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  1. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    Hi I have a 2010 prius since Monday morning when I start it up its making a knocking noise for about 10 seconds then it's nice and smooth and runs great and gas mileage 50mpg I did a check engine light came on Tuesday code po103 misfire #1 cylinder I have 220,000 miles on it ,I bought it with106000 miles never have changed spark plugs do you think that's the problem?thanks

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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Clogged egr circuit. Hopefully, the head gasket is still intact.
     
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  3. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    How do I fixed that just clean the pipe?any info I take all how to fix it.Thanks

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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  5. Rebound

    Rebound Senior Member

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    From what you wrote and observed, it’s not possible to be 100% certain of the cause. For instance, it may be that your spark plugs are finally failing after 200,000 miles. But it could be that oily deposits are causing misfires, and when you replace the plugs, the misfires will stop only until the oily deposits come back. You can look at the plugs and the intake to get some ideas.

    Basically, you’ve got two choices:

    1) Keep driving the car until it breaks.

    2) Stop driving the car until you fix the root cause of the problem.

    I recommend #2, but it’s going to take you some work. Personally, I’d pull out the EGR valve and cooler, intake manifold and spark plugs. Just do it all. It’s all basic engine work; nothing hybrid-specific about any of it. But if you’ve never worked on a Prius or a recent-model engine, it will take you two weekends and your car won’t be running. You’ll need to be very organized as you remove each bolt, because you’re new to it.

    If you want to tackle this, we can help you, maybe some of us can FaceTime with you to help answer questions as you’re doing it.

    You only need basic tools: Screwdrivers, a 3/8” metric ratchet set, a spark plug socket and a ratcheting wrench (not socket, a wrench) in 10-13mm (I forget) for removing the EGR cooler. A small drain bucket. I don’t think you need to jack the car at all.

    Parts cost is next to nothing: Set of spark plugs, about $50. Some gaskets, about $25. Cleaning fluids, shop towels, brushes.

    Last thing: If you’re losing engine coolant (plastic jug with pink fluid on passenger side), and especially if you’re getting white exhaust smoke, you’ve got a much bigger problem. (You’re past Choice One, above).
     
    #5 Rebound, Mar 11, 2020
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2020
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  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For the p0103 code, that points to mass air flow sensor. Try cleaning it with MAF Sensor Cleaner (CRC for one makes it). Don't use anything else. You basically give it short blasts. You unclip a connector, and remove a screw or two, to lift the MAF sensor off. It's located here:

    upload_2020-3-11_13-23-23.png

    I think the code associated with that is P0301? Cylinder one misfire, with 220K miles, is almost invariably head gasket failure. Is the engine coolant level stable in the reservoir, or no?
     
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  7. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    The level is on full I bought 4 sparkplugs on my way in to work I have a 50 mile trip to the house tonight I hope I make it. When I start it up makes noise for about 10 to 15 seconds then it runs great so in morning I will start working taking it apart in morning get some work done before I go to work put the plugs in and check egr maybe plugged up? Thanks for all the info.

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  8. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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  9. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    And you're not having to top it up?

    FWIW, clogged egr and blown head gasket around cylinder #1 seem to go hand-in-hand. The EGR feeds into intake manifold at other end, cylinder #4, which may be a factor.

    That alone is troubling. Lots of reports of blown head gaskets here with anywhere past 140K miles. And usually the EGR and intake manifold have never been cleaned.

    I would concentrate on the head gasket first. Leak down test is good to figure out if and how it's leaking. The usual is coolant into cylinder 1, maybe 2 as well.

    If you do resolve the head gasket, complete egr and intake manifold should be next.
     
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  11. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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  12. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Where whom did you buy from?
     
  13. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    Saturday I'm going to put plug's in and check the egr pipe hopefully that's my problem

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  14. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    Well I put new sparkplugs 221000 miles on them took off the egr pipe it had so much carbon build up in it after cleaning it up put it all back on started the car up and the knocking was gone running perfect hope I get another 100,000 miles

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  15. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    well done!(y)
     
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The EGR pipe is just tip of the iceberg.
     
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  17. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    Are there any thing else I can do keep the car running good?

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  18. Grit

    Grit Senior Member

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    Clean the entire egr circuit & added OCC
     
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  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Considering the code, the miles, the lack of cleaning: leak down test.
     
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  20. mikes951

    mikes951 Junior Member

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    I have been using motorkote the past 3 years hopefully it will keep it going a great friction fighter

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