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Engine starting getting more forceful?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by kevelev, Nov 11, 2018.

  1. kevelev

    kevelev Junior Member

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    I've noticed that my 2011 Prius II (non plug-in) tends to seem rougher whenever the ICE turns on. It seems like the engine has more "grab" on the transmission. On a related note, when I park the car, press the "P" button, take my foot off the brake pedal, and then press the Power button (shutting off the ICE), the car will rock back. So again, it seems that whenever the ICE is on, it wants to tug on the transmission. Maybe the park pawl is wearing, and I'm just noticing it more? In a normal A/T car it will also tug with the brake off, so it could just be a characteristic of the power-split device. Note: I did change the ATF with genuine Toyota fluid atound 110,000 miles.
     
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    have you cleaned the egr circuit? throttle body?
     
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  3. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Mine lurches forward like a quick jerk when car has started up with ICE still trying to warm up at times, still happened even after changing ATF with the help of Raytheeagle. From the info I gathered here is that the transmission does that to prepare the vehicle gears, engaged, to be driven away. My passengers all gets scared when that happens, but if you use parking brakes it minimizes the sudden jerk pull. Same goes for the rocking back cutting power off, but only decline hills so use parking brakes for that also. In fact, always use parking brakes.
     
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    I would not expect transmission fluid to play much part in this- there is no torque converter, thus no fluid-borne thrust, and there are no friction clutches or drums in a prius transmission. The oil is really there just to keep the gears from wearing, like in a traditional dry-plate manual transmission. It's got the added duty of cooling the motor-generators but that's about as weird as it gets.

    I think this is a question of the engine not starting as smoothly as it used to, rather than the transmission expressing more vibrations through to the car than usual.

    I know the prius engine will slide its valve timing to enable a low vibration startup through reduced compression, and fuel injection math needs to be precise for this to work. If the car is getting bad air data (temp, mass flow) that could cause it. Maybe a dirty injector creating a delta between what the computer thinks it is doing and what it is actually doing? That could explain it too...
     
  5. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    It’s normal. Everything is getting a little sloppy over the years. My bought new 07 would start and shut off pretty smoothly when new now 11 years and 130000 miles later there’s a lot more clunking drama especially on shut down.
    Much more.
     
  6. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    I'd go for throttle body clean and manifold too, this makes a big difference when ice fire's up. Just done a friend's today took about an hour and a half and the difference is huge, got another gen 3 on the way too me now to have his manifold cleaned. I'd go as far as to say evey prius with more than 100,000 miles on would benefit from a quick clean. These get pretty clogged. A couple of pics of today's gen 3 with 160,000 miles. IMG_20181119_124838.jpeg IMG_20181119_125014.jpeg IMG_20181119_125024.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  7. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    Next one has 230,000 miles and has never been touched but has engine light on with low air flow though egr recorded

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    If doing the intake manifold and it looks like that, the egr cooler needs servicing as well;).

    Good luck (y).
     
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  9. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    Already on the ball with that one but guy is another taxi driver and just wanted that doing first, he did say its faster and smother already so we will just wait and see if he comes back for the rest cleaning.
    Did my wife's 2 years ago and have been waiting for engine lights or rough running to prompt me into egr cooler clean but it runs superb without being done so I've left well alone.... 215,000 on that one.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  10. Michael King

    Michael King Member

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    Since I've never pulled that part off..... Is that a screen or something (that orange/red part) under all that goop?
     
  11. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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  12. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    That’s one of the worst egr pipe to intake manifold inlets I’ve seen:eek:.

    How much oil is that Prius consuming?

    While the car may run better, that egr cooler and valve will be close to plugged:cool:.

    The longer you wait, the closer the head gasket time bomb approaches:cry:.
     
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  13. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    Can only advise people, after that it's up to them, car had been using oil at about a litre every 2000 miles as he was using it for fast motorway work, but now just town driving its settled down to about a litre every 10,000 miles

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  14. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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  15. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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  16. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Thats horrible but really good pictures thanks.
     
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  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    You should email those to corporate Toyota, post on Instagram, I don't know what. This is a black-eye for Toyota. :mad:

    Hey, we can play "spot the egr passage":

    upload_2018-11-19_12-52-58.png
     
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  18. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    Light came back on with this one within 20 miles so defenitly blocked further downstream, engine light has been on for 2 years so maybe this would explain the whole system being clogged up.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  19. taxidriver50005

    taxidriver50005 Active Member

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    Well just done my: own manifold clean as I'm doing everybody else's so why not.
    Turned out not to bad.... 106,000miles IMG_20181122_154814.jpeg IMG_20181122_154830.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  20. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Still more wet deposits than I’ve seen over here :cool:.

    But good to do it early before it gets worse(y).
     
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