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Please help! 2008 Toyota Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Paul723, Oct 21, 2019.

  1. Paul723

    Paul723 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2019
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    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    So this is my daily driver and our only car. I drive around 120 miles a day with work. Recently it started running funny. Loss of power, almost like a surge and then decrease in power off and on while driving at a steady speed, sometimes barely moving after coming to a stop and then added a rattling noise at higher RPM and then the dash lit up with lights. The red triangle, VSC and check engine. Went to Toyota and they said it needed a new fuel pump but I had to buy the whole gas tank for $650 so I said oh well and broke the bank and purchased it. Seemed to run better for about 50 miles then went right back to running the same. I then went to the local auto parts store and they ran the codes and came up with P0011 and P0420. I called Toyota and they told me I needed to instal the whole cat system and it was around $1500 just in parts. So I decided to fish up stream and start with the P0011 code and replaced the VVT solenoid and again at the moment seems to run a little better but at high RMP has the rattle which seems to be coming from the engine and not the cat system (could be wrong) I did the mallet yesterday and I don’t hear any rattle on the cat system. 5445A1D3-8F9A-4FB8-9617-3CE9E897BFB6.png 10B0E70C-9A97-4AD7-8580-C966A2AE424D.png had the wiring harness tested and it has proper power to it. I’m at a loss and don’t know what to do next. I’ve heard I can chop the catalytic converter off and if it runs better then that was the issue but there seems to be two catalytic converters under there and I don’t know which one to cut. I’m skilled with welding so I know I can weld a new one on if that is the issue. Any help would be very appreciated.
     
  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
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    Location:
    Bay Area, California
    Vehicle:
    2019 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Welcome to Prius Chat (y).

    Some questions:
    • How many miles on your Prius?
    • Does it consume oil?
    • Inverter fluid moving in the reservoir?

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  3. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2015
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Had exactly the same symptoms and was told by the previous owner it was a timing chain problem. This was an ex taxi Prius with very high kms on the clock so I guessed it could be possible.
    After pulling the engine to bit and finding the timing chain was at the end of the available tensioner travel, that wasn't the cause of the noise. The noise got worse, found an exhaust leak when revving the engine, added packers to tighten the springs that held the exhaust pipe to the manifold. This virtually killed the car, slow driving was all it could achieve. Replaced the cat with an aftermarket item and also replaced the fuel filter (not in the tank on the Australian version) and the car went better than when I bought it. Turned out the noise is the exhaust being pushed away from the manifold because of the pressure build up, when the pressure is released the pipe bangs up against the cast iron manifold and makes that rattling noise that only seems to be there if the engine is revving under load.

    T1 Terry
     
    Paul723 likes this.
  4. Paul723

    Paul723 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2019
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    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    219k and it’s consuming about 1 qt every 1500 miles. And I have not checked the inverted fluid. So frustrated. I’ve been tempted to cut the second cat off and see if it runs better and if so then get a new cat system. But if that’s not the issue then I’m just throwing away more money. Just at a loss for words right now.
     
  5. Paul723

    Paul723 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2019
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    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    So you think it would be worth it to cut the cat off and see if it runs better and then buy the aftermarket one or just buy it and cross my fingers ?
     
  6. Paul723

    Paul723 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 21, 2019
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    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    So I just said screw it. Cut the cat off and still runs the same.
     
  7. T1 Terry

    T1 Terry Active Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    You mention a second cat, where is the first one, it will be the one with the problem so check it first. When you cut it out look at the input side and see if there is any build up and check you can see a light bulb or the sun looking through from the input end to the output end. If it is blocked, bash the guts out and apparently it's worth saving in a bag for the rare metals, then weld the body back in and see if it goes better without it.

    T1 Terry
     
  8. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
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    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'm curious what the dealer said when you told them replacing the tank didn't solve the problem.

    Step one would be to make certain the code reader you're using is Prius friendly so you're not chasing your tail. That happens way too often. Take the time to get Techstream, or get a phone app and an OBD Bluetooth device. It's invaluable when owning a Prius. Techstream is the best. Your code reader implies there are 11 screens of info. You show #1 and #2. What are the other 9?

    A cheap thing to check would be the small screen filter for the VVT. It's located behind a plug fitting in the engine block directly below the VVT solenoid you replaced. I'd imagine the VVT wouldn't work very well if the oil supply filter screen was clogged.

    If a cat is clogged, it's most likely going to be the one closest to the engine.

    Replacements are available on ebay for about $130. It replaces the entire pipe and both cats. Cut the OEM pipe directly after the second cat and the replacement slips over the pipe and seals with a U clamp.
     
    #8 TMR-JWAP, Oct 26, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2019
  9. techten

    techten New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2019
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    Location:
    conn
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    ----USA----
    check your oil level. if its low the vvti wont function properly and will set that code. the vvti oil control valves are known to go bad as well.