cold start, big vibrations that sound like the wheel of fortune being spun!!

Do you live in a cold area? Has your car had this TSB work done?

Service Bulletin for Engine Knocking at Startup T-SB-0204-11 | PriusChat

 

bunch of threads here on this issue. some say it happens more frequently when the ice starts and you shut it down (like moving the car in the driveway for instance), then the next time you start it you get the problem. they call it a 'cold soak', but i don't think it has to be that cold.

 

My 2010 Prius has 30,000 miles .I took it to the dealer on 11/20/2013 for the same complaint and they told me all the diagnostic test were OK . I went to the Service director and had him listen to the video posted and he said it my car had a intake manifold leak. They are going to replace the intake gasket and manifold. I also filed a complaint with Toyota headquarters . They should notify all Prius owners of this problem

 

I can make the noise occur by doing the following:

- Start car when engine is cold (has nothing to do with outside temperature).
- Turn car off shortly after ICE fires up.
- Allow engine to cool overnight.
- Start car next day, big noise.

I simply avoid doing this and never have the noisy startup. If I need to move the car around the garage / driveway, I let it idle until the ICE turns itself off. If I forget and turn the car off early, sure enough the sound appears the next morning.