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Toyota Service Department Cannot Figure Out Why Cylinders 3 and 4 Are Misfiring

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by teachxxi, Jun 24, 2012.

  1. teachxxi

    teachxxi New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2011
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I guess I am technically not a newbie, as I posted a question a year and a half ago, but I am at a loss as to where I should post my question as there does not appear to be a forum for those of us who own a 2003 Prius.

    Upon starting my car, the front end started vibrating/shaking. After about 20 seconds the shaking stopped. I put the car in reverse and backed out with no shaking (motor on). Upon acceleration, shaking resumed for a short time, then stopped. Drove a short way home and didn't drive for the rest of the day.

    Next morning I start the car and the same thing happens, only now a warning light (has two knobs on it and says "check" underneath the picture) comes on and the manual says to take to the dealership. So, I take it to my local dealership (where I have taken my car for service for the 9 1/2 years I have owned my car) to have it checked out.

    Day 1 (Wednesday): Cylinders 3 and 4 are misfiring, but can't figure out why. Must charge me more money to diagnose because need to take apart the engine.

    Day 2 (end of day): Still don't know what is wrong with it.

    Day 3 (end of day): They "think" it is the fuel injectors, so will need to replace all 4, but cannot get them until Tuesday (this is on Friday evening).

    Day 4 (7 a.m.): I call to approve repairs and am told that the previous evening they put fuel injectors from another vehicle (which were working fine in that vehicle) into mine and cylinders 3 and 4 are still misfiring. They don't know what is wrong with it again. I ask for a rental because of the amount of time it is taking them to basically tell me nothing, and they offer 2 days. I decide to take my car back and they do not try to convince me to let them figure out what is wrong with my car.

    I drove the car this morning so that I could report the following: car starts, shaking begins within 5 seconds and continues for about 30-45 seconds. Shaking stops for a short interval, then starts up again (all while in park). While driving, upon acceleration, car shakes, but if I back off of the gas the shaking subsides. I continue to hold the gas pedal steady at around 30 mph and there is no shaking. Stopping at lights brings shaking back, accelerate and shaking increases, but then back off of the gas and shaking stops.


    Last year I had to have the inverter water pump replaced (a different Toyota service department tried to tell me I needed to replace the inverter at a cost of $6500). Other than that, only maintenance/service at specified intervals.

    Thoughts/advice?

    Thank you in advance!
    Michelle
     
    #1 teachxxi, Jun 24, 2012
  2. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    The Prius I forum is a sub-forum under the Prius II section. If the moderators don't move this, you might try posting there.
     
    #2 El Dobro, Jun 24, 2012
  3. mbooth62

    mbooth62 Junior Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
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    Some dealers try to rip off women ! I'd find a good prius specialist independent shop in your area (there must be many in LA) - look for Yelp review. First way to diagnose missfire is to swap coils from misfiring cylinders to good ones and see if the missfire follows the coils - those are about $80 each (and take 5 mins to replace). Next would be to change plugs - how many miles on the car ? Plugs are also cheap to replace. I would not authorize injectors until the cheaper steps had been ruled out. Good luck - let us knows how it goes. (I'd also talk to service manager about getting reimbursed for the injector labor if it turns out to be the much simpler steps above - show him this post and tell him you will be sending a copy to regional Toyota rep if they can't treat you right). This is mechanic school 101 stuff. Of course it might be neither of these things - in which case you need a master tech to really dig into the problem .....
     
    #3 mbooth62, Jul 18, 2012
  4. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    Most likely a bad EGR valve.
     
    #4 bedrock8x, Jul 18, 2012
  5. solarguy

    solarguy New Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #5 solarguy, Jul 18, 2012
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
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    Plug-in Base
    how many miles on her?
     
    #6 bisco, Jul 18, 2012
  7. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Vehicle:
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    Two
    Thats easy. There a TSB out for that. The water dam seal under the windshield has failed and is allowing water to drip down onto the top of the engine making its way into one of the Ignitors that are mounted on top of the sparkplug. The ignitor connction to the plug fails. Very intermittent too. It will throw a cyl misfire code.
    Go to lusciousgarage.com as they talk about this isue.
     
    #7 edthefox5, Jul 18, 2012
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