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Front Heat Shield above Catalytic Converter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Chodronish, Mar 16, 2018.

  1. Chodronish

    Chodronish Member

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    My front heat shield above the catalytic converter is apparently corroded and hanging down. How important is it for me to get this replaced for $270? Is it easy to replace? When I say "easy," I am talking replacing the cabin filter or air filter easy. Thanks!
     
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    #2 padroo, Mar 16, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 16, 2018
  3. Chodronish

    Chodronish Member

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    No idea. This was just found at the dealer service dept., which is actually very good. They did not say it was critical to replace soon though. The muffler heat shield was also missing on this 2007, but I see from other threads it isn't really necessary to replace.
     
  4. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    It would be interesting to see what temperatures come off of the cats but some O2 sensors don't operate until 600 degrees.
     
  5. Priusyipee

    Priusyipee Active Member

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    ...UUUMMM... Mine fell off long ago and I haven't had a problem. When i inquired as to whether it should be replaced, I was told to just leave it off.
     
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  6. exstudent

    exstudent Senior Member

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  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I didn't realize the part was that cheap. If you do replace it and don't want to do it yourself I would buy the part and take it to a muffler shop, surely they could do it cheaper. Just an idea.
     
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  8. Chodronish

    Chodronish Member

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    Thanks so much for the input everyone. The muffler shop is a good idea. At some point, I'll do that probably, but for now, it sounds like it's far from urgent.
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Are you able to raise the car yourself, have a look. I'd wager with a few over-sized washers you could fix it.
     
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  10. Chodronish

    Chodronish Member

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    No, no way to raise it. I wonder if ramps would be sufficient? I don't have any of those yet either though. It does sound like one of those things that is probably relatively simple though.
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Yeah ramps would do. Either front end or rear, depending which end the problem is closer to. If right in the middle, you could still squeeze in, lol. You may be missing some fasteners too, but if you're lucky maybe just something's torn away, and an oversized washer would be enough to remedy.
     
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  12. Chodronish

    Chodronish Member

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    I should invest in some. Could probably get some for less than $270. ;-)
     
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  13. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I have always justified buying the tools to do a job by the money I saved, the next time I use them for free.
     
  14. Robert John

    Robert John Junior Member

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    My front heatshield has also rotted off (huge holes); the 3 retaining nuts are rusted to oblivion; and I'm having trouble finding a parts source that will deliver a new one to Canada.
    Q: In the past, whenever a heat shield went south on any of my cars, garages (and even dealers) said "just leave it off." After you removed the cat heat shield on your Prius, did you have any problems?
    Thanks!
     
  15. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Let it be everything's just fine if you roll it up on ramps and reach up in there and feel anything flopping around or loose just cut it off with the tin snips and throw it away You don't want anything twanging under there I guess you're in the great white north or something where it rusted away it's make sure it's all gone and nothing's hanging to make any noise You're good to go

    SM-A715F ?
     
  16. Robert John

    Robert John Junior Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I just pulled it out and tossed it in the 'parts bin'. I'll see if I can remount it next summer. No problems so far (2 weeks later). Sooo... seems to be OK. But, I'm still trying (unsuccessfully) to find the exhausts leak I can smell when stopped with the vent on 'Fresh'.
     
  17. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Man these things use that GM design big donut two large bolts with springs on them and then that thing can like swivel 20° or some kind of nonsense those are notorious for leaking especially if they've been played with sometimes you can back the bolts out and run them back in sometimes you can run the bolts out knock the pipe down low enough rotate that gasket stick it back up But if you're going to do all that you might as well stick another one in there sometimes you can clearly see where it's leaking past that round metal gasket assembly

    SM-A715F ?
     
  18. dolj

    dolj Senior Member

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    Check the front 'donut' gasket and replace. If I remember correctly, two of the key symptoms are a rattly noise under load and an exhaust smell via the air vents on 'fresh'.