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Any Gen 4 Owners Out There With Blown Head Gasket ??

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by AmazingFacts, Jan 14, 2022.

  1. RRock

    RRock New Member

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    I'm very interested in this solution !
     
  2. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    Irving Toyota Dealer Replaced Engine (LKQ - rebuilt) and charged me 7.5K.
    better than other dealer (Richardson Toyota) - quoted 10K.

    They test drove 60 miles and delivered car 2 days back.

    After reaching home I checked Coolant level - it was below low.
    Drove another 60 miles - dropped further.

    Technician said initially they will top off and give back my car in 30 min.(today - 3/27)
    After 30 min they came back and said needs more testing of coolant leak, also they are seeing white smoke from Exhaust.

    They are checking with me about extended warranty.

    Looks like it is back to Original problem dealer created by executing T-SB-0135-19 in correctly.

    Experts please shed the light.
    After spending 7.5K on rebuilt engine, went through all the tests (Dealer is claiming).
    coolant started disappearing again, what does it mean.

    couple of questions.
    1. When someone replaces Engine do they touch any thing related to Exhaust / coolant system?
    2. Recurrence of problem (coolant disappearing - after New engine) is due to
    a) incorrect installation of New Engine
    b) T-SB-0135-19- Front Exhaust pipe created the problem and Engine Replacement is not the complete solution?
     
  3. Harters

    Harters Active Member

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    Why do you insist on posting the same questions in multiple threads, it gets very confusing ?
     
    #123 Harters, Mar 28, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2023
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they should have reconnected the coolant lines to the exhaust heat exchanger. if the heat exchanger leak was never repaired, that's a problem.
     
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  5. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    Got call from Irving Dealer where my car is sitting now.
    Now they are saying it is due to EGR failure.
    Not sure my original Engine really went bad or they miss diagnosed it.
    They have clearly agreed they did not Diagnose 1st time for sure.

    P148F - Exhaust killed my engine ? not sure
    P148F requires EGR fix instead of Front Exhaust ? not sure
    It took 1 Engine - $7.5 K for them to find EGR is the issue.

    they are willing to fix EGR for free of cost (I already paid $7.5K for their mis diagnosis).

    None of this forum members agreed to my point
    1st point of failure is Aug 2022,when we saw P148Fand they took Front Exhaust pipe Replacement .

    Everyone was thinking and saying I did not fill the coolant on time is the reason for the Engine failure.
    Looking at the Prius Manuals coolant should last 100K miles.
    My 2016 Prius has 46K miles when I took to dealer and they found P148F first time.
     
    #125 Mukunda, Mar 28, 2023
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2023
  6. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    Any suggestions / guidance to fight with Toyota & Dealer for Mis diagnosis
    which costed me $7.5K.
    Instead for 1K for EGR Replacement.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i can't findP148. is it P148F?
     
  8. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    yes P148F
    upload_2023-3-28_20-58-26.png
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    Maybe it was damaged when you ran out of coolant
     
  11. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    I have no Idea Sir.
    May be it is water pump not sure
    but T-SB-0135-19 which dealer executed by replacing front exhaust clearly has same code P148F.
    That is the main issue with the initial diagnosis.

    If it was just the Water pump, Dealer replaced Engine (along with the pump at least they claim Water pump and Engine comes together)
    why coolant level is dropping again in a day after replacing Engine and water pump ?
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    4th gen EGR system is pretty bullet-proof; think you're barking up the wrong tree.

    This is mostly abuse of dead horses now? Pretty much all that can happen here is commiseration. Toyota USA said it's due to negligence, driving with overheat warning and low coolant. You could approach a lawyer, might actually work. It's a borderline case, and maybe they don't want the bad press.
     
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  13. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    Thank you Mendel.
    I am working on writing a story to post in Social Media.
    will stop there and explore Attorneys option.

    My main concern is in correct diagnosis and in efficient technicians.
    Otherwise problem should not repeat after replacing the Engine.
    It is evident reoccurrence of the problem means in-efficient technicians of the dealer & Toyota TSBs/ Training system.

    I had some doubt, they are scamming to rip off money from customers, as dealers and manufacturers lost revenues since covid due to supply chain issues.
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    true, a lot of that going on lately.

    what exactly is the front exhaust?
     
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  15. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    This is what I see in the report

    upload_2023-4-3_10-22-1.png
     
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  16. Mukunda

    Mukunda Junior Member

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    You are lucky.
    Dealer broke my engine (at 46K) for incorrect diagnosis of this issue.
     
  17. ColoradoBoo

    ColoradoBoo Senior Member

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    Yep, any engine can ruin a head gasket if they are allowed to overheat....and if the overheating is bad enough, a new gasket won't even fix it...you need a whole new engine. (Most machine shops won't even try to even out a warped aluminum head.)

    Good lesson-learned for folks...always turn off an overheating car and keep up on all maintenance and KNOW your car so you can easily identify when it's not running right.
     
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  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    not positive, but looks like the part in the exhaust where the coolant lines connect
     
  19. CATuk

    CATuk New Member

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    Having similar problem. Noticed last week empty coolant reservoir and took the car to my local Toyota garage. They couldn’t figure out why the coolant had vanished. They checked things, flushed out and refilled. Told me to keep an eye on things and bring back in if I notice a problem.
    24 hours later fluid levels were fine, but today I have noticed the coolant reservoir empty and exhaust blowing white smoke. Will contact the dealer Monday morning. The car covered 51k. Will mention to them about the exhaust heat recovery system. I am concerned and a little worried.
     
  20. Prius2016excel

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    99% it’s the heat exchanger. It’s basically a kill switch fitted to 2016-2018 gen 4s and it’s a bloody disgrace as Toyota should have done a recall. Surprised it’s gone at 51k -it’s usually between 80-150k but it may also be an age thing.