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my car sounds funny??

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by landspeed, Jul 22, 2020.

  1. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

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    hello! I am the proud owner of a 170,000 mile Prius, 2007, the same colour red as in ‘The Other Guys’. My car sort of looks like that iconic Prius because it is has been through the wars.

    I changed the oil 60,000 miles ago (good quality oil, and have topped up regularly). It still has the original engine coolant. It still has the original transmission oil. It still has the original hybrid system coolant as well. it has a new air filter and plugs though!

    The transmission whine has got a lot louder, especially when braking, but also if driving on battery at 30mph in the city.

    Also, the 12v battery is the original one, and also, the HV battery is also original! But I replaced the computer and wiring loom after they set fire.

    the car is generally more noisy. I drove with car sympathy, but recently I accelerate slowly as I have sympathy for the noise from the engine.

    I plan to change the oil this weekend. That leaves the transmission fluid (whining transmission and original fluid) and the engine coolant (original) and hybrid system coolant (original).

    when I brake, the car performs well, but I can hear clicks, and fluid / bubbly sound when pressing the brake on and off. It only makes the typical ‘brake failure’ sound rarely though.

    I have neglected my car due to Covid19. However what should I replace first? I would be grateful for advice in prioritising all the overdue fluids in this car. Or, worst case scenario, I am taking bets on how long it lasts from now? I think it will last LONG TIME because New Zealand abolished the annual tests due to Covid 19???

    :)
     
    donbright likes this.
  2. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    Location:
    Central Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The oil on a Gen 2 it supposed to be changed every 5000 miles with full synthetic oil. Later generations expanded that to every 10000 miles. Many here use Mobil One 0W20 full synthetic oil.

    the only hybrid battery cooling maintenance is to clean the fan. The battery is air cooled. The special Toyota transaxle fluid also cools the motors.

    @Mendel Leisk or @Raytheeagle can advice better on maintenance. I have not get got to that point with my 2017.
     
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  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Prime Plus
    Any reason you are not changing the fluids I your Prius:cool:?

    I'd follow the maintenance schedule for the coolants and oil, then add the transmission fluid to the mix:).

    That is unless you are measuring the wear properties of your components and then extending the interval based upon data to support your interval;).

    Any dash lights on for your Prius and do you have a way to read them if there are:whistle:?

    Good luck and keep us posted (y).
     
    landspeed and SFO like this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Plug-in Base
    at our age (me and your car) there is a lot more creaking and groaning than there used to be.

    i wish i could change my oil, and i do keep my fluids replenished
     
  5. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace Senior Member

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    We were referring to the VEHICLE's fluids, not yours. :whistle::whistle::whistle:
     
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  6. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Oh my gosh... Not changing your oil or oil filter for 60,000 miles is unbelievable! Once the filter gets clogged, there's a bypass in it, so you've been essentially running on super dirty oil with no filter for 40-50K miles... I'd recommend you sell this car to someone you'd like a little revenge on before the engine blows up... It's going to happen any day now and no amount of oil changes will ever make up for the damage you've already caused.
     
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  7. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    N/A
    Not here in NZ/Aus, the official Toyota OCI is 15,000 km or 1 year, whichever comes first.
    You should have grabbed 4L of ATF-WS and changed the transaxle fluid at the same time. Pretty easy job. I fill from the top and use a funnel with an extension made from vinyl tubing (ID 12.3 mm; OD 15.5 mm) 590 mm long. (You can get the tubing from Placemakers/Mitre10/Bunnings) It takes 3.75 L to fill. I feed the tube down from in front of the inverter.
     
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  8. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Actually, it needs to be changed every 5K miles only if you're using regular motor oil... If you're using full synthetic then it's every 10K miles.
     
    landspeed likes this.
  9. landspeed

    landspeed Active Member

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    While the big end bearings are in one piece there is hope! I’m going to change out all the fluids in the next week or two; till then I do a warmup with the car parked, and I almost always keep the engine below 2000rpm! I plan to keep this car going a lot longer, unless the Covid gets me (it might, everyone has become complacent and there is a weird gastro / common cold / flu / fever going around in the office). Ppl aren’t bothering to get tested and are coming to work sick - at the hospital :/ NZ will have a much larger 2nd wave.

    I got all my tools out of storage so will have a jay weekend soon :)

    My car also has a battery that shorted out (HV battery) but I replaced the loom and computer - the rest of the battery is still the original!
     
    bisco likes this.