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Please Help! Shaking but already cleaned EGR

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by cgcope1, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    this is my first post here and I really need help. I've read every thread about this that I can find and I still can't figure it out.

    2011 Prius with 180k miles. Recently started shaking only at start up and only some of the time. Threw a code once and it was a misfire and coil 2 failure. Toyota charged me 300 bucks and 3 days later it started again but this time on every start up of the car for about 15 seconds. I watched nutzaboutboltz video and cleaned the intake manifold and little holes above which none of which were bad. I also cleaned the egg cooler which also wasn't that bad considering this is the first time I have done this.

    Anyway, that was a month ago exactly and it ran great till 3 days ago it started back but a little different. It still does it every time I start the car but now it shakes bad while driving and any time it switches over to the gas engine. It lurches and doesn't really catch for a few seconds then it is fine once I'm over about 12mph.

    I figured it wasn't the egr system since I had just cleaned that but when I disconnected the sensor under the hood it started with barely half a second of a rattle then ran fine. I drove it unconnected down the road a mile and back and it ran fine. Connected egr and the shaking is back worse than ever.

    I took everything back apart and the intake was clean except for a bit of oil oil the bottom and the egr cooler also was still very clean so I have no idea what the problem is or what to do. If anyone could help it would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks, Caleb
     
  2. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

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    How’s your coolant level?

    At your mileage, most likely, you have a failed head gasket.
     
  3. schmuber

    schmuber Member

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    From this alone, could be a bad EGR valve. From everything else, sounds like a blown HG. Maybe get a salvage EGR valve and try it first?…
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    After I replaced everything a month ago I forgot about topping off coolant after it had ran a few days so when I just checked it was right at the low level mark but if it’s because I have a leak or just because I drained the system and didn’t top it off after driving a few weeks I’m not sure.

    I did check my oil cap and no signs of the milky looking mixture and also I didn’t see my coolant bubbling but I haven’t done any comprehensive tests for head gasket.
     
  5. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    Yes from reading the forum I was sure it was a head gasket issue but just decided to try unplugging the egr. So now I’m not sure what to do. My egr and intake and everything are taken apart just sitting around.
     
  6. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I’d investigate the egr circuit and monitor the engine coolant level;).

    All they cost is labor at this point and if doing it yourself, it’s relatively free(y).
     
  7. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    What else can I check with the egr? Can the little sensor go bad that’s plugs in on top?
     
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Anything is possible ;).

    Checking it doesn’t cost you much, so why not:).

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
  9. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    Ok so I put everything back together and it worked fine for the first two electric to engine switch overs then started back up again.

    Just took it to Toyota but I unplugged the egr on the way over there so it wouldn’t shake. I explained this but they thought the code had been on the whole time and say the egr needs to be replaced.

    I told them about unplugging it and they cleared the code and it’s not coming back unless you unplug the egr circuit. They did say that a cylinder misfire showed up though.

    Anyways, they say I need to replace egr and possibly intake manifold because it can be damaged where it connects to egr pipe. The quote was for 1100 dollars.

    I’m not sure if that will even fix it or if I should order the parts and try to do it myself since I’ve taken it apart and cleaned it twice in the last month or what. My egr cooler and everything appear clean and open but the soaking still persists.

    Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
     
  10. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    I also changed oil which didn’t have any coolant in it and looked fine except being a little black (I use synthetic from Toyota).

    I replaced the pcv and replaced the gaskets on the intake manifold. I read somewhere else on the forum that there was a newly designed intake manifold for the 3rd gen prius that was supposed to fix some of the shaking too. I’m not sure how to check if I have that one or the old one or if that is even true or relevant.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd hold off on throwing money at the EGR for now. 180K miles, and EGR only recently cleaned, points to head gasket already failing, that the EGR clean was too late. Again, how's the coolant level, stable?

    A leak-down test was help to diagnose.
     
  12. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    If the head gasket has already failed, why would disconnecting the EGR valve stop the shaking?
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Good point, not sure.
     
  14. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    Have u checked plugs?
     
  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I thought there was an extended service campaign for the egr valve, why didn't the dealer replace it? I have a 2010 and got it replaced recently
     
  16. wheezyglider

    wheezyglider Active Member

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    What JC91006 said, if the warranty applies. Otherwise just DIY the EGR valve. Most likely no need to replace the manifold, but that's a little over $200 for the part and easy DIY if needed. Maybe also first check that your gaskets are all in place from the EGR cleaning though.
     
  17. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    Sorry, what do you mean plugs?
     
  18. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    I have a friend who works in parts department for Toyota and he thought I could get it too. When I brought it in though service department said I was over the mileage requirement to have it replaced for free.
     
  19. cgcope1

    cgcope1 New Member

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    Do you recommend just replacing the valve or the whole assembly? Also should I buy everything new from parts department to make sure it is the updated egr.

    I’ve seen a lot of people post on here about buying used ones of eBay but I don’t see what would be the difference in between mine now and a used one. I guess if the sensor or valve part itself is bad that would make sense but everything is clean and I got new gaskets and I’m pretty positive they are all in place correctly. I followed nutzaboutboltz video most of the way through.
     
  20. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Attach is a TSB that addresses your issue. But the warranty extension ended at 150k miles. It shows it's the intake manifold at fault.
     

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