Heat Shield, Engine Coolant, and Hybrid Water Coolant Replacement Qs

95% of repairs on a Prius a DIY. Remove the labor cost from the dealer's price, that's at LEAST
what you won't spend.
And they are really easy repairs.
Search on prius chat for video, and youtube. Nutzandbolts videos are pretty good.

I don't know what heat shield, maybe a screw or bolt is just loose. Driving without it probably won't
create a huge problem, but it's there for a reason...

 

If you can get the car safely raised you'll have no problems

 

The heats sheilds often rust out in circles around the nuts that hold them up. On my car I just cut out pieces of flashing from the hardware store like giant washers, drilled holes in the middle and installed them like a washer. Worked fine and no more noise. I can't say that's the best way or even a good way to fix it but it's worked so far and cost about $5.

 

No chance of floor jack and safety stands? Or ramps? Either will do the trick.

I think most of the heat sheilds are aluminum? There's a hardware store item called a "car washer", basically an oversized washer (small hole, large outside diameter). Get galvanized if possible.

 

I think it's the nut that rusts causing corrosion on the aluminum in a circle around the nut, or maybe rust actually cuts into the aluminum? Whatever it is I had to fix most mine but I would say it's definitely DIY worthy.

 

The nuts/screws on our Prius rust when you look at them. Maybe new regulations regarding protective coating, who knows. I've been coating everything I see rusting with boiled linseed oil. It seems to hold up good, and stops rust in it's tracks. Close to the muffler I guess you need to be careful, but the heat shields are usually a bit away from anything really hot.

 

replaced mine with fender washers from a hardware store. easy to do. worst part is getting under the car.

 

If there’s bolts screwing into weld nuts, proceed very cautiously when trying to remove them; they can get rust-seized and you’ll snap the head off. If they’re stubborn, a squirt of penetrating oil beforehand may help, and try to “shock” them loose, either with an impact gun or a manual impact, the kind you rap with a hammer.