New 2 me 2010 very base Pri

Dang. Thanks, ML..


Had not looked.

 

Really hate to say this but would have avoided this car (2,10) had I headed my own advice and researched here first. But truth be told and even with my disappointment with the 10, gen 3. I still will never buy another kind of car other than the Prius.

Even it's most alarming excentricities pale by comparison to avarage cars. But not thrilled with this particular model.


Just not as exceptional as expected. Still better than the average bear, BoBo.



Plan is pay it off and unload ASAP

 

noticed slight MPG reduction. From 41.6 down to 41.3 MPG. Been oddly steady and nothing like the up and down with the 2005. Ive been working nights and figured the colder temps accounted for the decline.

After a few hrs of driving and marveling at how smooth, later this morning, she started a slight shudder. Mostly when not accelerating. Just a very slight shudder. Like bad gas.

Dumped some seafoam and am going to replace plugs in the morning with these; NGK Laser Iridium Spark Plugs. https://www.autozone.com/external-engine/spark-plug/ngk-laser-iridium-spark-plug/397604_0_0

Have to do all the 130K stuff (maintenance) and plugs were next, anyway. So, start there and see if that's the problem. I figure this as the most likely culprit and easiest first assault.
(I like to do one cure at a time as a way to learn and figure out exact causes)

Gonna go to a dealer and get detailed maint history and what has to be done. I've read the history online. But honestly don't know half the acronyms.

Gonna get a price on cleaning the EGR while Im there. Just looks like a PITB. After the shock of what Im guessing will be $300, I normally resign myself to doing it DIY, LoL.


As always, thoughts appreciated!

 

Wow, Thanks for taking the time ML! It really is appreciated. Think your right.

The underpanel thing was what I found most dissuasive. That rear facing bolt... Ya just know thats gonna fall into the abyss.

Never heard "Tuff row to hoe" good one.


Raining, but going to pick up the plugs right now. Thought that, my choice, would elicit a admonishment of some sort. LoL,

Thanks Buddy

 

Did the plugs yesterday. Huge PITB but got rid of the shudder. So yay! A mechanic buddy happened to stop by and said the old ones looked good for their age. I thought they looked pretty fried. Dropped 2 bolts, an extension, and the brake fluid cap (lol) in to the abyss. But got lucky and all ended up on the driveway.

Car started with a sever shudder and then smoothed out. But that lit the check engine light. Startled me. So after changing the oil, I disconnected the positive on the 12V battery and waited for 15 or so seconds. Light did not come back on so, another yay there.




This was so handy! 9 bucks. Has graber, magnet and light. Did not have correct sized plug socket and couldn't get old plugs out.

 

14 I think. Didn't have that size and only one that small at autozone. So rubber would not grab the plug. Couldn't find any hose that would work. I was pretty frustrated by this point. But really happy with that grabber thing. Gonna come in handy.

check engine light never came back on. Had me worried.

 

gotta do the egr thing next. Dreading it but thats wut ya get buying old and used, I guess.

 

After replacing plugs, am now getting 45 MPG.

It was 42 and declining. Driving 200 miles a day, that's what, (?) Just over a 5% increase in my only real expense.

Next is EGR cleaning then fluid changes. Your right, ML. Am gonna brave it.

Gonna look into fabing a EGR bypass of some sort. Will report but in my experience with small engines, they are all but useless and not worth the additional complications.

 

I have not looked into it, ML. But the ones I have experience with are there to capture unburnt fuel and induce warmed air. Again, just the ones I have experience with and not the prius.

What I'm thinking is Y off the pipe so it sends dirty air out and sucks in pure air.

Have to look into it's functioning first. If nothing else, we will know not, under any circumstances, should this ever be done, LoL.

 

Really respect and thank you for your thoughts, ML. And I do like that the Pri tries to get every little and last bit of energy to be used. Just never liked the thought of what little could be gained from an egr. It's literally recirculating used gasses. And not eco friendly to be killing em prematurely. If it could be filtered it might be worth it but that would be another puzzle.

I'll give it a shot and see. If bad, I got no problem admitting I done dumb, LoL.

 

Very cool, Aaron. Would you happen to have pictures? I was thinking just cut the pipe, fit a hose over and c-clamp cloth as a filter on both?

do not know and gonna do a search now......