torque sequence, can do this.....the new manifold comes with a gasket (molded "O" ring style) already installed)....order by correct part# 17120-37052.....

 

Sorry!...I did not take pics.....the "Big/Brown/Toy/Truck" dropped off the package & I "Jumped" in! .....I'm happy to answer any questions.....