1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Car Engine Calunks!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Ryn01599, Jul 20, 2006.

  1. Ryn01599

    Ryn01599 Hybrid Owner for Life

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2006
    21
    1
    0
    Location:
    rohnert park
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    In the morning (sometimes) when I turn the car on the engine turns on and idles for about 30 seconds and then shuts off with a loud calunk; nothing like it turning off at a stoplight or when I park (which is a quiet engine turning off). Is this normal?

    -Ryan Lee

    Oh BTW - Where's there a good place for window tinting in the North Bay?
     
  2. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2004
    3,998
    18
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    How long have you had the car? How many miles? How loud?
     
  3. Ryn01599

    Ryn01599 Hybrid Owner for Life

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2006
    21
    1
    0
    Location:
    rohnert park
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sufferin' Prius Envy @ Jul 20 2006, 01:27 PM) [snapback]289563[/snapback]</div>
    4 months - It pretty loud and happens only when I first start the car on occasions. Its like a quick sputtering
     
  4. marjam

    marjam Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2006
    220
    0
    0
    Location:
    Silver Spring, MD
    The electric motor is supposed to pin the ICE down (and spin it up when it starts) so that there is very little clunking. But I have noticed a rough shut down every once in a while with my '04. If it is really bad I would take in in to be checked.
     
  5. Sufferin' Prius Envy

    Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2004
    3,998
    18
    0
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ryn01599 @ Jul 20 2006, 01:30 PM) [snapback]289566[/snapback]</div>
    New car, not quite broke-in. I'd say it's normal . . . a little disconcerting, but normal. The computer is just doing some ICE house cleaning and setting up the ICE in the proper position for a smooth start. The symptoms will go away with time . . . or you will become desensitized to it happening. I'm not sure which, but I have not heard the "Calunks" in over a year now.
     
  6. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2005
    12,544
    2,123
    1
    Location:
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    The occassional rough ICE shutdown I get seems to be more likely to happen when the engine is still cold.
     
  7. DaveG

    DaveG Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2004
    806
    6
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jul 21 2006, 11:36 PM) [snapback]290369[/snapback]</div>
    I've also heard that because of the way the Prius emissions system works, it keeps firing the spark plugs for a short time after the last fuel has been injected - that ensures a total burn-off of all fuel in the cylinders.

    Dave
     
  8. etkal

    etkal New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2006
    64
    0
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ryn01599 @ Jul 20 2006, 04:20 PM) [snapback]289554[/snapback]</div>
    Mine ('06 acquired 2006.04.01) does this as well, usually only at the end of the first warm-up cycle. It's almost like it can't decide if it really wants to shut the engine off or not, sounds similar to cars I've had that do a little "dieseling" when you turn them off.
     
  9. Ryn01599

    Ryn01599 Hybrid Owner for Life

    Joined:
    Mar 20, 2006
    21
    1
    0
    Location:
    rohnert park
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Jul 22 2006, 01:30 AM) [snapback]290385[/snapback]</div>

    Funny - I bought my car on the same date 06 prius! :)