Is My 2013 Prius V Engine Blown?! What Are These Noises?!

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bumpercar2021, Aug 10, 2025 at 6:17 PM.

  1. bumpercar2021

    bumpercar2021 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2021
    6
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    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    My son's 2013 Prius V with over 200,000 miles on it this morning made what he described as a clicking noise as he began driving to work and then started making a chugging noise while he was on the freeway. The Check Engine light did not come on. He had to get to his job as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), so he kept driving it to his work about 15 miles away. I went there, checked on it, and found that the oil level was fine and did not smell burned, the other fluid levels were above the minimums, and the Prius did not make any unusual noises when I started it, and the Check Engine light did not come on. However, when I drove it about 500 yards and the gas engine started, the engine started making a chugging noise. I parked the Prius and made two videos of the car with the gas engine still running and one when the gas engine had stopped. While the gas engine was on, the chugging noise came from the engine, and when the gas engine was off, there was a higher pitched noise. Attached are three videos of the engine sounds. Thank you for whatever insights you can provide.
    https://youtube.com/shorts/FIVXRgHaJ8g
    https://youtube.com/shorts/nHVZi65i0G0
    https://youtube.com/shorts/M4qlWtDo_Bc
     
  2. 2015V-BadHG

    2015V-BadHG New Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2025
    11
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    Location:
    Portsmouth NH
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Yikes, definitely not a good sound.
    Seems to run OK, albeit noisy.
    Sounds like something is rubbing, scraping against something.
    Timing chain solenoid and/or guide failure, loose time chain?

    Pete
     
  3. 2015V-BadHG

    2015V-BadHG New Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2025
    11
    5
    0
    Location:
    Portsmouth NH
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    Can you remove the valve cover to check timing chain tension?