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Bought Prius that rattles/knocks when engine kicks on...misfires all cylinders...only purple bars

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by MilkyWay, Apr 12, 2019.

  1. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    MI
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Only has 115k miles. Not that concerned with the motor noise...Hoping maybe something simple.

    Worst case for that junkyard has motor with 160k for $250 and mechanic $400 to put in.

    But what I was more concerned with is on the 30 minute drive over the info screen showed only purple bars (l think 2 purple bars) and mpg was around 20mpg.

    But, it sounds like a helicopter when engine kicks on. Probably running on 2 or 3 cylinders.

    Codes were random misfire, misfire 1/2/3/4.

    Would that effect bars on screen as well as MPG if motor is not running right? There is no red triangle, no VSC, just a single check engine light with misfire codes.

    Hoping I don't have both a bad hybrid battery and a bad motor. Thoughts? Here is video (my phone taking video of the video my brother sent on FB):


     
    #1 MilkyWay, Apr 12, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2019
  2. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    Location:
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    You never really know for sure.

    Use your diagnostic tools to look at the live data for the hybrid battery and Hybrid battery block voltages.

    If you already have and Android phone/tablet spend:
    - $6 on torque pro app
    - $10-$20 on an ELM 327 Bluetooth OBDII adaptor
    This will let you read and clear codes as well as see and record live data.


    I would check spark plugs, coil packs.
    But it may be injectors.
    I'd the car has been sitting for any length of time unused I would be tempted to replace some of these things anyway.

    Of course it could be much worse such as something in the bottom end due to running with low oil or any number of reasons.

    Good luck sleuthing.
    Nothing like the satisfaction of finding the core issue that is plaguing a car.
     
    NortTexSalv04Prius likes this.
  3. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Short version: Drove 30 minutes to mechanic. He pushed down on the injector plug on top of motor...Noise gone and fixed.

    Long version: At dealers auction almost all priuses end up the same way....The auctioneer, who tends to be more of a truck person (don't want to use the slang version of the type of person auctioneer tends to be...but let's just say not a left leaning Prius driving guy).....So the Prius pulls up...they (and I'm talking about I've seen it over 100x all different auctioneers all across country) start the bidding at $1000...They're thinking "it's a prius not worth nothing"...

    Then a few floor guys bid....Then the online Prius scavengers/fanatics that have been waiting for the car to cross block come in....They bid the car immediately into the 2s....if it is a little beat up, some flaws, etc...it stays in the 2000s.

    If the car is pretty clean and nice it will go anywhere from $3500 to $4500.

    Many times seen 2 online bidders have a war with each other and bid a clean Prius to $4500. Seen it last week wish I videotaped it cause auctioneer was totally shocked (started at 1k all online action to 4500).

    This clunking Prius I got started at 1k and I was high bid at $3000 ---- which is extremely high for a motor noise.

    We suspect the guy who was bidding against me wanted it for cheap and unplugged the injector. Either that or the mechanics previously working on it were the worst mechanics ever.

    It's fairly clean but not perfect and my cost delivered is around $3500 is not anything to get excited about. But only has 115k miles. A lot better than having to put $700 into a motor swap.
     
  4. 09Prius2

    09Prius2 Member

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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah 3k is high. For auction prices anyways but theres never a limit of course.

    Regardless of the book value its pretty hard to sell a 2nd gen prius for more than 3-4k on the street in most areas outside of the higher demand markets.

    As far as the battery bars go I can tell you a prius wont charge at all under ice misfire, unless you accelerate to high speed and it charges up on deceleration.

    Good luck with it, at least you got something out of your investment. Ive had a couple 3k priuses go not so well.
     
  5. NortTexSalv04Prius

    NortTexSalv04Prius Active Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Have posted before when you see PURPLE on MFD more than high problematic issue with multiple low voltage cells of main hybrid traction battery... Additionally, even with OBD2 code reader there are Toyota/Lexus specific codes than some scan tool will not find. Spending $650 combine on a guess not a proper first step. USA dollars , deeper dive into battery total voltage and individual cell voltage a starting point
     
  6. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Problem fixed. Sounded like a rod knock. The injector on top motor was unplugged. Plugged back in and when motor kicks on now it is super quiet/normal.

    As someone stated in the thread the battery will not charge/discharge running on multiple misfires like I was. Plugged in and immediately charged as normal.

    Snap-On scanner that mechanic has detected zero issues with hybrid battery. It was a con artist at the auction that wanted it to go for cheaper so he unplugged the sensor to injector.
     
  7. MilkyWay

    MilkyWay Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    3k is cheap for a Prius with 115k miles. Very rare for a dealer to go to a dealer auction and get a 100k mile prius that is clean in/out for under 3k. I watch about 10 different dealer auctions (in 10 different states) a week and described exactly what they typically go for with around 120k miles....$3500-$4500 but if it is beat up in places (dents in bumper, shot tires, various and obvious flaws) it **might** go in the 2s.

    Even with a bad hybrid battery and 7 lights on the dash they still go for a tad over $2000 with that low of miles.

    I can screen shot next weeks auctions (at least 10 in 10 different states) and maybe 1 will go for under 3k.