1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Lets Fix That Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by johnnychimpo, Feb 21, 2021.

  1. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Back story

    1.Car had the morning shakes (cleaned EGR circuit ran fine then next day same thing.)
    2.Realized issue was blown head gasket, Car only went through one reservoir of coolant and drove for about 100 miles in this condition.
    3.Replaced head gasket plugs coils and injectors.
    4.reasembled car seemed to run fine but I notice sluggishness and loss of power.
    5.checked compression, all are at 155 and piston height including timing all is correct.
    6.took it to three mechanics none can figure it out, They all checked the above and moved components around
    all confirm cylinder 4 is backfiring but not enough to throw a code???
    7. I am out of ideas but since compression timing are good and ignition components have all been swapped my logic says its a mechanical issue with the top half of the head. Again compression is good, timing is good, coils plugs and injectors replaced and moved. So I think something with the upper part of the head is off.

    So I will be starting from scratch and start with the basics so I ask who wants to join me on this journey?

    I will be starting with a compression test then removing valve cover to confirm timing. AL suggestions are welcome. SO lets fix that Prius.
     
  2. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Git yer hea gasket replace.
     
  3. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    already did.
     
  4. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2017
    6,103
    4,032
    1
    Location:
    Wilkes Land
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    didnt see commas.
     
  5. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2008
    23,073
    14,980
    0
    Location:
    Indiana, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Well, without commas, it said the head gasket plugs coils were replaced. Who knows what a head gasket plugs coil is?
     
  6. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2020
    102
    37
    0
    Location:
    Flagstaff, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Check your fuel rail and injectors. It's possible that #4 injector is clogged or messed up somehow.

    Another possibility is that when the head gasket failed it damaged a piston or valve via hydrolock. Was the head bench tested for flatness or anything? I know I wouldn't (get it tested), but it's also possible to have missed damage like that if you don't.

    A lose coolant temp sensor or another type of sensor might mirror this condition - what kind of codes is it throwing?

    Timing is so so easy to mess up, and it can appear "spot on" but actually be a single tooth off. Having never done a head gasket on of these cars, I'm not sure what the process might be like, but I know I've gotten other timing belts one tooth off and it ran, but poorly.
     
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  8. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I did not send the head to a shop it looked flat and checked with a straight edge.
    the car has no codes and good compression. I took the valve cover off in hopes a rocker arm fell off, sadly no.
    I am now leaning towards a weak spring or bad/clogged poorly performing lifter.
    This weekend I will be checking cylinder travel height, replace that injector again, checking compression and sticking a camera in the cylinder to check for damage.
    if all is good then I will proceed with replacing cams, lifters springs, keepers, caps and valve rockers. If this fails to solve issue. I will replace the engine. I have taken it to three mechanics none could figure it out all the swapped components and did compression test. in case you are wondering.
     
  9. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    All cylinders123 go to the mark on the right number 4 goes to the mark on the left at tdc
    So I guess new motor time. So the 2zrfxe 2016 should work correct me if I'm wrong
     

    Attached Files:

  10. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Are you going with the JDM you had two months ago or a local salvage engine? How many miles?
     
  11. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I found another engine with 10k on it for 1450 out the door. But now my car wont start I put all the fluids in it but forgot the coils and plugs.
    I got it off the roll up car stands it rolled about 2 feet cranked over and and then said low oil and plock
    I unplugged the battery and let it sit for 20 minutes.it still has p lock error. any idea how to reset this? I checked the fuse for park 7.5 its still good evern replaced. it. I used my car jumper and another truck to make sure I have enough juice to start it. Any sugjestions??
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You’re concerned about the no-start, or you just need it to pick up the new engine.
     
  13. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    5,286
    4,225
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Do you have any OBD2 codes (DTCs) worth posting?
     
    Raytheeagle likes this.
  14. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    the now start even with bent rod it runs here are the codes im getting

    upload_2021-2-27_12-34-24.png
     
  15. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I also forgot to reconnect the engine grounds so I suspect I shorted something out.
     
  16. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    is there a main fuse to the ECM or relay or i fried it? if so how much are they and can I DIY?
     
  17. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
  18. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Ok I think I know what happened with he coils out and the engine grounds loose when I started the car the coil sparked and likely arced into the engine ground frying something. I cant connect with ODBII Im using techstream software and was able to get this infor here.
    I hope its just a relay or fuse. anyone have any suggestion on what to tackle first here
     
  19. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    7,478
    4,374
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Ok lets review for clarity. You tried starting your existing engine with a jump pack followed by a jump start from a truck. At the time, your engine had a disconnected engine ground along with no plugs or coils in place. But the coils were plugged into their harness. It did not go to Ready.

    Several ecms were not communicating at first but now the engine ecm is the only one not talking to Techstream. You think the engine ecm was zapped with a ignition coil arc to the loose engine ground wire when you tried to start it.

    Sounds unlikely to me if the above was the scenario. For one thing the other end of the engine ground would have been grounded. So it would seem an errant spark would have simply gone to ground.

    I would suspect blown fuses or fusible links if one of the jump attempts were backward. Or something else is loose or disconnected.

    What is the 12v battery currently reading? Was it unable to boot the car up at first leading to the jumps? Did you allow a few minutes during the jump attempts to equalize the 12v batteries?

    Jump point gen3 Prius.JPG
     
    #19 rjparker, Feb 27, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
    MrPete likes this.
  20. johnnychimpo

    johnnychimpo Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2007
    511
    109
    0
    Location:
    Monterey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I started the car on its own power no jump pack that Was later only due to low battery then a truck as I lost confidence in jump pack. Nothing was reversed. Is there a main relay? Really main issue is plock parking malfunction. I can't get it to go into park.
     
    #20 johnnychimpo, Feb 27, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021