First Prius...Is This A Normal Drivetrain Sound ?

I have the 2012 prius 2 with the same concerns. Same vib/ shutter from dead stop. (just at beginning up accer.).
I went in to Toyota Dealer and they test drove and mechanic acted if it was new to him. We drove a demo 2012 and it had a quieter start but still minor bump. My car has 8k and it seems more pronounced. 10k its going to be checked again.

 

We have a 2013 v with the same shuttering issue , it started as just a little shutter and became a major issue , have taking it to the dealer 3 times , first they replace an erg valve or something vacume related , didn't help the issue cost $247.00 took the car back to the dealer and they told us that we were filling the fuel tank to much causing fuel to enter into the vac system . ok whatever , so we took there advise and tried to not " overfill" the tank. of course that wasn't the issue! Drove the car for another couple weeks and now its worse than before! Took it back to the dealer and charged us 680.00 for the replacement of sparkplugs and another egr valve . so back to the dealer we went! they did give us rental this time after a week with no response I called them and the service advisor tells me the motor is blow up and I will need a short block . wow they realy have no idea ! the shutter only happens under low speed EV then when it tries to transfer to the gas motor . runs fine other than that. drove it 120 miles yesterday on I 40 not a problem , as soon as you come to a stop land try to accelerate it shutters for a moment while trying to transfer to the gas motor. very frustrated !

 

well, that's a tough one to diagnose over the net. how many miles on her?

maybe the rest of the egr circuit is clogged. is sh using any coolant or oil?

 

This thread started back in 2012 with complaints of a "shutter" when the ICE engaged, which is barely noticable but something new to a first time Prius owner. In an older gen3 Prius it can be different especially if it is really severe. Hopefully its not major but...

A too common problem on older gen3 Prius engines is a blown head gasket which will usually leak a small amount of antifreeze into cylinder 1. While the engine is off the fluid can build up causing a misfire for a few seconds. Typically the engine will burn off the coolant quickly and run smooth again. Often this scenario is more severe after an overnight shutdown.

Generally the coolant level will drop slowly even though it is normally stable for years. White smoke out of the tailpipe is a sign of a moderate or large leak but it is not necessarily visible or continuous with smaller head gasket failures.

The transaxle has an always engaged clutch plate whose purpose is to slip if the sync between the engine and the electric motors is not right. That slip will cause the shutter in a Prius that is very severe and different from a simple misfire in a conventional car.

Dealers don't want to do a head gasket repair because its expensive at their rates, its supposed to be engine out, and there could be other issues like oil burning or warped parts from overheating. So dealers will recommend an engine replacement for guaranteed long term results.

There are advanced diy head gasket replacement videos on youtube and short term fixes like Bars Blown Head Gasket Repair that often temporarily seal the gasket. Some independent mechanics will do a Prius head gasket for maybe half of the dealer price. There is one shop in Calfornia that specializes in head gaskets and may even do mobile services called Gasket Masters. They also do youtube. If the engine burns oil or has other issues, a head gasket swap, by itself, could be a financial gamble even at independent shop rates.

 

A video from Gasket Masters. Starts with a shutter demo plus "how bad can it get?"
.

 

Here's a realtime video of Gasket Master's changing a head gasket with two guys in two hours. Mobile. Apparently with a rebuilt head and prepared egr cooler ready to swap as well.

 

185,000 uses no oil or coolant .

 

maybe your right about the egr system??

 

read through the egr threads here and @NutzAboutBolts youtube channel

 

185k miles and nothing done, both the EGR and the EGR passages in intake manifold are pretty much guaranteed to be socked in with carbon.

I can post a bunch of links and repair manual info in a bit.

 

Watch the coolant level carefully. Head gasket leaks can be very minor at first and can be intermittent.

I would also go back to the dealer and ask for a written diagnosis. You stated the first time they replaced an egr valve "or something vacuum related" but for $247 that sounds too cheap for a dealer installed egr. Maybe a pcv. The second time for $680 might have covered spark plugs and "another" egr valve, but I doubt they would have replaced the egr cooler, a well known issue.

Now they say the engine is blown. Based on what? Head gasket with coolant in a cylinder observed? A combustion gas test in the coolant? Something else? I would definitely go back and even ask to talk to the mechanic along with the service advisor to nail down what they have done and what "blew" the engine.

 

Also they could have done leak down test.

 

What's all this about "shutters?" Are they window shutters or camera shutters?

 

Yeah it's contagious lol.

Should rhyme with rudder...

 

When you are joining in on an 8 year old continuing thread you want to keep the rhythm and not stutter when everyone else shutters. I shudder to think what emotional damage could be inflicted on those not NSync.

 

That's commendable.

 

EGR:

The simplest way to see where you're at, is to check the degree of carbon build up in the EGR pipe, a stainless steel connecting pipe between the EGR valve and intake manifold. Watch @NutzAboutBolts video #16 here:

Nutz About Bolts Prius Maintenance Videos | PriusChat

Two or three other videos linked there too, for the full cleaning of the intake manifold, full EGR clean, and Oil Catch Can install.

Good thread:

EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results | PriusChat

Another:

Oil Catch Can, Eliminate that knock! | PriusChat

Some tools worth having:

E8 Torx socket (mandatory)
E6 Torx socket (optional, but good to have, to remove the throttle body studs from intake manifold)
3/8" ratchet wrench, regular and long handle, flex head, you can never have enough (or 1/2 plus reducer)
1/4" ratchet wrench, or 3/8" to 1/4" reducer
Ratchet extensions: you can never have enough
Long needle nose piers, straight and bent tip
Ratcheting 12mm box wrench (optional, but makes disconnection of the EGR cooler from exhaust easier)
Torque wrench (3/8" and 1/4" both good to have)
Floor jack and safety stands (or ramps): basically some method to raise front, if you need to take underpanel off, which you may need to, both for access and to recover dropped items.

Comment regarding clamping of coolant hose, mentioned and or shown in videos:

1. When removing the intake manifold for cleaning, you do need to lift the throttle body off the intake manifold. Still, the coolant hoses connected to the throttle body have ample slack, enough that you can leave them connected, and just tie the throttle body to something adjacent, say the inverter wiring harness.

2. When removing the EGR cooler, removing coolant hoses is necessary, but if you drain 2 liters/quarts from the radiator drain spigot prior (into a clean container), the coolant level in the system will be dropped below the EGR components, and you won't spill anything. Just be sure to not tip the cooler when lifting it off (and catch the rear gasket): there are a few tablespoons of coolant trapped at the lower back corner.

Pour that into your previous drained coolant, and when done pour it back into the reservoir. If you've got the coolant bleed bolt (2010, 2011 model years), leave it open while pouring the coolant back in, till coolant starts coming out. For later model years, leave the topmost coolant hose on EGR disconnected till coolant starts coming out. Also, might help to burp the main radiator hose as you pour the coolant back in.

 

Any chance it could have to do with the variable valve timing?

 

Another series of four gen3 head gasket video. Perhaps better photographed.

Part 1 of 4

Part 2 of 4

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4