Rattling Rough Start

Hey folks. Got a situation that I hope some of you can shed light on. I have a 2014 Prius C, trim 3, 58k miles. I'm the 2nd owner, bought it at around 48k miles about a year ago. Car has been running good for the most part. Recently, I left the car sitting for 24 hours on Sunday, 5/5. Tank full. Oil level good. Rained steady, not crazy, on and off, 50 degree weather. I went to start the car on Monday afternoon and it was a really rough start. Engine was shaking and rattling noises. Didn't feel or sound good at all. I shut the car off after 3 seconds of that...turned it back on, same thing but the rattling starting to diminish as the engine was still going, so I shut it off 2nd time. Tried it again and the rattle was even less. I put the heater on during the 3rd attempt just to keep the engine running so I can look under hood. Was rattling a little but soon leveled out to a normal sound. No leaks, no maintenance lights. I drove the car about 16 miles and didn't seem like there were issues. Fuel efficiency seems to be normal during the drive. This is probably the 2nd time this happened. First time was about 9 months ago. At that time I just shut the car off and turned it back on and all was fine, so I kinda just wrote it off as maybe a glitch or something. This recent time seemed to linger more during start up. Felt as though the engine was missing...but the spark plugs are not scheduled to be changed for 100,000 I believe. Anyone have any idea or experience with this in their Prius C? Is there an easy fix I'm missing or is this something I have to bring to Toyota to work on (like new spark plugs or clogged fuel ignition, etc). Thanks for you help!

 

Thanks Iceman. Appreciate the reply. I hear what your saying about the additive, but I really don't want to add extra additives to the engine. The fuel I use is within the ethanol range specified by Toyota for this car...been using Citgo gas but perhaps it's time for me to try another station. Exxon was my gas prior to Citgo...both 89 octane used. The first time this happened about 9 months ago, Citgo wasn't the station I was going to, Exxon was I believe. So I'm not even sure if it's the gas at this point. sigh.

 

Hi Dubit. Yeah...ive been researching it here as well as other sites and videos. Seems like it could be a few things, such as
-spark plugs need changing causing the misfire
-Ignition coils need changing causimg misfire
-clogged injectors need cleaning causing misfire
-Oil filter is incorrect. (has to have a retention device which keeps the oil in the engine top to lubricate during start up)
-Condensation in manifold which is brought into the engine on a first start...making it a rough start until it's disipated. Toyota tried to fix this for customers...but some say it wasnt a fix after the new manifold was installed.

I always let the car cycle to ICE before i shut it off...so not sure that's the true cause. Oil filter is always a Toyota filter...so i think that cancels that cause. What i have noticed is that this misfire happens on rainy days when the car sits overnight or longer in a semi-moist environment...at a temp of 40-60 degrees. I think there could be condensation within....due to rainy weather and it being trapped inside until removed by engine during start...but plug changes and fuel injector cleaning sounds good too. Just that the car is still semi-young in miles (58k), making me feel as though those plugs and coils should b ok till 100k. If Injectors need cleaning at 60k, then that is something my mileage is closer to needing. Im bringing car into Toy to see what the options are and costs and will post results. Feedback on this still welcome by anyone. Thanks!

 

Hi Bisco. Ya...what I thought too when I saw some video and read some articles online. Turns out that if the driver shuts the car off seconds after the rattling happens, then it doesn't get registered as a code with maintenance light on. I suppose that if a spark plug wire was shot, it would def show a maintenance light while driving. Would it show a light if the cable was just not functioning 100% though...say at start up it doesn't deliver the right amount of charge to the plug, but then kicks in, fixing the rattling? I'm just thinking out loud of the possibilities. If that sounds like total nonsense reasoning, then perhaps we're down to possible spark plugs needing change out or injection cleaning or manifold replacing for condensation reduction. I'm hoping the Toyota shop knows about this ongoing issue and has a remedy that won't cost me an arm and a leg.

 

yeah...me2...especially while it's under 60k warranty still. lol. Thanks Bisco!

 

Well...went to Toyota service center but no dice. They said they couldn't really help me unless the rattle issue happened with the car in their possession. Being the rattling happens at random times, the chances of me leaving the car with them overnight and it happening the next morning is slim to none. They did know about the issue since I'm not the first to bring it to their attention. The whole intake manifold replacement at Toyota's expense isn't applicable to my car year...only earlier models. Go figure. So, instead, I had the fuel injectors and throttle body cleaned, which was one of the "possible" causes of rattle instigation, and the car was due for it anyway as a regular maintenance thing. Why didn't I go to another repair shop that would charge about $150 less to do the same job you ask? Because I so love Toyota and feel the burden of ensuring they never go out of business. And if you believe that, then may the Swartz be with you. The truth is I left my brain in bed today and paid for it dearly. If you're asking if depression has set in for a good 24-48 hours, that's affirmative....and showed it by drowning my sorrows in their fresh muffins and coffee while I waited for the hangman to call my name. Anyway, I'll keep yas posted if/when the rattle happens again. On a somewhat positive note, if the rattle happens again, I guess I can rule out dirty injectors and throttle body as the cause.

 

i plead the 5th for sharing the hit i paid, on the grounds that it will make me look even more foolish. lol. I'll just lick my wounds this time and go without food for 3 weeks to make up some of the difference. lol. Is there a go-fund-me site for morons? I may have to look into it.

 

hi ICE...just for my clarification...you and I have the same make/year/trim Prius C. Which gen engine do we have, gen 2 or gen 3? thanks!

 

Thanks for the clarification Z!