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Engine shudder on slow take off

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Mufasa54, Mar 25, 2021.

  1. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    I have a 2013 Prius with 180k miles. When I take off after idling for any time (Traffic light or drive through) as I start to accelerate rather easy- the motor starts to shudder and make all kinds of rattling sounds. I can accelerate hard and it clears up. When I get up to speed and maintain-it runs as if nothing is wrong until I go back down on speed and have to set a light and idle. The check engine light did come on and it showed a plug misfire. I changed plugs and the code cleared but still shudders when taking off from an idle? Code did come back after a couple slow take offs. Thanks ahead of time for your guess work
     
  2. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Losing coolant?
     
  3. AW82

    AW82 Member

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    Maybe try swapping coils between cylinders to see if the code indicates a different cylinder misfire next time. Too bad accessing them is so hard on these cars.
     
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  4. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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  5. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Update* swapped around coil pack using diagnostic reading showing #4 misfire and #1 showing nothing. Took manifold and EGR pipe off, smaller manifold holes slugged up - med/ carbon on manifold and pipe. Soaked and pressure washed and replaced PCV (spring pressure next to non-existing) on my second can of fuel injector cleaner with no codes and no issues. Fuel economy showing 12-15 mpg better
     
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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  7. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Can you clean the cooler (and how) or do you have to replace it?
     
  8. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You should be able to clean. Check out the link I posted , info on all that.
     
  9. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    Absolutely, it's essentially a big block of metal parts.

    Various ways to do it (Mendel has posted at least one).

    My own, was to take it down to the local car-wash & go to town with the high-pressure wand. Cost me about $10 & 30 minutes of my day.

    If you're cleaning the cooler, might as well take everything else with you & clean it all at the same time.
     
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  10. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Yes, gonna have to go further. Yet to clean the cooler and such. The engine light came on again showing a misfire on 4 even after the plugs replaced and swapped 1 over to 4 and 4 to 1? The engine light on again showing a #4 misfire and the shudder is infrequent now on a slow take off - but none the less....still there. Will go further and do a complete clean out - from manifold to exhaust and see what happens....... things were so much easier in the 80’s......lol!
     
  11. TheLandYacht

    TheLandYacht Member

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    OK. I just fought this one. Swapping stuff around doesn't change it, it stays on Cyl4?

    It's possibly because the little EGR ports for every OTHER cylinder in the Intake is clogged, so all that exhaust is going to #4, starving it of oxygen. Hence, misfire.

    2010 Prius; Whole-vehicle shudder, P0304, seems unrelated | Page 3 | PriusChat
     
  12. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Ok, went through and cleaned it all from intake manifold and to include the exhaust cooler. It still has the engine shudder when feathering the gas, but no shudder if I get into the gas a little heavy. MPG has increased @ about 6. I’ve replaced plugs, pcv valve, air filter and cleaned from intake manifold to exhaust cooler ( was heavy carbon built up) I have not replaced the coils. Do not know what else I could do to get rid of the horrendous shudder. Runs great with no issues when up to speed except going through towns , cruising at slow speeds like 25-35 and having to feather the gas- shudder is present but not bad, horrible sitting at lights and having to take off again easily- if I am heavy in the gas- no problems.....
     
  13. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Have you had to add any coolant at all?
     
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  14. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Yes, but I thought that was from the first tear down when I didn’t include the exhaust cooler....?
     
    #14 Mufasa54, Jun 2, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2021
  15. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You did the cleaning around 180k miles? That’s good, but you may have left it too late, those miles are getting into head gasket failure territory.

    leak down test will check HG condition.
     
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  16. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    These cars from 2010-2014 are well known to have head gasket leakage of coolant into a cylinder causing symptoms as you describe. Left undiagnosed and unrepaired it often leads to complete engine failure. Sad but true. Toyota mechanics are now recognizing this is becoming chronic and excessive.
     
    #16 rjparker, Jun 2, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2021
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  17. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    I've never had any bad looking deposits in my oil....I will check further. Thanks!
     
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  18. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Hmmmm, never did I think that would be it. Oil always looked great. I will get it checked. Thanks everyone.
     
  19. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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    Head gasket is blown, providing I can locate someone to check the head out, is it something that can be done in a backyard garage? I’ve never been a deep engine repair guy, but have changed many motors and transmissions.
     
  20. Mufasa54

    Mufasa54 New Member

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