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Heavy Engine Misfire

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by christopherhess, Aug 29, 2016.

  1. christopherhess

    christopherhess New Member

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    Hey! I have a 2010 Toyota Prius and it has 193,000 miles on it. I've had it for about three years with no issues. I filled up the gas tank Friday and after a few hours of driving it developed a horrible misfire. It stutters and shakes occasionally during idling. When i am driving, 40-48 mph are almost impossible without doing full throttle. Once you are past 48ish the car runs fine. Sometimes it runs fine, sometimes it doesn't. I have no warning/check engine lights. I was out of town and just got back today so i haven't had a chance to get it looked at. Could it be bad gas? I filled up again with fresh gas and it still is doing it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If you have not yet changed the spark plugs on the car, you can try that first. The spark plugs are suppose to be changed around 100k miles, although some have stretched it out to 150k miles without problem.

    If after you've changed the spark plugs and it doesn't fix the problem, then you would have to look into which cylinder is misfiring and check that coil. Since it's not easy changing the spark plugs and coils, I probably would change them all while I'm in there. At 200k miles, it's about time to change all that stuff out.
     
  3. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Ignition coils are expensive, you only change it out when it's bad, misfire could be anything. We need to know the vehicle history before we can pin point what's going on.
     
  4. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    If the OP has a failed coil, he would only have to invest in 3 more. At 200k miles, I would change them all out if I found a bad coil. Just so that I don't have to revisit the problem again later with the other 3......Gen2 cars, I may do it as needed....just cause it's easier access. But that's just me.
     
  5. Jared

    Jared Member

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  6. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    They're about 80$ a coil. You can remove them and check the resistance before deeming them bad. I wouldn't just replaced everything you think is bad and not knowing if it is the correct problem or not. You can also swap coils that you suspect that is bad with a good one and see if that cylinder is having a misfire as well. But in his case, he has no check engine light, so I would look for something else. I would check if his throttle body is clogged or any vacuum leak as well. I would do a tune up before replacing any expensive parts since there is no CEL to indicate other wise.
     
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  7. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Has your car overheated?
     
  8. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Nope, never had any issues with the Prius... or the Accord that I have.
     
  9. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Not you, the OP with the problem
     
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  10. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    ah whoops :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
     
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  11. liskipper

    liskipper Member

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    Could be a bad EGR valve. Toyota has issued an extended warranty covering defective EGR valves.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  12. christopherhess

    christopherhess New Member

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    Thanks for the replies! No the car has not overheated. It stopped missfiring for one day. Today the car is almost undriveable and the check engine light finally came on. I will go after work to a mechanic and see what the check engine light is. Its misfiring very bad and has a heavy rattle. I've never had any problems mechanically with the car I've had it since 80k miles.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  13. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Read the post above about the EGR extended warranty from Toyota. That sounds like the case here.
     
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  14. reinerh

    reinerh Junior Member

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    sounds like water in the fuel maybe since it started right after a refill.

    please let us know about your findings.
     
  15. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    EGR Extended Warranty -- if the Check Engine Light gives a diagnostic code of (I think) P401, you get s free repair from the Toyota dealer. Try that first, it's free and a new EGR valve is expensive.
     
  16. msg4life

    msg4life Member

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    Im guessing not enough air in the cylinder causing the issue. The biggest problem with prius gen 3 is the computers need so many missfires to throw a code. I forgot the exact number but it is not as sensitive as the dealer makes it out to be. Trust me I had start up misfire and it would make my car cock and roll and no code.
     
  17. Binh Dang

    Binh Dang New Member

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    3 months ago, I change my prius 2011 head light bulk to LED and forgot to reconnect the radiator hose. Which result in overheated my engine without any warning. I brought to a local Prius Mechanic shop and out of pocket $3200 for a new engine with 30K mileage with 1 yr warranty. Couple days ago the car start to acting up. When the gasoline engine kick in it shake the engine and the car and engine light is on. So I brought back to the same shop and he ran the diagnostic test and retrieve Following error Code P0300 and P0301. According to the mechanic the engine has multiple misfire. He claim to be not related to the engine, He said it most likely due to the intake manifold????( sorry I'm not very familiar with all the part that is why the question) He stated that is common problem with 3 Gen prius when the weather get cold and condensation phenomenon causing it, saying that my car has version 2 now they have version 5. So I will have to pay him another $400.00 to replace it. However there is no guarantee it will resolves the problem. I got 2 kids to feeds one is 2 yrs and one is 7 months and time it hard so I don't want to put out another $400 if it not going to solve the problem. I desperately Need some help on this matter, so I want to ask all the experts to confirm his claim
    1. cold weather will cause the condensation phenomenon and cause the water get into the engine” Given that I live in Sacramento, CA.
    2. is the intake manifold part of the engine when he replace, or if it not should he check for condensation problem before install the engine??? it just been 3 months and the weather is not that cold here in CA to have condensation problem and should it take a long time for it to build up as well.
    3. Even since He replace the new engine, when ever I go on the freeway when ever I release the gas pedal I hear a wind noise
    Any Help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    ask the mechanic for the trouble codes.
    i would get a second opinion. if there isn't a hybrid specialist, try a dealer.
     
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  19. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Which shop are you using for your repairs? They sound like they are fleecing you.

    How many miles on your Prius? What all was replaced with the engine swap?

    If in Sac, I would look to the auto recyclers in Rancho Cordova and get a used intake manifold. They will be cheap and is not hard to install. For this issue, any mechanic can help as it is on the engine side. Might also be worth looking at the spark plugs and PCV valve.

    Keep us posted(y)!
     
  20. NutzAboutBolts

    NutzAboutBolts Senior Member

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    Never heard of that before, and never experience it with my vehicle. P0300 is the ECU detecting cylinder misfire, P0301 is Cylinder #1 that is misfiring. It would be either spark plugs, ignition coils or fuel injector problem on cylinder #1. If it was all the cylinders, it would be P0302 (Cylinder #2), P0303 (cylinder #3), P0304 (Cylinder #4)

    If that's the only 2 code that is pulled, then there's a problem with cylinder #1 only. Can you confirm with him that there's only those 2 codes? I would also get a second opinion.