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1.8L starting rattle, knock, events

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by bwilson4web, Nov 14, 2010.

?
  1. Never or not happened, yet. (miles? months owned?)

    55.6%
  2. 1 time (miles? months owned?)

    27.1%
  3. 2-3 times

    10.4%
  4. 4-7 times

    2.8%
  5. 8 or more times

    2.1%
  6. Reproducible (details?)

    1.4%
  7. Spring

    2.1%
  8. Summer

    2.8%
  9. Fall

    9.0%
  10. Winter

    12.5%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Dark_matter_doesn't

    Dark_matter_doesn't Prius Tinkerer

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Never experienced knocking or pinging, even in cold weather. 18,600 miles on vehicle and I do all my own oil changes.

    I am very picky about what gas I use. Never Safeway, Costco or Arco. I have data showing that Chevron gas yields poorer mileage than Shell, so Chevron is right out as well. The problem described sounds like a detonation "knock" rather than a rod knock, so gas quality may be the root cause.
     
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    We have a statistically significant sample set:

    • 60% (26) - nothing or not yet
    • 26% (11) - once
    • 10% (4) - 2-3 times
    • 2.3% (1) - 4-7 times
    • 2.3% (1) reproducible at will
    So it is an intermittent problem and for 95%, either never happens or seems very infrequent. There are ~5% who seem to be getting hammered.

    It also seems to happen in the Fall but given when the car came out, this is the second fall after the second summer. We could be seeing a sampling error (too many opportunities for a Fall failure.) The 'season' numbers are very small, too small to draw any conclusions.

    In an effort to try and replicate, I drove to the post office this morning, one mile away, and back home. The car will remain in the driveway over night to see if the problem shows up in the morning. If not, I'll go half that distance and try again.

    Bob Wilson
     
  3. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
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    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    >3000 miles of short commutes with a couple of 200 mile round trips, 6 months, no knocking.
    I drive gently but I never turn the car off whilst the engine is running, I always let the engine cut itself out before I press the start button for off.
     
  4. Bob Comer

    Bob Comer Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    South Carolina low country
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    It hasn't happened to me yet, but I only have 3500 miles on it. I live in a fairly warm climate with my car in the garage as well. (South Carolina Coastal)
     
  5. tickmark40

    tickmark40 New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Brownwood, TX
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I haven't had this problem in the 6 months I have owned my Prius. I have 6200 miles on it and it has had numerous long trips and short trips. I usually use Fina but have used other 87 gasoline. I live in warmer climate and the car is kept in the garage when I am not using it. Don't know if any of this makes a difference.
     
  6. radiocycle

    radiocycle Active Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Never has happened to our 2010. We have about 15k and have owned it about 16 months. Sorry to hear that so many have this problem!
     
  7. MikeDS

    MikeDS Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Just had this happen to mine last week. I was up early (for me (musician)) and it was cold out (cold by LA standards). I started the car and the engine vibrated very harshly and was kind of shaking the wheels. It sounded REALLY bad. Hasn't happened since...

    The car has 13k miles on it and I usually use either Chevron or Shell gas.
     
  8. car78412

    car78412 Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Hudson Valley, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I havn't had start up knocking but have heard pinging going up a hill. When I eased off the gas, it went away.
     
  9. LoveMyPriusIII

    LoveMyPriusIII New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 14, 2009
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    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    20,000 miles and 16 months of ownership and luckily I have never had this problem. It's a very concerning problem as I saw what it looks and sounds like on YouTube and it is really violent. Can't be good for the engine.
     
  10. Airbalancer

    Airbalancer Active Member

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    Location:
    Cobourg, On, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    63 f as cooler weather, I wish it would warm up to that:p
    about 40,000 km 16 months and have not heard anything
    Do I have the radio on to high:confused:
     
  11. Flaninacupboard

    Flaninacupboard Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    N/A
    24k, 7 months, nothing. baby the throttle, and never move the car short distances (everything is a long way away!)
     
  12. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Western NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Had it again today!This is only the second time, and the car is at 14,800 miles. Here is what of significance (or not) occurred in last two days:

    - I changed oil with Toyota synthetic 0w20 and OEM Toyota filter two days ago
    - Since that oil change drove around 40-50 miles or so
    - Last night the car had totally cooled down and it was used to drive in heavy rain the distance of a few houses; i.e. it definitely did not warm up. I assume the gas motor kicked in but I hadn't been doing the driving.
    - Stored in garage overnight. Morning temps this morning were at least 50 F (it's 50F outside now and garage is always warmer)
    - Car was started and as soon as the gas motor kicked in the knocking sound began. Sounded precisely like this:

    - Within 2-3 seconds power was turned off (knocking was throughout that entire 2-3 second range). 10 seconds later power was started again and as soon as gas motor kicked in the knocking kicked in full force but with power left on it dissipated within 5 seconds and was fine again

    Unfortunately, I cannot change poll results but if I could I'd change from 1 time and summer to 2-3 times and summer & fall check boxes.

    If my life depended on reproducing this issue I would begin with taking a fully cooled car and driving very short trips, enough that the gas motor kicks in but absolutely does not warm up, then with a minimum of idling I'd stop it and then try again later when it's had a chance to bleed off any little bits of heat accumulated from that prior short trip. I don't know if this would work but it would be my best guess.
     
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  13. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Excellent documentation!

    This is a rare event so don't worry about changing the poll numbers. Their purpose in life to help make it clear that at least 1/3d of the poll responders have experienced the anomaly. Knowing that it is real means those who are interested in being part of the solution can start looking for patterns, ways to make it reproducible.

    In turn, we can share what we've learned and help Toyota understand how to make it happen. Then their quality team can replicate our results and "diagnose" what is going on.

    I think your comment about 'recent oil change' should also be remembered. <grins>

    Thanks again,
    Bob Wilson
     
  14. Skoorbmax

    Skoorbmax Senior Member

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    I do think it's worth mentioning if others can think on it, but since I had several trips (and thus many starts) since I doubt it impacted.

    --

    I believe it's safe to say this knocking/rattling has only occurred for people starting the car after it has been sitting for a while. True? I have not heard of the ICE starting by itself in the middle of a trip and creating this knocking--even while at a rest (like the lights).
     
  15. socratesthecabdriver

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    i dont think it has anything to do with short rides,as i vave a taxi and never take short rides and it has happened to me 3 times. weird
     
  16. SamelCamel

    SamelCamel New Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Kansas
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I have less than 3000 miles on my 2010 Prius II and this happened to me after letting the car sit in the garage all weekend. Temp was maybe about 50-60F. Kicked hard enough to throw the "Multiple Cylinder Misfire" code.

    Took it to the dealership and they couldn't find anything wrong. Documented it for the future reference. Tech stated that the readings were weird from when the code was thrown because the idle didn't change and maybe the spark or voltage didn't drop? Who knows.....

    -Sam
     
  17. LoveMyPriusIII

    LoveMyPriusIII New Member

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
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    That sounds really damaging. What is this sound?
     
  18. Roland1555

    Roland1555 Senior Member

    Joined:
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    Vancouver BC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius

    Never had this event after 17 months and just shy of 40,000km

    Roland.

    wow, after listening to the you-tube videos it sounds like the variable valve timing went south briefly.
     
  19. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

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  20. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Two
    :confused:This just happened to me this am. From what I remember last night I put the car in the garage and forgot to use the EV mode so the ICE started up for a few seconds before I shut it down. This also happened to my 08 once. I gotta believe it's something to do with unburned gas left in a few of the cylinders:confused:
     
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